De Dolle Arabier

Brewed by De Dolle Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Diksmuide, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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33 cl bottle from Monument in Concord, CA. Orange golden color with champagne bubbles and a frothy white head. Aromas of spice and light stone fruit. Flavor of yeast and floral hop. Amazingly bitter. Alternates with lightly sweet breadiness. Finishes neither dry nor bitter. It’s like every sip is up with bitter and then down with a light spicy sweetness. Very light background of earthy funk. After most flavor drains away, there is something like noble hop. Maybe each sip starts with a hint of cola. I don’t know that it’s complex, but it seems quite variable. The mouthfeel is quite lightly bubbly with near medium body. What a drink. Puts the ale into ale.

Bottled: Hazy orange coloured. Medium white head. Spicy and yeasty aroma. Malts, sweets and citrus. Flavour is sweet malty, yeasty and a bit alcaholic. Some acidic notes.

UPDATED: APR 20, 2008 Bottle... Very cloudy, deep golden ale with a huge, rocky, white head. Terrific retention with thick, fluffy lacing. The alcohol is completely hidden within the nose and flavor. Aromatic notes of rye bread, white pepper and orange peel. Malty, yeasty flavor with an abundance of balancing hops. Very well-bittered for a Belgian ale. Full-bodied and oily with fizzy carbonation. Lengthy, grassy, bitter finish. I really enjoyed this brew in the comfort of my home office on a cold Winter’s night.

Bottle conditioned, 330ml, aged 6 years. Clear orange gold with white head. The ageing had clearly put some form into this beer, still conditioned well, but with a smooth spiciness and an apricot, pear fruitiness that is tempered by almost a wood barrel note. The alcohol is amalgameted into the body of the beer, but still very warming and seemingly developed. A very decent beer indeed.

(33cl bottle) Cloudy, orange coloured effervescent hue with a huge, slightly off-white foamy head. Yeasty, sweet and slightly sourish lemon-zesty, apricot-fruity nose with strong coriander-spice. Bitter and slightly sweet flavour, medium to full bodied with a lively carbonated mouthfeel. Dry, malt-accented taste with complex fruity flavours (lemon, grape fruits, apricots), herbal hops and coriander; dry, moderately bitter, slightly fruity and herbal hoppy finish with some tartness coming through. Tasty and hoppy Belgian (24.03.08).

Bottle from River’s Bend. Poured clear pale color with a huge white head that lasted with good lacing. Complex fruity citrus and sweet spice aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture. Full complex sweet flavor with solid fruity sweet finish of moderate duration. Good complex soft brew.

Bottle (thanx to bierkoning !) Cloudy, deep golden coloured, huge creamy concrete head; strong fruity nose: oranges, orange peel, lemons with a big dry touch of hops; stronger bitter-sweet flavour, soft MF, medium bodied; lingering finish: first fruity (citrus-fruit), then lingering dry hoppy, almost a bit tart. Beautiful...........

UPDATED: APR 27, 2008 A Mes rate: bottle from Quinns.
A regular for me and with good reason. Awesome hops, light creamy sweetness, lovely bready malt and a great dryness. Typical genius from De Dolle.

A Sim rate: Smooth taste but with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Like a standard blonde but much nicer. Full almost thick palate. Big lasting creamy fungal head. Good lacing.

Trockener Antrunk, nur vereinzelt lassen sich Kräuternoten finden, auch die Hefigkeit ist schwach. Im Verlauf wird es nicht besser, die Aromen bleiben schwach. Montoner Ausklang mit schwachen Kräutern. Scheint, als sollte ich hier nochmal eine frischere Version testen. 9/8/8/7/9/8