Westmalle Dubbel

Brewed by Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Malle, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass

33cl bottle. Poured a dark ruby with a slight haze and a huge, dense and creamy lasting beige head, loose lacing. Currant notes on the nose, the alcohol comes through initially buts soon fades and is replaced by a delicate spice; just a bit too distant so I changed glasses and it opened up nicely to give fuller raisin & berry tones, molasses and a bit of yeast in the back. Lovely cakey, raisin, prune flavours, slightly vinuous, a touch of sweet spice finishing with a short, delayed bitterness. Medium in body, a fair amount of carbonation and some warmth in the throat.

Bottle from AuTrappiste in Paris
Appearance: Dark amber/brown with a nice off-white head, no lacing left in the glass
Aroma: Raisins, figs, and sweet malts
Taste: Dark malts, caramel, nuts and some bittering at the finish
Very nice beer.

11.2 oz. brown bottle... Pours a darkish brown, with a little light escaping around the corners and a thick brown head with less than expected lacing. Bananas and Bubble gum explode with slightly sweet malty under tone in the nose. The neither thick nor watery brew hits the tongue with a lively carbonation. The yeast is a little on the heavy side but the well balanced sweetness is great. Sometimes these end up too syrupy, but this is excellent. The also seems to be a touch of raisin at the end. Nice overall drink. While I rate it highly, I am not sure this is going to make it into my normal rotation.

Bottle (2005 Vintage) at Oud Arsenaal, Antwerpen. Dark brown with whipped cream head and stunning Belgian lace. Rich dark stewed fruit - plums, prunes and raisins, caramel, chocolate and brown sugar. Creamy smooth mouthfeel. The finish is smooth and bitter. It’s held up very nicely. Beautiful beer.

330ml bottle from the LCBO. Pours a dark red with an off white head. Not much in the aroma. Flavour is heavy and sweet.

From a 33cl into a water glass. Pours a medium brown/purple. TONS of fluffy head which hangs around for a while, leaving no lacing. Aroma is of plums and grapes with some pepper alongside. Mouthfeel is light but very well carbonated, it tastes better after a few minutes when the carbonation has subsided. Taste is of dark fruit, plums, berries... and mainly of spice. This beer has a lot of bite to it! Pretty cool. It reminds me of Orval but a little more subdued... and of course dark. Not my favorate (I don’t love Orval) but a very good beer.

Pours a cloudy brown with a amber hue. Big sudsy off white head that slowly fades. Malty caramel ripe fruit and a hint of citrus for aroma. Flavor of yeast malt and a bit of caramel. Finishes a little dry, malty, and a bit salty. Very smooth and well rounded. A bit thin, but not really watery. Very good brew.

Tasted in Bruges, this is one of my favorite dubbel Trappist beers. Needs to settle for a few extra minutes after pouring. Great malty flavors on the palate, finishes very well.