3.5 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
From a 330ml bottle on 7/4/2012. Pours a cloudy light amber/light apricot with a medium head. Has a light fruity aroma with a touch of caramel. The flavour is quite sweet and malty, with lots of caramel and toffee, and a touch of dark fruit. There is a muted bitterness and a touch of warming alcohol at the end. Perhaps a touch over carbonated. Quite enjoyable but, like many other famous Belgians, over-rated.
4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
330 ml bottle. Pours a murky red brown with nice thick head. Sour malt, spice, and a bit of caramel to the nose. Rich, spicy flavor with hints of orange peel. A bit metallic. Slightly bitter finish. A good beer.
2.6 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 4/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 9/20
Aroma: White pepper, caramel and - strangely - boiled vegetables.
Appearance: Chestnut brown, dense body. Pinkish brown head that fades quickly. No lacing.
Taste: Bitter, almost sour taste. Strong, sharp flavour - spicy with a hint of apple. Slightly nutty. Complex, but not very nice.
Palate: Medium body with lively carbonation. A surprising alcohol burn - more than I’d expect at 7% ABV.
Overall: Quite and unusual beer with a very tart taste. Overrated, in my opinion.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
The small bottle from Morrisons. Pours murky brown with a thin white head, lots of carbonation out of the bottle. These bubbles hide the flavours first up and I think it’s better to let it go flat a bit first. Smells nice, like a malty Belgian ale. Taste is fruity with surprising but pleasant bitter kick in the finish, which is long. A great beer.
2.4 AROMA 1/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
Definintely overrated. Great carbonation. Really fizzy for a thin headed pour. Love the corked bottle. I had the big boy. Very malty. earthy, brown, red, hazy, minimal head, medium sweetness, lightly bitter, lightly sour, light body, fizzy, long finish,
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Dark brown beer with reddish hints. Rather opaque with "sedimented" carbonation. Frothy head and grainy yeast.
Smeel is heavy alcoholic sweetness with spies and herbs - cumin, cardamom, white pepper. Apple and green banana hints. Quite alcoholic.
The taste is watery alcoholic sweetness with a warm spicy woodiness. Well balanced and soothing.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Hazy darker rown color, foam does not stay. Fruity taste but still strong bitter taste, Strong beer, taste stays.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Very good palate with rich flavor. Aroma is a high point. Fantastic combination of fruits with a slight dry bitterness in the aftertaste.
4.6 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
UPDATED: MAY 28, 2012 ALMOST as good as their Grande Réserve. Première has a big-time apple and fruity kick with noticeable alcohol burn, yet not overwhelming the other flavors. Hoppier than the Grande Réserve, which makes sense since this is a dubbel and not a Belgian strong dark ale. Overall, extraordinary complexity of flavor. I gave this and the Grande Réserve to a wine aficionado, and he was impressed, saying they were by far the best beers he’s ever sampled.
3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Light malt and yeasty aroma. Dark copper color. Taste is a bit thin, malty with sour grape. Finish is a bit breadth. Palate is interesting but not overly complex. I have been spoiled with the Chimay Blue, so this, while decent, does not compare.
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