Westmalle Dubbel

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

Serve in Trappist glass

11.2oz, best before 04/01/08 Pours a hazy mahogany with a little bit of garnet and a one finger beige head in my Chimay chalice. Aromas of yeast, dusty powdered sugar, roasty and caramelly malts, a little raisins. Like most dubbels I’ve rated, the aroma isn’t terribly strong, but it is quite nice. Flavor is much more pronounced, with lots of yeast and toffee malts and raisins, and the blunted dusty powdered sugar is also a bit stronger than the aroma. This probably is one of the more bitter dubbels, which might not really be saying much. There may or may not have been a tiny bit of grassy hops--I thought so but I could be making it up. Dry finish, which I wasn’t really expecting after the the creamy mouthfeel. Medium bodied, mod-high carbonation. The head lasted me til the end, so I dunno what cab is talking about. Also, I liked this one quite a bit better than the Rochefort. Very good.

Bottle. Pours a hazy dark orange-brown with beige head. The aroma is like sweet berries, with some wood and malt, and a little bit of a vinous quality. The flavor is also reminiscent of sweet berries, with some creamy caramel notes, some baking chocolate, and even a hint of dark roasted coffee. The finish is both sweet and ashy and trails off to a kind of burnt wood bitterness. Solid.

Pours with a deep amber body topped by a thick head with a good amount of lacing. It’s sweet and malty with nice candy sugar notes, a little spice and a touch of hops. Full bodied, warming and slightly dry.

muddy brown - reminded me of fine corinthian leather (ha ha). Starts with a creamy carbonated mouth feel that gradually thins. Yeasty and toffee flavors dominate with some fruitiness poppin’ in once in a while. finished very dry.

UPDATED: MAY 23, 2009 Bottled 33cl. It pours a beautiful deep amber beer with a thick, rather big remaining tanned head. Outstanding flowery aromas of ripe fruits including berries, melon, banana and peaches. Wonderful hints of wild strawberries. Some toffee and licorice in the nose. Very sweet and slightly smoky. Some woody, madeira-like elements. The flavor is very rich and sweet with reminiscent woody characteristics. Rather vinous. This beer has a pleasant bitterness. A very well balanced dubbel with a sharp and spicy taste. Lots of caramel with hints of black chocolate. The finish is bitter with some dark chocolate that comes through.. I was impressed by this dubbel! Additional comment: An excellent trappist - slightly sour. Woody and vinous. Some candied fruits showing up. Unique. Third rerate: Excellent. Huge amonts of aniseed, chocolate, pineapple, homemade caramel, candy and sage showing up in both aroma and flavor. Good bitterness. Absolutely fantastic. After several sampings: Mango does come to mind in the taste especially.

UPDATED: APR 5, 2007 Drank this along with a Rochefort 6 and this came out on top hands down. Beautiful dark brown pout with a 2 finger head that laced all the way down the glass. Head left alot quicker than the Rochefort. Aroma is dark fruits, spices and alcohol with some yeastiness in the background.

BBE: 01/09/11 sampled 01/08/11 Very old spiderweb laced aroma. Overripe apple, kiwifruit, and coconut notes also present. Opaque brown, huge tan head. nice lacing. Dry and woody rotten apple flavor, with definite spider web accents. Finish is apple skins and barley husks, bordering on cardboard. I wasn’t expecting this to be one of the better trappist ales, but it was distinctly good. I especially loved the mustiness.

This poured a cloudy reddish brown color with an off white head. Aroma was sweet malts, fruity and spice as well. Flavor was mainly spices, a little sweet, alcohol came through a bit as well. Ok for the style.