Dobbelken

Brewed by Brouwerij Strubbe
Style: Belgian Ale
Ichtegem, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Bottle 33cl. Bought @ Van Eetvelde Lokeren. A dark brown color with a beige head. Aroma low, sweet and sour. Medium body. Taste sweet, little spicy, but some sourness touch.

25cl bottle, dark brown beer, not a good nose , easy to drink no complex flavours,

If it hadn’t been for Bontus’ rating, I’d remained in profound belief that this beer had been shelved for the longest time. Well, it’s still very much around, but apart from my deepest cellar shelf, I hadn’t seen it around. Only problem, the shelf-sample had been purchased in 1985... Disparate yellowish head, over red-brown ale. Fusels & esters nose, a touch of vinegar on wood, nuts. Pretty severe Oud Bruin nose. Sweet-sour in good balance, madeirisation outspoken, bit of acetic acid, but only a hint; tannines, however abound. Vestiges of a rich Oud bruin flavour that was once quite complex. Very watery body, because of its age, and the acids’ thinning. When this bottle was young, I thought "Dobbelken" one of, if not outright the best from Strubbe. This one is aged a tad too much, and I’ll be on the lookout for a reratable sample. It’s still quite interesting, though.

UPDATED: JAN 9, 2009 Bottle 25cl. Poured a dark brown beer with a ruby shade and a small head. Nothing special in the nose. Really looks like cola. Biased by this it also tasted like cola too, palate is well balanced but weighing over to the sweet side. A tiny bit spicy afterwards. Sticky sweet aftertaste. Had a fresh one and an older one for a rerate.