Kasteelbier Donker

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

Dark brown, thick tan head, loads of bubbles, lacy. Aroma-caramel, yeast, alcohol. Taste-sweet candied fruits, dark cherries, quad-like but even more sweet. Complex and delicious.

Out of the small bottle. Pours a dark brown (almost black) with medium head and decent lacing that lingers a bit. The aroma is of cinnamon, dark fruits (namely plum), and carmelly candy sugar. The flavor is incredibly complex with the palate morphing through various flavors. The nose is of a big malty mouthfeel which gives way to a sweet unmistakably Belgian flavor and then it finishes strong with some tartness and a bit of alcohol. There also seems to be a good deal of carbonation.

No 389
Rated: 03.05.2008
Bottle brown, 330 ml, 24.1P
Appearance: Pours deep rubby body colour, very intensive and practically black with only slight rubby reflaxes body. Body under the light seems medium to high carbonated, rather clear in body texture. Head is off - white, cappuccino like, frothy, when poured into ’Chimay’ glass initially medium slowly decreasing to small and than lasting for a long time, there is also quite nice lacing.
Aroma: Gently alcoholic warmth, good quality alcoholic drink, cognac, cherry liquor, mild aromatic herbal hops are present too in such a high alcoholic Belgian Ale, roasted grains are slightly felt too, , notes of dark chockolate, cappuccino like, slightly nutty accent, especially wallnut essence, a hint of blackcurrant, prune. Aroma is refreshing, nice and complex what makes it very pleasant and not disturbing due to high alcoholic content at all, mild chill in aroma is very present and a bit winy, especially red wine.
Flavour: Front is sweet and even sticky, than alcoholic warmth on palate being verypleasant and without any harshness, body is full with complex aromas being present during drinking, woody - nutty touch , some distinctive notes of burned barley grains, caramel malt, toffe, butterscoth, reminding a bit ’Strong Suffolk’, red wine, some accidity from mild carbonation on palate, very focused, essential, thick in its body, kind of flat, not dull though, in the aftertaste there is pleasant grainy, burned - roasty, dark bready touch than strenghtens itselfs when the beer get warmer on your palate, coffee liquor, reminding some Quadrupels or Abbey Dubbles (a bit strong). Finish duration is long.
Palate: Body is full, texture is sticky, thick, carbonation on palate is rather soft, finish feel is mildly alcoholic what makes it a great masterkraft anyway such a high alcohol content beer and slightly bitter.

Pours a cloudy dark rust brown color with a light brown head that doesn’t last. Smells a little like a chocolate brownie. Or, actually, more like bread pudding with rum sauce. Taste is fairly like bread pudding with raisins and rum sauce as well. Bread, dark fruit, sugary sweetness, and alcohol. Slight hints of chocolate. The bready sweetness and alcohol lingers to form the finish.

This is my second time i have the pleasure to taste it after many yeras before. I got the same opinion as the first time. Just an excellent brune. Well balanced, so smooth at all.

pours a dark brown with a reddish tint with a slight tannish head. sweet with raisins, cocoa, cloves, vanilla. smooth for such high alcohol content. very good sipping brew.

Bottle 33 cl from Bier Bienne (CH). Dark brown with beige and fugacious foam. Alcoholic aromas of fruits, malt. The mouth is silky,sweetened, the body is full, beer rich, complex and luxuriant. Trend Barley Wine. Notes of molasses, dried fruits, porto, mocha-Kahlua. Alcohol remains surprisingly discreet.

UPDATED: JAN 30, 2012 33 cl bottle, pours dark brown with a minor head, aroma of yeast, malt and dark fruits with a slight alcohol presense, taste is mainly sweet being mostly dark fruit and malt, an enjoyable and beer, but not quite as complex as the very best belgian of the same style.

Kasteel Bruin on väriltään tumman ruskea, hieman punertava ja omaa beigen vaahdon. Tuoksultaan se on hedelmäinen, karamellinen, mausteinen ja hiivainen. Sen maku on makea, kypsän hedelmäinen, hieman mausteinen ja hieman hiivainen. Hedelmäisyys on tämän oluen tapauksessa erittäin herkullista. Jonkinlaista luumun tunnetta löytyy. Hieman alkoakin on, mutta minua se harvemmin häiritsee, eikä tässäkään tapauksessa ole ollenkaan näin. Paksu ja pehmeä nektari.

UPDATED: JAN 9, 2011 Dark red brown beer with small head.Smell raisins,burnt sugar,chocolate,alcohol.Taste heavy sweet,malty,chocolate, dry fruits,caramel,a sign of bitterness.Very sweet beer but without cola feeling.Tasty and not too alcoholic.It was very good dessert after xmas meal.