De Dolle Oerbier Special Reserva

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: APR 26, 2008 2005 Vintage Deep dark brown, hazy with huge yellow-brownish head. 4/5 Grapes, Pineau des Charentes, vinous, old wood, woodstainer, preserved dark fruit & oranges. 9/10 Dry woodstainer, vinous, grapes & raisins, special kind of brandy with complex flavours: more dark fruit, slight fruity acidity. 9/10 Full bodied, burning & alcoholic, syrupy in an "ethanolly" way. 5/5 A superb brew, even better than the 2002. 18/20 2002 Vintage Very dark brown-amber with a red shine, slight haze; thick creamy head. Nose of fresh, ripe brambles, or the same on sherry; thick bramble- or raspberryjam, homemade and covered with white brandy. Intensely fruity. Sour-sweetish taste in the best traditional West-Flemish style. Phenolic, very estery. Fruity, but more like plums or raisins - with a dash of lactic acid. Tart, non-viscous fruit yoghurt? Immensely thick & warming sensation. Very highly saturated (for a barreled beer), alcohol obvious. Just superb - a return to the past, both for DDB as for West-Flemish ales. Kris H. tells me this has been end-fermented with Brettanomyces. I can well believe him, relying on the taste.
New points for 2006 Vintage THE BRETTS ARE BACK!! The nose tells it: last year Brettanomyces was there - but one knew once one was told. Now there’s no mistaking any longer. It smells like a super Russian River beer. The taste is just WOOOWW!! The Bretts are back in force, with a musty, mushroom, old wine or port with a gueuze tang; dusty, but juice-bursting deep dark grapes. This vintage is the best so far!
2006 vintage, special bottling Châteauneuf-du-Pape barrels Hazy-brown with orange highlights. Overwhelming nose with wood, vanilla, brandy, dried fruits (as figs, mango, apricots), vinous and cake. Woody, wine, red berries, pineapple with a sweet-sour perfect balance. Viscuous, near chewy, fiery alcoholic and - great. Wow. An exotic version of Reserva
9/4/9/5/18

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.