Grottenbier Bruin

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

Pours a clear dark brown with dissappearing off-white head. Medium sweetness with a light bitterness. Aromas of dried fruits eg. prunes and dades. Bitter finish. Very nice.

A Mes rate: Ahh Bier des Grottes. It’s like an old friend. This was one of the beers that really got me started. A regular back up if there is nothing else I want. Spice and fruitcake aroma with a touch of the caramel creeping in. Muddy brown almost opaque looks with a good light tan head that lasts reasonably well. Lovely flavour that zips around the mouth as soon as you sip. Again it is spice and fruitcake that comes through with some plum, toffee/caramel too. Maybe just a little too much carb if I am going to pick holes. Nice and smooth with a slightly tart bitter finish. Almost always served too cold when I have it. Don’t be too hasty, it gets much better as it warms. Ahh my old faithful.

Edit Oct 2008... what the hell have they done to this beer? Not even a shadow of its former self. Thin mid brown, aroma is just about what it was, flavour has gone to pot. Weak and watery. Like a cheap imitation of what it used to be. Pathetic.Down to a 2.7 from a previously well loved 3.7. A shambles.

Enjoyable brew. Pour is murky copper with a lot of head and carbonation. Aroma is dried fruits, yeast, and malts. Taste is very pleasant and not overwhelming. Heavily malted, with candied fruits and some spice. Finish is a bit sticky with some alcohol warmth. A good seasonal beer.

Bought at ABS Drinks. Dark amber beer with a tan head and lots of lace. Roasted malt aroma of walnuts, esters, spices, some raisin. Very full well-balanced flavour, somewhat comparable to the Abt of the same brewery. There are some light spices in the taste, but they’re not annoying as in the Westmalle Dubbel and Chimay Rouge. Stronger malty and alcoholic finish, which is the weakest point of this beer.

750 ml bottle, corked "champagne" style. "Best before" date 23.03.2001! - brewed by De Smedt. Cloudy brown colour, large and lingering light tan head. Excellent vinous aroma, oak, red berries, leather. Pleasant oaky flavour with a nice acidity, vinous character. Notes of spices, well balanced hops. Very nice "cave beer".

20 Jun 2005 - (Inge B&B, Haarlem) - Lovely fruit hop malt aroma. Cloudy medium brown, creamy head and sheet lacing. Light roast malt and hop flavour. Dry lingering malt finish, but a bit thin.

bottle. copper-brown body with a small bready head. yeasty fruit nose with malt accents. prickly carbonation. body is flavourfully malt and spicy. a little bit of tartness in the finish. good.

Big, creamy tan head slowly settles into a thick top coat of foam. Body is an amber-brown with an orange tint. Body is calm with little apparent carbonation. Aroma is big and full of malt with strong notes of alcohol, yeast, spice, pepper, wood, and caramel. Has a well carbonated candy store mouthfeel. There are so many flavors in here I can’t possibly describe them all. The palate of this beer is a complex blend of fruits and spices atop a bed of malt, yeast, and alcohol. It has been a while since I’ve tasted a Belgian Ale and I’m glad I tried this one. I recommend it highly.