Kasteelbier Donker

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

Soft, sweet licorice, tons of brown sugar and a healthy pang of alcohol to keep things in check makes this the archetypical Belgian. Needs something more to rise above the competition, as far as I’m concerned. If I were after something like this with a sweet licorice profile, I’d take a swill of Italian Duc Ale.

Bottle: Distinctive reddish-amber coloured,... with a small foamy layer; strong herbal oaky nose with a touch of dried fruit, cocos and a vinous-alcoholic tinge, toasted malt also detectable; sweet flavour - full body; sweet-fruity finish with a touch of herbal bitterness. A bit too sweet to be really well balanced.........

Dark brown/red with a small head and very little carbonation. Sweet malty aroma of brown sugar, dark fruit (plum, raisin, cherry), toffee and alcohol. Very sweet taste, good complexity. Long, sweet malty finish. Almost like a heavy tawny port. Thick, syrupy mouthfeel. Very good if you are looking for a warming, thick, and sweet brew.

A very sweet and surprisingly, despite the high percentage, not alcoholictasting brew. Portnotes and like a barleywine in the belgian way. Enjoyment for more than a quarter. Cannot find another beer like thisone. Complex fruitnotes and a "strong" flavor. A true winterwarmer!

smells overpoweringly think and tastes the same. too syrupy for my taste. it got better as it went along but overall a disappointment.

Taste had notes of fuji apples. Sugar is also very present. Very sweet, and almost initially difficult to drink. After a few sips, my palate got used to it, and it became very pleasing.

Bottle. Head was average to large with a fizzy off-white color. It lasted reasonable long. Good lacing found in glass. Body muddy looking with some particles being spotted in bottom of the glass. Color brown like. Aroma was heavy malt (caramel, grain, rye bread, toffee, light chocolate, toasted) with other notes being some dry fruit. Full bodied with an average carbonation and a sticky texture. Some alcohol is also present in mouthfeel. Flavor was heavy sweet somehow a bit unbalanced I thought. Average sweet finish with an average duration.

750ml - cork says 08-2004 - Aroma is pungent toasted malt, alcohol, Belgian yeast, and light dark fruits. Pours semi-transparent brown with red highlights, a small head and good lacing. Flavor is sweet and delicious. Yeasty with a rich maltiness, cherry, brown sugar and alcohol warmth that doesn’t add up to 11%. Palate is smooth and sweet. Very tasty and under-appreciated.