De Dolle Speciaal Brouwsel 20

Formerly brewed at De Dolle Brouwers
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Diksmuide, Belgium

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Thanks to the guys at woodshop quad for my first taste. Conversations spiraling about where this has come in 8 years, apparently not for the better...I guess I wouldn’t know. Objectively speaking, this was a mellowed out flowery, spicy, flemish ale. Berries in the flavor w/ some musty wood type character. Not "sour" - not really at all. Wish I knew where this has gone over the years... most def over the hill, but still a good brew. So stoked I got to try this...

Bottle. 2000 Vintage, sampled at the Woodshop Quad Tasting in January 09. A major thanks to cquiroga and steiny for an epic tasting, as well as to whoever threw in this bottle. Pours a cloudy bronze color with minimal carbonation and no head. Musty aroma of potpourri, jasmine flower and a somewhat tart diacetyl, neoprene-plastic tone.Very complex and interesting. Flavor is slightly malty with nuances of light Holiday spices and stale hops. Still has some soft sourness on the finish with a light sweetness. Lasting notes of earthy malt, baked bread and yeast top things off. Overall, really a treat to try this with 8 years of age, however I bet this was outstanding after only a few less years in the bottle.

I normally don’t rate, but this beer is something I’m bragging about so this is why I’m posting this rating. Had it tonight, and all I have to say it is DAMN!! this is good! Slight tart character, little fruitiness, and great carbonation for a 8 yr old bottle. easy drinking. Very smooth, and well worth the hype and the empty bottle I have is a going to be a well cherished trophy! Very worthwhile of the high rating!!!

UPDATED: JAN 11, 2009 Brewed 28 DEC’80 - gebotteld 14 JAN’82 (210 bakken). This rarity that dates back 27 years happend to come from the cellar. Thx guys. Muddy brown pour with a thin white bubbly head. Nose is vinoes... its old - a bit of cherries, alcohol, dry raisins and wet wood. The taste is odd - its sour like a flamish ale, overdonoe mango, wet cardboard, peaches and lactoses, This should maybe have been drunk 10 years ago... its fun though and the rating gives a little credit to the fact that its from the first year of the dolle champs.

Thanks to my buddy Kev for a chance to sample this awesome brew. Just a slight tartness . Some apple tartness but smooth a gentle and easy to drink.nice Belgian lace from candi sugar no doubt and a really pleasant yeasty horse blanket soft malt nose.Nice beer hopefully someday we will meet again..

UPDATED: JUN 8, 2011 37.5 cL bottle in a fantastic vertical of Still Nacht beers at Kulminator together with Ask, Jes, Jens and Rasmus - cheers guys! (and the correct Speciaal Brouwsel 20, courtesy of Jacon Kramer - thanks buddy!) We actually started out with the special. Pours beautiful deep amber and with a nice offwhite head. Aroma is fruity and cherry, extremely smooth and inviting with a mild whiff of caramel malt beneath. Smooth phenolic and cherry flavoured, yet so perfectly balanced and unbeliving "alive" after so many years. Complex wineous smooth finish - just fantastic!

1980 version, tasted @ Kulminator, september 9th 2006. Aroma and flavor have porto, cherry juice and a very soft malt character. Has lost all its carbon, but not its bite. Caramel, lemon and cherry in the flavor. The alcohol remains totally unnoticed. Absolutely great beer.

Vintage 1980 @ Kulminator, part of a vertical :-) Dark reddish brown with nice lasting head. Strong malty vinous aromawith notes of sour berries, wood and vinegar. Flavour is sweet and sour, with long sour finish. This was a treat :-)

Bottle from 1980 @ Kulminator. Read brown with huge beige creamy head. Sour aroma with notes of wood, sour berries, roasted malt and vinegar. Sour flavor with berries, wood, barnyard and malt. Ends sour. Fantastic carbonated for such an old beer. Lovely!

Tasted at Cleveland tasting on 8-23-08. Thanks!! Bottle pours a dark amber color with a white head. There are a lot of tiny floaters in this one. Aroma is very earthy, and woody with some musty smells, and some slight citrus. Has a very big body and was very well carbonated. Taste was very surprising. I didn’t think I would taste something that pushed the envelope on this style. It was hard to describe. It was sweet like caramel, but had a musty flavor in there. It was woody, but also had a nice tart finish. Overall this was a surprising beer that I really enjoyed tasting.