Grimbergen Optimo Bruno

Brewed by Alken-Maes (Heineken)
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Jumet, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass

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Caramelly nose with alcohol - interesting; clear ruby red coor and almost no head. Sweet maltiness of light brown sugar. Some spiciness. Like a sherry at times. Thickish and syrupy. Too thick? Too sweet?

Smells like bubblegum a mixture of cherry, peaches and caramel. Amber red, no head. Soft carbonation. Peppery taste, grapes, peaches are lightly coming through too. Syrupy, long spicey aftertaste. Interesting and complex.

Aroma of raisins and chocolates and hints of lambic bitterness. Thin head on deep brown/amber body. Starts off creamy and sweet and bitters toward the finish leaving a nice combination bittersweet aftertaste. You won’t know its 10% until its too late.

Pours a translucent brown. The head was light but quickly retreated. The smell is sweet and slightly malty. Very sweet on the palate. Low fruitiness in the taste. Also malty but sweet-sour/bitter. Finishes very dry with a slight alcoholic tinge in the finish. Very good beer!

Frothy head. Beautiful dark red color. Raisin, porto and malt in the aroma. Sweet, thick and malty flavor with figs, raisin and licorice. Surprisingly hoppy. Lasting hopbitter and licorice finish. Excellent!

I have been a fan of Grimbergen since I sampled my first double so many years ago, and I still seek them out when possible. A pretty cherry red to almost copper as it sets in the glass, the head modest in size, frothy in its consistency, and the color off white, but it does evanesce quite quickly leaving a very thin veil of lace. Nose is a bit vinous, tart and crisp, the malts play a big role. Start is quite tart, lots of malt, the top is middling in feel, with the finish bitingly acidic, the hops are perky in their spicy bite. Dry long lasting aftertaste and a decent beer, not a great beer, but well worth the sample and the 10% ABV does warm the “tummy” if not the cockles of your heart.

UPDATED: FEB 22, 2003 Dark amber colour, thin but persistent head, sweet aroma and flavour, with traces of caramel and the typical Grimbergen's fruit flavour. Alocholic aftertaste. A good strong beer, but a bit unbalanced.

UPDATED: JAN 31, 2003 Brown coloured, strong malty nose. Sweet, some caramel and obvious alcohol.

Looks like mixed with grenadine. Little bit sweet flavour. In despite of this, the flavour is apalling. Sweet, malt, bitter, it’s got almost everything.

Amber color. Alcoholic caramel liqueur. Loads of sugar in this brew but it’s not the sweetest.