Kasteelbier Donker

Brewed by Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Ingelmunster, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Poured from a 330ml bottle. Has a dark color, like a coke but with a hint of read. Head was a dark beige that dissipated into a ring rather quickly. Smelled of dark fruits. Tasted like a light rum; a mix of sugarcane and a little bit of spices were there. Alcohol taste started to become prevalent after it warmed. Mouthfeel was thick but not too bubble. Overall pretty good. I was worried that it would be too heavy for an 11%, but there wasn’t a strong alcohol kick at all, instead just a subtle feeling in the aftertaste.

Sampled at the 8th Annual Music City Brewer’s Festival. Dark brown orange, off white head. Aroma is sweet, caramel, fruity esters, cherries, figs, brown sugar. Taste is brown sugar, more dark fruits, caramel.

Bottle. Pours a dark and dense, deep brown hue, mostly clear with a very light haze. A steady head of creamy, khaki colored foam leaves behind dense sheeting that dries to sticky flares. The aroma is heavy on sweet, dark brown sugar, with fruity notes of figs and dates. Cherry forward sherry notes lend a soft bozziness that fits well here. The flavor is very similar, figgy and caramely, with a vanilla maple finish and a bevy of dark, dried fruits. Woody oak comes to mind as well. Medium-full bodied, balanced, and lightly syrupy, the finish is on the dry, warm side. This one is really tasty. It’s one of the better Belgian Brunes I’ve had.

Smells of alcohol. Appearance is full-bodied, robust, very beery, and yet luxurious. Its flavour is a bit overly alcoholic but its palate is deliciously malty with sweet brown ale tones, which are very pleasant. Light carbonation - goes down smoothly. Overall, very nice. The Kasteel Rouge is probably still better though.

Draft at The Thirsty Monk. Pours a dark brown body with no head. Smells of molasses and ripe fruit. Flavor is dark fruit, yeast, and dark sugar. Awesome.

Cloudy chestnut color and a thinnish off white head. Aroma of dark fruit and sweet caramel malt, and alcohol. Taste of caramel malt with chest warming alcohol in the finish.

Bottled. Comes in a real classy shallow tulip glass. Pours dark ruby with rich head. Toffee aroma, and once it is warmed up also roasted malt and burnt sugar. Sweet vinous and very malty. In a way quite remimiscent of a full bodied red wine. The mouthfeel is soft and it is arousingly flavourful. The balanced finish contains a slight trace of hop bitterness to balance the port wine.

On tap. Brown pour, light tan head. Caramel, dark malts, plum, and candy sugar. Not a very interesting beer, it’s alright.