Kasteelbier Donker

Brown head with few bubbles. It doesn’t last much and leaves almost no lace. Brown reddish very nice colour. Nose of chocolate, cherries and plums, apricots. A hint of vanilla. Sugar cane, alcohol, sherry aged wine. Heavy sweet flavor, I think that I notice it more in the 75 cl. bottle than in the 33 cl one. Don’t know why, lately I find the sweetness a bit artificial. Mouth of chocolate, brandy, cherries, plums, apricot, sherry aged wine again, sugar cane, aniseed. A beer of the gods. One of them. Too complex to find all the characters in one taste.

Bottle, labelled Kasteel 11º Bruin from an off-license in Brussels, Belgium.
I tasted this a few months ago during the World Cup and reading back through my notes it is one of the few that I can’t remember trying. So I’ll just repeat what I wrote. Here goes:- Brown, hazy, smallish tan head, little lace. Deep, rounded chocolate malt nose, sticky toffee, sweetish, light alcohol prickle. Pleasant. Sweet, very sweet palate. Toffee, soft sticky date pudding note, caramel, biscuity malts, savoury fruits add little. Bready, doughy, thick mouthfeel. Sherryish note in back, dries out lightly, alcohol evident. Long cocoa, chocolate, warming swallow. Touch of malt bitterness in swallow. Too sweet, sticky, alcoholic. Average. (33cL, BBE 01/2011)

Bottle. Dark brown body with low carbonation and a thin beige foamy head. Enjoyable malty aroma with fruity (grape, cherry) notes. Perfectly balanced malty taste that hides the alcohol very well. It also carries fruity and flowery notes. Nice warming, bittersweet finish. Nice!

11.2 oz bottle. Pours to a curious depleted brown, with a caramelly tan head. The aroma brings to mind almond and brown sugar. Immediately apparent is the unmistakeable flavor of Chardonnay - buttery, dry, and sweet, followed by cashew, more brown sugar, and maple syrup. Delicious and surprising, to say the least. This could be the beer-lover’s wedding champagne.

This is a very tastefull beer. Very dark. I have several in my basement. You can keep them there for a long time and when its time to whipe of the dust... sante!

750ml bottle. Cork dated 11/2003. Best by 11/2008. Pours a hazy brown with hints of red. Thin tan head. Lots of sheeting lace. Smells fruity. Rich caramel and vinous aromas. Rich and fruity flavor. Alcohol still present in this nearly three year old sample. Sweetish and candy sugar flavore. Hints of plum and notes of port. Big beer, thick and sticky mouth although the low level of alcohol taste dries it out, keeps the sweetness in check. This is some nice brew. Some more for the cellar is in order.

Bottle. Decent head with medium duration. Color is brown. Heavy aroma of fruits and spices. Taste is sweet and fruity with some alcohol.

750 thanks to Vyvvy for sharing. plum hue with a soff off-white soapy head. nose of vineous red grapes, like a red wine, dark fruit, musty leather quality and plums. wow, this is a sweet one. lots of dark fruit with a hard candy note as well. body is medium with a cloying sweetness. red grape skins on the finish. way too much sweetness here-needs some dryness to round out the brew.