De Dolle Dulle Teve 10º (Mad Bitch)

From the bottle.

Pours a hazy light brown amber with an ample head. The aroma is orange and spice with some yeast; the flavor follows with the addition of strong coconut tones. This one has a (too-)notable alcohol burn early on and corresponding alcohol flavor; the hop finish is not particularly dry or exagerated.

While this is nice, head to head with the 7.5% and lower-rated Abbeye des Rocs Blond, this one comes in second place (for everything except the huge amounts floating matter in the des Rocs.)

Pours a cider-like, cloudy brown into a tulip. Earth and spicy citrus notes. Microbubble head lasts and continues. Full and bubbly. Upfront gorganzola that turns to sweet dried apples and pears with a lasting bitter yeast and hop finish.

I’m a huge fan of tripels (maybe my favorite style). And I was pleased to import this for about $1 while travelling in Belgium. However, this one wasn’t all I thought it was going to be initially (having been impressed by some other De Dolle selections). Poured with a humungous head. After the first pour into my Westvleteren glass, I waited five minutes, returned, and then poured.... still about 50ml in the bottle. So, I took an initial aroma whiff of the poured beer and then sipped away straight from the bottle. It was a bit ridiculous: harsh high abv presence with a rather bitter hoppy finish. So, I took the goblet and went to the family room. The carbonation was really high and the bubbles rather entertaining to watch as they rose up the amber-wheat colored (cloudy) beer to the pillowy REALLY big head (which was persistent). The aroma was vinous more than anything else, although not lacking some candy sugar. After another five minutes or so, the flavor was harsh, vinous, with a hoppy bitter finish - aggressive all the way around. Allowing it to warm, though, things got a lot better and the apples and citrus flavors came through with a rather nice yeasty and hoppy bitter finish. Still a little on the aggressive side for a tripel (and very thick mouthfeel), but a nice tripel. If you’re sitting on one of these, let it sit for a few years, maybe things will work out even better for you.

Bottle (donated by bierkoning !): Cloudy, orangey coloured, small lacing off-white, creamy head; strong orangey nose, combined with traces of sweet malt and caramel; sweet (fruity) flavour; sweet and - towards the end - strong spicy bitter finish, very well hidden alcohol. Deceptive, moreish.............

330 ml bottle. Pours to a hazy, deep golden color with a thick, creamy, white head, and a soft to moderate carbonation. The nose on this beer is excellent with fragrant aromas of sweet malt, candy sugar, earthy/spicy yeast, and peppery alcohol. The palate is firm, with good pale and sweet malt flavors, spice, funky yeast flavor, and flavors of candy sugar. This beer finishes with more of those complex malt, yeast, and candy flavors up front, then ends with a soothing, peppery burn. Very well done abbey triple from the Mad Brewers of Belgium. A great after work or after dinner brew to sip and savor.

Mildly cloudy, dirty gold. Big white head. Decent aroma - white wine, raisins, mostly. Sweet and musty at first, then a touch of alcohol. Then another touch alcohol, with a noticeable alcohol note. Finally ends with an assertive alcohol burn.

Hazy yellow gold hue, with a rocky white head, with nice lacing, yeasty fruitiness nose of citrus fruits of orange peels, grapefruit, and pineapple, floral hops, hint of sweet pale malt in the aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with a zesty sweet citrus fruits accent of grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, also a pineapple note fruitiness, yeasty, hint of spiciness, maybe coriander, with a warming alcoholic note, floral hops, leading towards a fruity bitter finish.

33 cL Bottle. Pour of clouded marmelade in yellow corn syrup, with a frothy soap head of ivory. Aroma is a bright and extremely fresh lemony sage, with hints of tangerine and apricot as a fresh new Glade plug-in. Fairly light, though. Flavor is an intense rich bready wheat, with a whole broad swath of curried lemon flavors, stewed with clove and coriander. The freshly grated peel mingles with pinches of dried ginger and the juice flows sweetly with raw sugar and perfume. The alcohol is quite noticable, but not offensive or troublesome, instead carrying a gentle sloping race of warm fusels and light acteyls. It has bright yeast spices and a nice coating of almond dust. The palate is clean, sweet and clear, with a touch of tingling tartness that leaves a fresh smack of rosemary sprig on the tounge. Finally, an elegant smack of pear skin and apple core, blended with a drop or two of cognac. As fine french candy, this is. Does have gushing problems I will note. Sorry, Andy. This was supposed to be for you, but it didn’t make it. I’ll get another.