 kepano (239), Meudon, France
Mar 20, 2006
The bottle was marked for drinking before then end of 2006 and seemed the oldest of my Abbaye des Rocs lineup, so I decided to give it a try. Even with cautious use of my bottle opener, an eruption of foam bubbled out the semi-open seal. As I poured into my Trappist glass, a voluptuous cappuccino head fluffed up from the deep sanguine body. Suddenly, the volcanic container began to ineluctably vomit a legion of large chunks. From experience, attempting to decant the liquid is absolutely futile, and I would instead suggest capitulating to the valuable nuggets by gently stirring the bottle halfway through to homogenize the mixture. What resulted from this nearly disastrous pour, was actually more than potable.
The nose is powerful and striking in richness and complexity. Initially pineapple and chocolate dominate in a surprisingly agreeable blend and with minimal effort one can dissect the three chocolates in the aroma. Dark, milk and white are equally present and create a smooth creamy yet slightly bitter character. With a second sniff, café au lait appears in conjunction with a thick bready odor that provides a dusty and slightly musty aspect continually accumulating in complexity. The dynamism of Montagnarde’s nose makes it difficult to untangle as each inhalation reveals new scents. The general aroma feels earthy and smooth, malty and yeasty but also fruity and spicy. Green vegetables such as artichoke and string beans are present and reflect the slightly caramelized, brown sugar sweetness that one might find blended in nouvelle cuisine. Figs, plums, banana, apple and vanilla appear as soon as you think of fruit. Irish cream emanates from the background leaving a buttery yet slightly sweet alcoholic tinge in the nose. A woody and gradually spicier fragrance becomes noticeable as the liquid warms.
Finally, I take a sip. Beautiful lacing covers the glass and slides down phlegmaticly as it leaves a speckled painting reminiscent of Jackson Pollock’s work. Coffee and vegetables appear first: carrots, green beans, brussel sprouts, flavors skip from one to the next as the liquid wraps smoothly around the tongue. Goat cheese, meat, steak sauce, bread, a veritable dinner in a bottle! L’Abbaye des Rocs’ Montagnarde is what Willy Wonka’s gum must be like. A substantial brew that displays incredible complexity, an instant favorite. The creaminess of sweetened fromage blanc emerges in conjunction with caramel, butter and a slight burnt character. Spices mark the final touch as the velvety liquid ends in a bloom of milky flavors and the gentle trace of alcohol. The description is spot on with gingerbread in that finishing gust of spices which also includes black pepper, cinnamon, anis, cardamom and nutmeg. A brilliant concoction that has left me tremendously impressed.
PilsnerPeter (2598), Flushing, New York, USA
Sep 16, 2009 Bottle: Deep copper with good clarity on the first pour with a dense tan head. Candied fig aroma- rich with rum cake fruity notes, vanilla, big sweet maltiness like many of their beers. Creamy silky body. Sweet and rich- lots of candied dark fruits, rum cake and mild maple soaked fig. Lots of malt character and later toasted toffee on the mildly toasted back. Quite sweet with evident residual maltose, yet rounded and soft.
NoiZe (1288), Mooi Zeist, Netherlands
Sep 10, 2009 Amber colored brew. Lot’s of flakes in it. Aroma is fruity, malty. Malty flavor, some sweetness, caramel, peppery spicy, some bitterness and a bit fruity, apricots.
wimpie133 (130), Brugge, Belgium
Aug 28, 2009 Bottle, 33cl. With beer from Abbaye des Rocs you can’t do wrong much. The beer is amber coloured with a medium beige head, however disappearing rather fast. The smell is fantastically manlty with a very specific apricot and spicy aroma on it. The taste itself is sweet, but not sweet to be sweet, but very well balanced sweet. Further the beer is malty, fruity, with a bit caramel and spices in the background. Also a very well balanced beer, like we are used to with Abbaye Des Rocs.
shigadeyo (2210), Harrison, Ohio, USA
Jul 27, 2009
April(?) 2008: Abbaye des Rocs Ambree is amber-colored with a thick, creamy, off-white head. It kind of looks like egg drop soup in the glass! This beer is sweet and has characteristics of toasted bread and malt, brown sugar, Belgian candi sugar, and a hint of chocolate in the finish. It has a mild bitterness and some fruity like apricot undertones. Overall this is a nice Belgian Amber beer.
750 mL bottle (Best before end 2007) from Noonan’s in Hamilton, Ohio. Rating #343 for this beer.
michael-pollack (2603), King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA
Jul 24, 2009 750ml. Bottle: Aroma of yeast, cookie, slight pepper, slight sugar, and a tiny hint of fruits. Poured amber/brown/orange in color with a really small, creamy, off-white head that lasted throughout. Cloudy. Sparkling. Particles throughout. Flavor is light to medium sweet and slightly bitter. Tastes of pale malts, yeast, pepper, light spices, slight caramel, and a hint of coriander. Medium body. Tingly, slightly dry texture. Average texture. Sweet, yeasty, slightly peppery finish is lightly dry.
marcus (1826), Sacramento, California, USA
Jul 22, 2009 This amber ale poured with a decent beige head and a fruity aroma. It is sweet and malty with some bitterness at the finish and a toffee aftertaste.
carruthm (1112), Seattle, Washington, USA
Jul 2, 2009 Bottled, very clumpy from yeast and cloudy orange color with a nice covering of white head with solid lacing. Aroma is mellowed fruits, slightly sugary and alcoholic. The taste is sweet and the palate nicely balanced.
saxo (3513), Højbjerg, Aarhus, Denmark
Jun 13, 2009 Bottle. Medium head with medium duration. Color is amber/brown with lots of yeast sediments floating. Aroma and taste are rich fruits, spices, caramel, yeast and alcohol.
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