Abbaye des Rocs La Montagnarde Altitude 6

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye des Rocs
Style: Belgian Ale
Montignies-sur-Roc, Belgium

In short: A bland juicy, floral and doughy clean Belgian Ale
How: Bottle 750ml, about 4 months old
The look: Clear golden body with a lot of particles and topped by a medium off-white head
In long: Nose of citrus essence and garden flowers. Taste has some soft cookie malts, some flower juice, some citrus+apricots juice, a few drops of perfume and a whole lot of doughy yeast. Something in that doughy flavour reminded me of a unbaked pancake-like dough complete with a slight egg yolk taste. Short finish. Oily body with an annoying soda-pop-like carbonation. Light mineral water taste from beginning to end. This is an easy to drink well brewed beer but unfortunately it is rather characterless. Altitude 6, Attitude 0.

Aroma:citrus,orange light spices... Appearance:Hazy gold with chunk of yeast,Light head... Flavor:citrus-orange flavor,light spices...

It seems tough to admit, but Belgium’s brewing climate today has little to do with the monastic tradition so often advertised. I can’t help but raise an eyebrow when I see borrowed ecclesiastical titles, as if they somehow elevate the product to a divine status. Abbaye des Rocs awakened this concern during my initial encounter. Fortunately, as I explored their profound talent, I realized this is a brewery thats put little effort in polishing its image, and focuses instead on a truly exceptional set of beers. A remarkable endeavor. Des Rocs’ habit of leaving ’unsightly’ sediment in the bottles never bothered me in the least, but I was surprised to find a relatively clear brew this time around. The lively apricot color glows deeply, and a creamy off-white head puffs up above. The aroma is equally bright and summery, but rich and complex as well. Honey and abundant grains form the unmistakable smell of Miel Pops, one of my childhood breakfast cereals in France. The subtle balance of spices and vegetal components adds surprising intricacy for a basic offering. Nutmeg, coriander, pepper and buttery asparagus are particularly notable. The palate finds a light, creamy and very easy-drinking ale. There’s a touch of minerality that seems perfect for a hot day. Sweet grains are present, and the chalky lemony yeastiness gives an air of witbier. The spices are perfectly balanced with both hops and malts, suggesting hints of peach and coffee. There’s a definite sweetness throughout, but it remains authentic and the subtle dryness and sourness in the finish continually encourage another sip. Perfectly sessionable and drinking well after it’s second birthday, it’s another stunning beer from des Rocs. (08/06/07)

Bottle, at the Belgian Belly, Manchester. Poured an orangey gold with a decent sized white head. Good lace. Aroma is sweetish with a touch of orange and peach. Flavour is malty and honey tinged, with hints of summer fruit and a pleasantly spicy herbiness which gives this a nice balance. Emminently drinkable and went very well with the Samurai Chicken roll !!

One of my "to do beers" on my Belgium trip, just because I love the brewery and this is not available stateside. Pours a thick muted golden color with a large foamy head that never fully fades (just keeps sticking around). Aroma is at first strong with doughy yeast, dominating. Then comes a burnt orange maltiness aspect, which works well at first but then becomes unappetizing. Taste is full of orange/tangerine esters and finishes with a mineral fruitiness. Seems to be a bit uneven, lots of strong flavors but a body meant for simple easy drinking beer. I can see why this one, compared to their other wonderful beer, is not imported to the States.
33cl bottle from Beer Mania, date stamp unclear (2009 L??), hotel room plastic cup on 5/17/08.

Bottle @<a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/forums/cnudde-ølsmagn target=_new> Cnudde Tasting.. Unclear light to medium orange color with a small, fizzy, fair lacing, fully diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, caramel, spicy - anis sead / coriander, light yeasty. Flavor is moderate to light heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a average duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. (290308)

330ml bottle. Golden coloured with slight haziness and no head, yet plenty of carbonation. Slightly honeyed aroma, with some apicots and spice. Flavour was sweet with some citrus fruit, nutmeg and an herbal edge. some grassy hops in the finish. Very good.

Now this one’s difficult to rate. It was nearly impossible for me to serve myself a pint of this from the 750ml bottle without unleashing a sediment monster into my glass. So, first, here are some pre-yeaststorm comments from the first half or so of the bottle:

-A dense sheet of foam tops the hazy blond.
-The fruity, perfumy nose is tantalizing, offering up exotic citrus fruit in both juice and candied form alongside white pepper-like spiciness.
-The wise spiciness works wonders with the doughy yeast.
-The mouthfeel is frothy but kind to the palate.
-Cereal sweetness is well calibrated and the flavor profile whispers the wonderful bouquet..
-The finish is rather dry and knows how to keep the tastebuds longing for the next sip.
-Points were: 9/3/7/4,15/20, 3.8/5

Now, the rest of the bottle:
-Kerplunk, said the yeast. Gurgle, gurgle.
-Appearence has now become slurry-like.
-The yeast shot obviously muddles some of the delicate features of this beer, but seems to make the bittering hops more proficient.
-The nose is quite hurt, yet remains appealing.
-Points were: 7/1/7/3 14/20 3.2/5

Bottle.