Valley Brew Decadence 8

Bomber from KrausenJockey shared with friends on 6/26/07
Probably the best testament to how well-made this beer is, which speaks better than anything I can say in a review, was the reaction to this beer by the two people I shared it with. Neither of them were "beer drinkers", and their idea of a fancy beer was heineken. So you get the picture. Anyways, they both were shocked by how good it was and how much they enjoyed it. They both always ask if I have "more beers like that one" referring to this. And I’m right on board with them, this one blew me away.
The great thing about beer is that it dosent have to barrel-aged, or brewed with a top-secret yeast, or quintuple dry-hopped, or anything like that. A fantastic yeast (trappist, in this case), with a correct fermentation and careful malting are all it takes.
This yielded one of those rare beers that seems to pour on the flavor/aroma and hit both your sweet and dry receptors, as well as being at both times thick and light, satisfying and sip-inducing. A terrific fruitiness underlies the zesty medium malts with plenty of base malt body. So clean, and yet with a brilliant yeast signature that is never bland/nutty/doughy. Light chocolate is held in the background, with notes of cherry, strawberry and very light cola displaying themselves all about the palate. Clove phenols and vanilla are all in moderate levels and help add authenticity and light dryness. I could name about 10 other subtle flavors that are displayed in this beer too. A pinch of breadiness from the malts sits on the end, as well as a touch of alcohol warmth, which is actually appreciated here, as it mixes so well with the fruitiness and sweet malts. Nothing fancy, just really f-in good beer. Thanks Steve!!!

Very bready and complex palate with flavors of plum and Black currant hints of cherry an Apricot make this an unforgettable beer.

Rust-hued garnet. Tightly packed ivory bubbles establish a thin but retentive cap. Awesome medley of peach, red licorice, chocolate pudding, plum skin, and aniseed in the aroma. Gorgeous earthy yeast character with a touch of black pepper. Quite perfumey, as well. Soft natural carbonation firmly grips the palate. Very snug. Earthy yeast astringency accompanies a rich wave of caramelized raisins topped with softer layers of plummy malts, chocolate, and nougat as well as toffee-drizzled nuts. Despite its age, the hops still manage to brightly exude with a flowery daintiness. Stellar attenuation creates a platform for the velvety malts to harmonize with the sassy roast, honeyed biscuits, and well-defined cottony accents. Fruity esters provide substantial weight, as they impart a vibrant juiciness and suppleness which bolsters the body’s core and deepens the cocoa roast. Lustrous acidity also sparkles amid the baffling malt complexity. Yeast is very clean but possesses a curiously complex character. Alcohol is also masterfully cloaked but beautifully complements the dryness and peppery yeast qualities. Remarkably clean and polished, overall, yet retains such wonderful depth and richness. Lenghty, snappy and earthy finish showcases chicory and aniseed balanced by thickly-textured whispers of port, plums and creamed coffee. Not only is this well made and incredibly nuanced, but it’s very characterful to boot. A drop-dead beauty!

Courtesy SoLan. Pours a fairly hazy orange maroon, with a small bubbly white head. Smells of dark fruits and dark malts. A little caramel as well, but somewhat mild. Kind of smells like fruit skins. Taste has a noticeable and enjoyable tartness to it. Good fruity flavors with a little candy suagr as well. Not really candy sweet though, more like fruity sweet. Nice smooth caramel in the finish which was quite lengthy. Apples and plums make up the fruits in the flavor. Awesome brew.

Cloudy amber/orange pour, very pretty body. Thin, soft looking off-white head slowly recedes to a small ring. Lacing glistens in small orbs. The aroma is at first candy sugar, that ushers in a soft aroma and has plentiful spicy notes from adequate malt to accompany it. Light tartness in the nose gives this a hint of authenticity and seems a tribute to a positive heritage. Chocolate, cinnamon, treacle, rasins and dates all show at least minimal characteristics. The caramel nuances from the malt are lightly burned, fresh otherwise. Alcohol is tremendously well masked. The flavor brings the sour funk to the fray, awesome! Orange and lesser other citrus peel notes appear with a little warmth. Alcohol that’s aggressive in the flavor and finish reminds of rich, young cognac and is a real pleasure to indulge in, it really adds to the overall appeal. Sweetness is perfectly integrated, never too much nor too little. Biterness is mild, as is tartness, acidity kept to a minimum. The finish is lightly sweet, mildly warming, abrasive caramel puttering around the recesses of my mouth and trickling down my throat like hot molasses. I am shocked. What a wonderfully fun Dubbel. Cheers to you Valley Brew, this was executed with real flair and dignity, an honest homage to Dubbels that have endured for years.