Grottenbier Bruin

Brewed by St. Bernard Brouwerij
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Watou, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass

Darkish brown/reddish in color. Fluffy light tan head. Lightly spicy aromas with a bit of sweet maltiness. A good amount of carbination thru-out. Flavors of strawberry, ripe plums, a bit of wood resin (oakish). On the last glass swish in the yeast from the bottle: the color darkens, and the flavors deepen.

Pours dark amber with light tan head. Aromas of fruits and Belgian yeast. Malty flavor with some dark fruits and caramel with a slight metallic finish. Thin, watery mouthfeel with lively carbonation. Not bad, but a little diasppointing.

Tasted 12/05/2008. 330ml bottle courtesy of BozoNZ (I think it came from one of the Chch BJCP tastings, possibly via The Beer Emporium, RIP). This sat around in the cellar for sometime but I needn’t worry, best before is not until 2010. Pours a slighty fiery murky dark amber - this really looks like muddy homebrew, so top marks for not trying to be this year’s model. Subtle but extraordinarily complex aroma features marmite at first, then an excellent mix of dark dried fruit (tending to prune) with a little baby sick and leather. Settles to a nice brett-like sourness with a light toast character and an excellent dry woody note. Caramel shows through as it warms. In the mouth it is more of the same - all the complexities of the nose, which I would simplistically describe as woody, brett-infected, peppery cola (is it Coke or Pepsi?) with a dry leathery finish. A little aniseed and earth enter the mix in the finish. Light mouthfeel, medium-full carbonation. Understated, sleek, simple, sublime, sexy. My style of beer, and one of the best. I want more. Thanks Craig, just like this beer: you’re a legend!

25.4 oz bottle. Cellared a year. Clear dark chestnut with a beige skin. Doughy nose with dried dark fruits. Port cola-ish with a lactic creaminess; like an ice cream soda. Taste is soft raisin and fig then bready with fennel and a little spice. Solid but subdued.

750mL, no date from TheCheeseMan and the Mystery Swap 3.0. My label is colored differently and lists 6.7% ABV. Clear reddish orange with a one finger off-white brownish head, good retention. Aroma is quite figgy and raisiny up front with some brown sugar and yeasty spice. It has a minerally background. Flavor adds a hint of roast and grainy malts which helps pull back the reins on the sweetness I was getting in the aroma. There is also a bit of mustiness (like from an old cork). The finish is dry and slightly earthy, bitterness minimal. My glass is left with a sheet of contrasting thicknesses of unbroken lace. Moderate carbonation with a body that’s a little too thin--maybe due to the lower alcohol? A tasty dubbel--I’d been contemplating getting this from the store down the street, but TheCheese made it so I didn’t have to.

(cleaning out my beer bottle collection as pictured in my profile and utilizing ratebeer.com) As I recall, this was a very good abbey dubbel. Unique blend of hops, fruits, and floral flavors.

Bottle at Belgo. You know, in London. I love how people assume we know where you drink. Caramel, toffee type thing going on. Nice dubbel, get the fuck in.

Bottle. Sweet raisin malt aroma. Medium brown with small head. Brown sugar, raisin malt flavor with light alcohol burn to finish.