 sliffy (1951), Columbus, Ohio, USA
Jul 9, 2006
Bottle: My second go ’round with this beer. And one that I absolutely refused to rate on memory. Pours a dark brown with a bit of haze, big off white head. Aroma was yeasty, floral, and fruity. Just a bit of alcohol was noticeable. Flavor, caramel, sweet and floral, with a beutiful fruity undertone to it. The finish is softly bitter with some more fruits. And just a touch of warming as it lingers in the mouth. Medium bodied with nice lacing.
While drinking this I couldn’t stop grinning at how good this was. I had it once before about 8 months ago right as I was really getting started on this site. I loved it then. Some of the beers I had earlier on though just don’t hold up anymore, but my god does this one keep it’s spot. If I could I would sip on this stuff for every waking moment, it is just so amazingly drinkable.
hirigalzkar (52), Stockholm, Sweden
Oct 11, 2008 Bottle. Hazy brown. No head. Sweet aroma of bread and yeast (not the typical belgian yeast aroma though). Sweet and fruity beer with a complex flavor. Bread. Raisins. Licorice. Etc. Very smooth.
HopsWhisperer (9), , North Carolina, USA
does not count  Oct 10, 2008 Many thanks to my friend Troy who brought back two bottles of this from a recent trip to Belgium and was gracious enough to share.
Poured a rich, dark brown color into a chalice. However, when the light hit it just right, it had a deep ruby/garnet glow. Wasn’t a huge head, but stayed around for a while. Also, we were sharing this among several people, so pouring this bottle into multiple glasses may have affected the head size as well.
Aromas were good, but nothing really stood out. Rather fruity, like plums and brown sugar, with some sweetness as well.
The taste was excellent. Lots of dark fruits, honey, some spice, and also a bit of alcohol bitterness.
Mouthfeel was exceptiona, like drinking velvet. Just a tingle of carbonation to keep the palate fresh.
Overall, this was a great beer. Did it live up to the hype--could it live up to the hype? Hard to say. I would love to have another full glass rather than the portion I had in order to really savor and explore this beer. But I can’t say that I was dissappointed, either, because what I did get to sample was awesome.
jacobp51 (3), San Diego, California, USA
does not count Oct 9, 2008 Had the pleasure of sharing a bottle of this wonderful beer with a group of friends the other night. Very well balanced. The taste is sweet and fruity with a very mild bitterness. The taste of raisins or dates or some other kind of dried fruit is very apparent with each sip. Very complex on the palate, but not overwhelming. Each sip leaves your mouth wanting more. Well worth the hype, but I wish it was more widely distributed. Cheers!
xpimptastikx (24), Austin, Texas, USA
Oct 7, 2008 No beer is perfect, but this is damn close. Perfectly balanced. Sweet, malty, and slightly hoppy. Every time I sipped it I tasted a new fruit. A complexity that keeps you drinking, and finishing the beer quicker than you’d want. The Abbey experience is one in its own as well. Everyone should try this beer at least once.
Koen890 (2), Vilvoorde, Belgium
does not count Oct 7, 2008 This is the very best beer I ever had
All beer lovers should try it!
too bad it is hard to get
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