De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

UPDATED: JAN 25, 2012 7/6/07 - 11.2 oz bottle. 2005. Dark woody brown with a brief tan head. Sour cherries and lemon oil. Earthy undertones. Creamy mouthfeel becomes increasingly tart. Subtle fruit elements heavy on peel, pit and pepper. Vinous notes; white burgundy? Dry oaky finish. Interesting play of sour and bitter. 3/19/08 - 11.2 oz bottle. 2002. Dark brown, but clear, with a light tan frosting. Nose is wood, dried apricot, caramel, raisins and figs. Lightly sour, intoxicatingly sweet. Taste is among the most complex i’ve encountered. Drinks like a red wine with a bit of carb tingle. Taste is vinous, sour caramel, hints of red fruit and cherry skins. Oak adds smoothness. Puckery finish, peppery lips. Having tried two years of the Reserva i still prefer the regular. I added 2 for the aroma and a point overall. 7/9/09 - 11.2 oz bottle. 2004. Murky brown with sparse beige foam. Nose is sour cherry, wood and hints of caramel with subtle funk. Medium light with fine carb. Silky then tart. Tastes like a red wine with a touch of madeira and wild mushroom. Turns to sour crabapples, finishing with dried apricots. As it warmed, opened up beautifully but missing that hint of sweetness in the regular version. Same rating overall except for the aroma which i gave a 7. 6/23/10 - 11.2 oz bottle. 2006. Cloudy brown with a creamy beige head. Vinous nose with oak and cherry. Medium body with a tang. Taste is sour cherry, oak and apple. A tad sweeter than other versions but still predominantly sour and woody. Aroma lacks some complexity; revised to an 8. 4/20/11 - 11.2 oz bottle. 2007. I seem to be trying these once a year. Nose is that familiar oak, cherry and caramel with earthy hints of wild mushrooms and wet leaves. Juicy medium body with a bracing sour tang. Taste is tart cherry, red wine, oak and spice. Still a 4. 10/1/11 - 11.2 oz bottle. 2009. Nose is sour cherry, wood, mushrooms and toffee. Thick, but more whipped up as opposed to syrupy, with foamy carb and a sharp tang. Taste is huge and bright sour cherry, strawberry banana and oak finishing with key lime pie. The earthy, funky notes i’ve seen in other vintages are present but this is by far the most vibrant of the lot. 9 for taste but only 7 for the aroma so keeping this at 4. 1/24/12 - 11.2 oz bottle. 2010. I seem to age these a bit more, this one relatively fresh at a year+. Nose is cherry preserves, toffee, oak, light funk and wine vinegar. Wonderfully juicy and mouth watering with soft but lively carb. Taste ranges from sweet to tart cherry, raspberry and cranberry, wood and red wine with cinnamon heat. I’d up the palate to a 4 for this one but will leave the overall rating at a 4.0. Fresh seems to be the way to go with these.

Poured from a 11.2 oz bottle into a tulip. This is an aggressively carbonated beer. A large, off-white sea foam froth forms over a caramel amber beer. The nose is tart, with nice cherry notes. There is some oak, vanilla, and vinegar in the back. The flavor mostly follows the nose. It is simple, but nice. Tart cherries, The mouthfeel is really fizzy and bubbly. Even without a full body, it held the 13% ABV really nicely. It was tart and slightly acetic, but not incredibly sour. This is a nice Flemish sour.

Birra miracolosa, vero e proprio elisir. Praticamente perfetta. 5 è anche poco.

Vintage 08. Brown with a tan head. Aroma is caramel, redwine, balsamic vinegar and dried red berries. Flavour is caramel, balsamic vinegar, alcohol and dried red berries.

Vintage ’08. Pours a clear and ruby beer with a weak offwhite head. The aroma is malt, sweetness, fruit, dried fruit, balsamic and alcohol. The flavor follows the nose. The palate is dry with sweetness and alcoholwarmth. Overall a really good beer.

Medium body and intense aroma. Intensely sour finish but not altogether unpleasant. Might taste a bit of sour cherries in this. I’m not typically a fan of sour beers, but this one is undeniably well done.

Bottle brought to Qbrick by KyotoLefty. Thanks! Very sharp sherry or port wine aromas with lots of dark fruit. Sourish flavors of overipe cherries, prunes, raisins. Good carbonation (for its age). Thin body. Long sour aftertaste, gentle and sustained. Just the tiniest touch of oxidation, which actually adds to the flavor experience. Exceptional stuff!

2005 bottle. Nose of big dried fruits, wine or port, a bit of soy sauce. Very fruity flavor, grapes and cherries, some nice sour tang but in control, oak. Very low oxidation and still well carbonated—in fact, in simply wonderful condition. Great body. A fabulous beer that lived up to high expectations.

2007 bottle. Pours tawny brown with a trace of off-white head which quickly dissipates. Aroma is caramel and cookie malt, sour fruit, grassy hops, and oak barrels. Flavor is balanced malt, hops, and sour fruit esters; dry finish. Medium body, carbonation, and warmth.

This is one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth. It’s been awhile but I had quite a few 2006 vintages. Around 13% alcohol and very hard to detect even the slightest warmth. Beautiful sour notes and complex flavors make this big beer hard to sip.

Bottle, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010 vintages. Murky brown pour. Fruity, dark and dried (cherry, plum, raisin), vanilla, wood. Active body, sweet and sour.