Kasteelbier Donker

Bottle at The Bishops Arms on Västra Hamngatan in Gothenburg, Sweden. Dark non-see-through color and a brown head. acid and a bit alcoholic scent, fruity taste

When I opened this bottle the cork was dated 11/2003 so this one had some age on it. Almost no head on initial pour but some light carbonation and lacing was visible. Very strong beer with very high level of residual sugars. sweet port like quality. extremely complex flavors with current, apple cider, spice and tasting like it had been aged in oak. Also hints of acidity maybe from the long age. Definitely a sipping beer to be enjoyed like a fine port

Bottled 01/2004. Clear dark brown/amber. Small, frothy, off white head. Aroma- caramel, malt, past ripe fruit, brown sugar, yeast, spices. Complex, but not overwhelming. Same flavors tied together by an underlying alcoholic mustiness that escaped the aroma. 25 proof caramel in the finish. 25 proof caramel dessert bread for an aftertaste. Full, smooth body. Great brew.

On-tap at the Blue Nile: A browned, dark cherrywood color with a firm capping of off-white foam that lasts a short while. Once the foam has drifted off it keeps a web thin collar and a slight whisp of topical foam residue. Lacing is slick and glaring with some soft spots and stringy patches sticking to the Kasteel chalice in which it was served. Sweetly scented aroma with a good load of toffee and caramel intertwined with some fig and raisin fruityness. A tone of unique Belgian lambic-like sourness and spicy yeast adds a queer funkyness over the top of its sweetness adding a bit of strangely acceptable earthy, nose hair grabbing, spunk. Taste is wonderfully sweet and mellow. Very well rounded toffee flavors and caramel stickyness is allowed to settle right in on the palate. It sinks off from there merging into a dark fruity melange of raisiny, plummy, dark cherry syrup and/or jam. Little tropical nuances of apricot and pineapple seep in as it really warms up with a port-like, alcoholic laced, big malt back splash of the toffee and caramel stickyness. Wow, what a ride of sweet candyness. Very nice! Feel is super silky smooth and fairly full with the malts. Slighty sticky, yet, soft and quite warming on the back end staying smooth and candy soaked with just a nudge of some yeasty spice peppering the edges. A sweet, sweet treat. Very sensitive and smooth. A carefully crafted sipper that’ll keep you planted in one place for a while as it takes hold of your senses. A very nice brew and highly recommended.

330 ml bottle, purchased at some unknown and unremembered midwestern location in December 2005, BBD 03/2010. Cellar temperature, Duvel glass. Very, very dark purple-black pour, lasting gobbet of creamy tan head....prunes and raisins dominant in the sugary nose, touches of caramel and vanilla, and more than a hint of alcohol....very, very sweet flavor, must be one of the sweetest Belgians in existence, like essence of raisin with dollops of pure caramel in an alcoholic rum bath..... thick, syrupy mouthfeel with peppery stinging alcohol and light dry herbs quite noticeable late.... there is no doubt that this is luscious and as well-made as any cream caramel masquerading as beer could be, but even this sweet beer lover has his limits. An interesting failure.

Desde luego, con mucho, mi cerveza favorita; espectacular color oscuro, achocolatado. Aroma intenso, dulzón y alcohólico. En boca es un portento, te llena la boca, se nota un dulzor intenso que contraresta el amargor. Es muy larga, el gusto no se acaba nunca. Parece más un buen jerez o un Oporto que una cerveza.

Very dark thick head, over an inch in foam. Sweet very sweet taste, almost wine like. Slightly bitter on the tongue. Very sweet and strong alcohol taste.

1 pint, 9.4 fl. oz. 9/2003. Pours mahagony, very bubbly, with the bubbles sticking to the glass, and a small rocky tan fizzy head, lined lacing. Malt (cookie, meal) medium roasted caramel, nutty, yeast (cellared) aromas with notes of port, and a fruity nose. Malty, medium bitterness and acidity, moderately sweet, lasting, perfumey finish. Full bodied and fizzy-spicy palate, warming.