Grottenbier Bruin

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

I sampled the U.S.-labeled “Grotten Brown Belgian Cave-Aged Ale,” in a 750 ml corked and caged bottle. This ale is punchy, effervescent and rosewood in color with an opaque body. The pour also leaves a splendid, large, tight off-white head that left remarkable lacing. The aroma is earthy like a damp autumn forest, with spices like clove, dark dried fruit and discernable alcohol complements. This ale is dry and effervescent through and through, but a sweet, dark malt backbone grows more apparent as the beer warms to room temperature. Mid-palate flavors include the aforementioned clove, but also essences of raisin, prune and sour cherry. The finish is sharp, dry, and long-lasting, perhaps owing to hop bittering but also a heightened alcohol content.

Cloudy brown with fluffy, inviting head. Aroma is strong — spicy clove and nutmeg and wood with just a hint of metal. The flavor is equally big — clove, apple, cherry and wood. There is a slight peppery taste as well. The mouthfeel is fizzy with a short to moderate finish that presents a subtle tartness. Different and tasty and pleasant. Would not hesitate buying again.

Cloudy, apple cider pour with a spritzy head. Funky and woody aroma has some granny smith apple overtones. Great mouthfeel - the carbonation helps to disperse the complex body. More apple, pear and cherry fill the body with a liquid smoke undercurrent. A slight plum note carries through as well. A sublte metallic tinge near the finish is the only real fault I can find. Belgian Brown Ale - interesting style to say the least. (The day before rating this beer, it showed up on my 365 Days of Beer calendar. The writer suggested leaving part of the bottle opened in the fridge overnight to notice some pretty interesting enhancements. I did the experiment and was happy to find the beer a bit more fruity and even. The metallic note I tasted earlier was gone and a more firm apple/pear presence was in place. Surprisingly, the great spritzy carbonation was also still there, helping to disperse the flavors.)

Fantastic. Fizzy and effervescent pour with thin white head. Fruity, spicy and oaky aroma...herbal notes are dominant. Crisp mouth feel with a substantial malt character; herbal and oaky in flavor.

clear brown beer with a small head. aromas of caramel, fruit and spices. tastes that way too, coriander and citrus zest dominate. nice bittersweet and dry finish. nice, very nice.

True to its label the beers aroma was dark and damp, wood and some sweetness to it as well. The brew looked a touch cloudy with a nice redish brown and the head was a off white that lasted the duration of the glass. The flavor was rich with hops and fruit. Very smooth and lasting with every sip feeling full and complete. Thought it had a nice range of taste to the mouth . Could taste some fruit like plum and pear as well as some spice. The Grotten is a very good beer and will get a return visit for sure.

Bottle. Brown pour - slightly orange and hazy. Malty fruity - pears for me - and a tad sour. There was also some nice yeaty notes, and pleasant spices. Balanced fairly well. I enjoyed it.

A nice thickness. The taste enhances as the beer gets warmer. Not that brown in volour, but with a white-brownish head that disappears quickly. A nice taste at first that is slightly old, quite fruity... the aftertaste somewhat hoppier and dry.