Maredsous 8 Brune

Brewed by Duvel Moortgat
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass

33cl bottle, with different label (the one in the image is outdated). Dark reddish brown colour - big, soapy beige head that disappears rather quickly but leaves decent lacing. Aroma of red berries, malt and booze. Medium carbonation, slightly grainy mouth feel. The taste is quite surprising: Not the usual Belgian-bruine sweetness, but a strong, herbal bitterness with some aniseed, leading to a malty, dry and bitter finish, with a lingering bitter after taste. The earthy, herbal spices neatly balance the alcohol. Well-crafted dark Belgian brew, which, unlike many, will be welcome by lovers of "real" beer, too!

Bottle from "BelgaSörökHáza", Budapest. Shows a reddish brown/dark copper with a whipped creamy liked beige head on top. (Dried) fruity, spicy, light alcoholy nose. The taste starts crisp, flavour’s fruity and of toffee, texture is creamy/thick. The aroma is very nice and complex: pepper/spice, caramell malt, wheat, yeast and citrus hops. The finish is spicy, hoppy which drains the palate strongly, this follows at last a light alcoholy warm up. Fine and well enjoyable.

The Maredsous Line is just a great lineup of beers. This one has a subtle roastiness and some nice dark fruit flavors, I even had it in my personal Maredsous Glass that I got free from a drink the beer/keep the glass giveaway at my local bar.

On tap @ The Cheeky Monk in Denver. Dark rusty copper in colour, tan fluffy head with sticky lacing all the way down the glass when eventually finished. Smells like brown sugar with earthy maltiness and baking chocolate. Tasted much of warming alcohol that makes you just lean back and smile. Earthy malts dominate with hints of fresh crusty bread. As sweet as it was, it was not too imbalanced, as some hop bitterness held the whole thing together in the background. Very warm tasting, compliments perfectly with the warming alcohol I metioned earlier. Light carbonation with a dry champagne-like finish with notes of toffee and chocolate. Dang good.

27/05/2011 33cl bottle @ home - BB: 1/2012 (2011-231)

Clear brown beer with a red glare, small beige head, unstable and just a little adhesive. Aroma: alcohol, a little port, wood, orange peels, caramel, a little bready. I guess I already have it laying around for a year and a half, so that explains. But it has aged for the better. MF: good carbon, medium to full body. Taste: fruity, oranges, some spices, then a little hop bitter turning to quite a bit of sour and wood tones. Aftertaste: alcohol is clearly present, bit of mocha, sour fruitiness and sweet alcohol.

Pours a deep maroon with a huge head. The long lasting head leaves a crazy lace along the side. Nice aromas ranging from fruits, to molasses, to spices. First sip, you can feel the burn. Then, second swallow feels great ! 8% ABV, but does not feel like it. Medium-full body and well carbonated.

Bouteille de 33 cl achetée à l’abbaye de Maredsous (B). Brune-rouge avec mousse brune claire crémeuse et tenace, pétillement dru. Parfums maltés et fruités, notes de banane, abricot et épices. En bouche, elle est ronde, équilibrée parfaitement entre fruité et amertume, notes de café, caramel, biscuit. Fin de bouche longue et épicée, un peu acide et touche d’alcool. Superbe

At a tasting in "Porter & Sons" in Tel Aviv, on-tap, pours red-brown color with a white head that dissipates quickly, nice lacing, fruity, alcoholic, sweetish, malt and nuts aroma, slightly sweetish, slightly smoked, woody and sour cherry taste, not so flows, full body, bitter and slightly dry finish, and overall a great Abbey Dubbel beer, rich with smells and tastes.