De Dolle Arabier

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

Cloudy golden yellow body with a large, fluffy, thick white head, with mountains and canyons of thick sea-foam lacing. Dusty old citrus fruit, spoiled bananas and a light alcohol presence in the nose. Sort of a creamed banana scent as well as it warms. Sprizty, full carbonation, lively, over-carbonated actually, with flavors of dusty bread dough, sour grapefruit and more hoppy simcoe-like grassiness that’s a bit surprising. Bitter grapefruit is tasted, yeast is very apparent but not overdone. Bitterness and perceived dryness is quite different than I remember other De Dolle products, and it’s actually really nice. When at cellar temperature the aroma releases an aged cheese note. Good stuff as always from De Dolle.

I’ve really enjoyed the few hopped-up Belgian ales that I’ve had thus far. A hazy yellowish brown with a lofty, rocky, chunky, chewable head, this erupts with a huge array of floral scents... nice, nice hoppiness. It’s not a very complex beer. The soft-bodied, sweet malt flavors are buried under a field of floral hop bitterness which carries through into the long, lingering finish. This is a good one for this hop-head.

Tall rocky head. Dark hazy golden color with yeast swinkels everywhere. Aroma of sweet/sour fruit. Fruity flavors with a spicy finish. Almost to much acidity in finish but it helps cut through the sweetness.

Very intens fruity citrus aroma. Little hazy, golden/amber color, large beautiful head, good lace. Very bitter, crisp, little smoked. Dry bitter finish with a little alcohol burn. Not quite my kind of beer but very well brewed and balanced.

Golden slight haze appearance. Lightly hoppy aroma with fruity malt background. Flavor is slightly sweet but spicy enough to keep the dry mouthfeel in check. This was a very well rounded beer and complimented perfectly to the occasion.

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.

Draught. Cloudy orange colour with a big white head. Yeasty and fruity hoppy aroma. Sweet malty flavor with some hints of citrus and a hoppy aftertaste.

Bottled. A hazy copper/amber coloured beer with the largest of heads. The taste is big, spicy and peppery. The taste is very full with the alcohol coming through together with coriander and good hops. A real good beer from a consistently good brewery.