Kasteelbier Donker

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

Draft at Ebenezer’s. At the point in the night we had it, I believe I was in no mood for this. Either that or I still can’t stand brutally sweet/cloying beers. Pours a very dark brown, red around the edges. Nose is sweet caramel and fresh wort. Taste is sweet. Sickeningly so. Only upside was the fact that it hid the alcohol. Yuck.

11.2 ounce bottle from Whole Foods in Hillcrest ($4.79). "Bottled on 080407". Pours a dark brown with ruby highlights. Minimal beige head quickly disappears. Aroma of dark malts, caramel, molasses, plum, and raisins. Flavor of caramel, toffee, and molasses along with some dark fruit tones. It’s VERY sweet but not quite to the level of being cloying (though close!). Sweet finish. The big 11% ABV is very well concealed making this a very drinkable (and somewhat dangerous?) beer.

Listed as a quad at eulogy, had it in a stubby bottle. Pours brown with a tan ring. Nose is sweet and rich. Taste is sweet, rich, with raisans dark fruit and liquor. Overall pretty good, got me drunk quick.

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.