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: MAY 30, 2011 Ruby-brown with a standard de dolle sized head--large and creamy-- yellow-white, short lived. Tart, sour nose echoes the regular Oerbier, also shows a lot of sweet malt and hints of milk chocolate: odd yet delicious combination, especially with warmth. Flavor continues this combo and is creamy with chocolate while simultaneously spicy and resinous, almost pine-like, rainy. Body is large yet spritzy, quite carbonated in fact. This is an odd beer, even more odd than the original Oerbier, and while I enjoy the uniqueness and complexity, the beer seems a sum of parts, especially the slightly contradictory flavor.

02/11 - Always nice to look back and see how your opinion changes. 02-09 vertical currently ranks 07, 08, 09, 06, 05, 02.

06/11 - 06,07, 09 next to a bunch of other flemish sours. 06 aged and port like now. 09 still young, heavy de dolle yeast. 07 (several bottles over last month) is amazingly integrated with light fruit, enhanced by sparkling acidity, touch of pepper, and oak. worst ’07 bottles are currently 4-4.1, best are 4.7 or so. While drinking an amazing one recently, reminded of the Solyaris ocean, flavors sort of emerging and coagulating on the surface, then disappearing again for something new a moment later. Jeremy laughed with condescension at that.

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.