Urthel Parlus Magnificum (was: Vlaemse Bock)

Brouwerij De Leyerth
Brewed at De Koningshoeven (Bavaria - Netherlands)
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Ruiselede, Belgium

Clear, dark cranberry-brown body. There’s a massive, billowing, cream colored head that shows excellent retention. Tons of random lace splotches cover the glass. The aroma shows heavy molasses up front, with figs, caramel, root beer, honey and dark raisons. The scent is very malty, with just a touch of floral hops. The flavor is based on sweet, malty caramel, with cream, an array of dark fruits, honey, flowers, and even a hint of hazelnuts. The mouthfeel is intensely lively, and probably overly so. Medium bodied. The sweet and slightly sour finish was moderate in duration. Pretty solid brew.

Brown colour, tan head. Aroma has chocolate, licorice and dark fruits. Flavour is very creamy, with malts, dark fruits and some spices.

Red to brown color, medium head. Aroma: Licorice, toffee, chocolate, little toast, plums. Palate: Malt, caramel, chocolate, bitter, dark fruits. Very good beer.

It seems to me that the Belgian versions of non-Belgian styles never quite get away from tasting like a Belgian style beer. This "bock" is no exception...it is more like a dubbel than a bock for sure. Not bad though. This beer poured a red-brown color with a a soapy head. It had a red wine aroma, by which I mean I thought I got some tannin, a touch of sour and some grapiness. Flavor was some sourness with a full red-wine mouthfeel. It wasn’t very bock-like; rather it was more like Grand Cru to me. Not bad. Weakly recommended.

330ml bottle as Vlaemse Bock. Enticing aroma, full of richly toffeeish malts, plum, black cherry, buttery dark chocolate and licorice, along with lighter notes of flowers, doughy yeast, red wine, even traces of bubblegum. Deep brown in color with a lasting, ivory head, thick lace draping the glass unevenly. Flavor is similarly malty, sweet and satisfying, dark, sugary and roasted, blended with dark and dried fruits and lightly nutty finish featuring hints of tobacco, tangy red grape, oak and peppery spices. Soft, smooth, creamy mouthfeel, body is medium-full, some light warmth noted late. This is some good stuff right here, much more than just another Bock interpretation.

From the cork and caged 750ml bottle, the beer presents a lightly hazed red to almost brown color, the head stacks up to about two fingers, a creamy ripe peach color, the lace forms a velum like sheet to obscure the glass. Nose has a malt sweetness, backed my molasses and a touch of grassy hops, quite crisp. Start is sweet with malt, fruity and a nice spiciness at the back, moderate if feel to the palate. Finish has a robust acidity, the hops beefy in their bite, aftertaste is dusty, long lasting, a beer brewed for us stateside folks, and quite good this beer, but all this breweries beers rank high on my master list.

bottle poured dark brown large light brown head aromas of bread and raisins.Creamy mouthfeel >flavors of roasted malts nice light hoppy bitterness

The first two Urthel beers to make the long journey to Colorado were both of a lighter complexion. Characterized by fruity and even tropical flavors, the Samaranth and the Hibernum Quentum are easier fare, given to breezy drinking and carefree sampling. They’re brusque relative, the Urthel Bock, is a different breed. Clothed in fiery raiment, the traditional Urthel gnome adorning the Bock promises plenty of roasted and smoky flavors in this, the third Urthel to make its way from Belgium to your local liquor store. Does it equal its predecessors depth and complexity? Matching the Samaranth’s masterful drinking experience is indeed a Herculuean challenge. But if the Samaranth is an apogee of craft brewing the Bock is but a step beneath it. The subterranean concoction under the mottled, wood shaving tan head is an ornately flavored beverage well suited to the unfettered palate. The vapors that rise from the pomegranate red pool of beer are a feast all their own. It starts soft, entreating the nostrils with a delicate dab of strawberry, sweet cream and pomegranate juice before heartening on a mesquite note. All bets are off with the flavor. More assertive notes of tobacco and wood join the fray, with a delicate puff of peach to lighten the medley up with a soft sweetness only the Japanese really appreciate in their drinks. The palate is as soft as a goose down, and all at once I’m agog. This beer, by all standards and appearances, practically fumed with burnt, smoky flavors. When I regain my poise I coldly calculate that, no, this is not a smokehouse brew, but something transcendant of churlish tongues. The aftertase cracks with a small whip of licorice, and a cheesecake flavor glides into the beer as it warms, but nowhere are the brimstone aromas and flavors I had seen portended on the label to be found. The Urthel Bock is above such commonalities, prefering to reside high above rational categorization in a sequestered space all its own. This, unsurprisingly, is enough evidence to convince me that the Urthel Bock was created with the same caring hands and brilliant mind which fancied and fashioned the lovely Samaranth. It is also ample proof that De Koningshoeven is consistent in quality and toothsome flavors.