Abbaye des Rocs La Montagnarde (Ambree)

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

I decant the murky orange fluid with a frenzy of fine bubbles, upon which floats a centimeter of eggshell lather as smooth as fondant. The seductive bouquet drips with lavish fruit and shy spice… immediate impression include kiwi, watermelon schnapps, vanilla-infused pipe tobacco, and lemon thyme, catmint, and lavender sachet scents. A moment’s contemplation evokes random hodgepodge fragrances: new leather shoes, dank basement, sliced heirloom tomatoes, and a tenuous twang of horse urine. Tasting delivers an extravagant feast; dominant traits of caramel, papaya, star anise, and peppery ethanol glow are augmented by a veritable tropical circus… tangelo and ugli fruit, cherry, jasmine, vanilla, marzipan, and dense tupelo honey. Untempered by acid or spice, the beer teeters on the brink of smothering sweetness. The spicy, sharp, and bitter qualities so dramatized in the description remain obstinately mute, their absence filled instead by candied fruit and gummi candy. A hint of “green” noble hop flavor flits in the scenery. Finishing on a sweet iced tea with lemon and cardamom note, the elixir relaxes with a mellow mango aftertaste. The palate proves juicy and lightly syrupy, and soft with feathery carbonation; the effect is not unlike breathing a thick country fog. Unfortunately, as effervescence wanes, so does the exotic intensity, and the ale reverts to a sugary, lemony, corky torpor. Although ultimately declawed and “girly”, des Rocs amber still pleases with joyride fun and Disneyesque fanfare.

Another sticky monster from one of my favourite brewers. Dunno if it’s the yeast or the genius of the brewers but they can’t do much wrong in my book. Murky brown-sugar brown with a generous head. Salty, yeasty aroma with some sour lemon drops and caramel. Chunky, deposit-filled body. Medium weight. Caramelised sugars dominate, with some sour wheat notes, a decent hop wallop and a salty, herbal finish. Sticky and sweet. Not the best Abbaye des, but still top-flight. (750ml bottle courtesy of Papsoe - thanks amigo. Shared at Ecze’s Sydney RB 07 hooley)

Throws a huge deposit. Toffee and yellow fruits in the nose. Quite dry flavor with a hint of fruity sweetness followed by bitterness. Not bad, but not great.

750ml says Brasserie des Rocs Ambree; Best before 2008; Nose of yeast, brown sugar, caramel, orange zest, and light cloves; hazy copper-orange with a big straw head; flavor has light sweetness, slightly toasted caramel, cloves, and a little peppery spices, but no bitterness! Just a slightly sweet BSA. Maybe it would have been better fresher?

An interesting orangy color, and a huge, long-lasting head. Aromas of fruits, spices, somewhat sherry-like and complex. Sweet malt flavors throughout. Good balance and warming finish

Vintage 2003, tasted Juny 2007. Orange-golden with a huge, nice head and lots of chunks of sediment. The aroma has a light sweetness and notes of caramel, raisin and plums. The flavour has some dry citrus/grapefruit and notes of caramel, raisin, plum, candy sugar and yeast. 2418

Bottle. A very lively beer exploding out of the bottle. After whiping a bit it pours a muddy deep orange colour with a big fast disappearing whitish head. Lovely fruity, yeasty, orange aroma with some caramel and malt. Very good mouthfeel. The flavour has a lovely fruitiness of mainly oranges and some mango, good caramel, some honey, toasty malt, pleasant hoppy bitterness, slightly herby and with a good alcohol touch. The finish is fruity and yeasty with a good bitterness. Very flavourful brew.

Bottle. Unclear medium amber / orange color with a averager, frothy, good lacing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is light malty, caramel, light to moderate hoppy, orange, moderate yeasty, fruit acidic, sulphur. Flavor is moderate to light heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. (281107)