Bloed, Zweet & Tranen - Brouwerij De Molen

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured dark copper with light haze color ale with a small foamy head with OK retention and some lacing. Aroma of smoked malt is dominant and quite enjoyable. Taste is also a solid mix between a lightly sweet malt backbone and some huge peat smoked malt with some extra dry smoke also noticeable in the aftertaste. Body is about average with OK carbonation and no alcohol was apparent. Very good assembling of different smoked notes and I am sure this would pair well with smoked Gouda though I didn't have any.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 02:30:01 | More by Phyl21ca

Halcyondays

California

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a very dark brown with a creamy off-white head, good retention.

S: Great smoky nose. Really a mix of Islay and Schlenkerla, beautiful.

T: The heavy smoke has a great interplay with the residual sugar with a lot of dark malt flavour, very tasty.

M: Medium-bodied, not the biggest feeling beer. Creamy and smooth, smoky aftertaste.

D: Cool beer, it would go great with BBQ, glad to try it. If you like Alaskan Smoked Porter and Schlenkerla Rauchbier you have to try this, almost an imaginary blend.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2010 23:23:03 | More by Halcyondays

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle. ½ Pint glass. Enjoyed on apr´12. Nice deep crimson in color. Beige, close & dense froth. Copious, rocky head.Piney aromas, cask wood hues & slightly chocolate fragancy. Gentle smoky touch at first sip. Sweet toasted malts & dark fruit notes. Burnt fudge chocolate hints. Silky & bitter palate. Hoppiness in the middle shows a no bothering oily flavor while lingers into the finish. Medium body, soft carbonation. Smoke & cask wood on the aftertaste. Incredible well balanced & voluptuous flavors. ABV is just a gentle warming sensation masked inside a flavorful beer. Once again De Molen is a winning horse.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 10:02:31 | More by GONZALOYANNA

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black with just a hint of brown and a big finger of khaki-tan head. Fades very slowly.

S - Roasted caramel and chocolate malts, smoke, oak, coffee, dark fruits.

T - Roasted caramel and chocolate malts, lots of smoke, some oak, dark fruits, coffee.

M - Medium-full bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth with a smokey, warming finish.

D - Really nice smoked beer with good smoke flavor that is not overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 04:25:23 | More by ngeunit1

EskimoDave

British Columbia (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had from a large wooden cask (225L I believe).

It is a nice dark brown beer.
Has a tempting malty smokey aroma.
Smokey flavour with chocolate followed by coffee. Definitely a smoked beer. The alcohol blends well and has a nice warming effect.
Has a larger medium body.
It goes down quite well, could drink a few in a sitting.

Serving type: cask

08-18-2009 10:02:44 | More by EskimoDave

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.22/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep true brown colour with a few accidental floaties of sediment. Looks pretty damn heavy and opaque. Head is full and frothy and extremely rocky, a big beige bubble of lace-giving divinity. Looks very rich and robust.

Odd smoked notes on the nose -- certainly smoked characters in general, but it's a green smokiness, with big rippling vegetation characters mingled with the smokiness. Smells like a wood fire in the heart of the jungle. Pretty nice.

Certain smokiness on the front of the palate, which fluctuates in and out of view for a while as a roasted, chocolate malt note dives into the mix. At the very end of the palate, when the sweetness dies away, you're left with the crackling embers of pure smokiness, which dances on the tongue with its dry, parched finish. Really unique and lovely.

This is a really damn good smoked beer. Probably one of my favourites. It has this lovely sweetness to connect everything, but the delicate smokiness takes the lead. Really interesting and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 05:08:05 | More by lacqueredmouse

metter98

New York

4.19/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

On-tap at Café t' Arandsnest, Amsterdam, Netherlands

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured into a goblet with a half finger high light beige head that died down, leaving delicate lacing on the surface and down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate to strong aromas of smoke are present in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste is quite smoky from the start to finish along hints of underlying dark and roasted malts. A light amount of bitterness is present.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is remarkably easy to drink because the alcohol is well hidden from the taste and the smokey flavors do not overpower the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2013 19:40:14 | More by metter98

seand

California

4.15/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I lost a bit of this one when I opened it, as it unexpectedly fizzed out on to my counter and floor after just cracking the cap. It had been sitting unmoved for weeks, too, so it shouldn't have been too stirred up. Be careful!

A: The remaining beer pours a dark near-opaque brown, with a surprisingly small amount of dense tan head given the head explosion that happened when I opened the cap. This dissipates to a thin layer, leaving mild lacing.

S: Smoked ham. Lots of smoke, and lots of ham. There's a bit of malt too, but basically, smoked ham.

T: Lightly sweet, fairly smoky, and it feels like a touch of meatiness.

Overall, this is a weird one. It's pretty good though, as long as you aren't turned off by the smoked ham-ness.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 02:00:27 | More by seand

Absumaster

Netherlands

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A dark black beer with a thin off-white head.

Smell of dark malt, roasty. Some woody notes that are a bit oaky. Some old coffee whiffs, which are a bit like spent coffee.

Taste is full of coffee, roasted with distinct cold coffee notes. This adds a nice maltbitterness on top of the normal bitterness, which is not extremely high, but does give an extra kick. If I am not mistaking this beer has coffee in it. This does not take over the beer, but adds an extra depth to the dark taste of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2008 15:39:16 | More by Absumaster

LittleDon

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 12 oz. pour into a tulip shaped glass at Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach, CA.

Jet black with a substantial head and sufficient lace. Average head retention. Apple aroma with a bit of smoke. Fruity sweetness, as well. A bit of carbonation bite up front. This fades to a middle that has apple and prune sweetness with a subtle hint of smoke. Back end is a bit on the sour side and noticeably dry. Medium light mouthfeel. Not your ordinary smoked beer, and the smoke characteristics are very subdued. Alcohol sweetness is present in the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2010 02:42:53 | More by LittleDon

pixieskid

France

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From Notes: 11/10

Poured a nice brown color with a solid head.
Nose; definite roastiness and smokiness.
Taste; caramel, almost rootbeer-like, earthy and smokey and hints of chocolate. Finishes with a touch of brown sugar and meatiness.
Overall; great balance and nice smokiness that wasn't over the top, but there just enough to add some additional complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 10:10:47 | More by pixieskid

NEhophead

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Armsby Abbey on 10/08/2012.
Served in a tulip.

Pours a deep maple with a shade of grey beneath a slightly off white creamy head. The most prominent aroma of course is the leathery-smoke quality which overwhelms your senses in the best way possible. Notes of creamy milk chocolate & caramel along with some oak as well. Although the smoke is the main player in flavor as well, the darker malt flavors are initially much more pronounced; not quite rich, but it does add some depth to this ale. Hints of apple and grape, precede a slightly dry finish with more leather in the aftertaste. Full bodied The texture certainly distinguishes this one from a lagered Rauchbier; much fuller and rounded. A really nice smoked ale that I would recommend, especially on tap on account of its added smoothness.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2012 19:28:21 | More by NEhophead

dgilks

Australia

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown colour with a slight reddish hue. Not particularly clear. Moderate sized creamy tan head.

Big smoky aroma backed up with some fruitiness, alcohol and mild earthy, almost funky notes. Really interesting.

Rich peaty flavour, mild sweet malt, Belgian yeast character sits in the very back. There's some clear alcohol here but the overall picture is quite good.

Good medium body with moderate carbonation. The overall mouthfeel accentuates the beer nicely.

A nice smoked beer here which is different to some of the smoked beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 09:11:12 | More by dgilks

nickd717

California

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33cl bottle via trade thanks to bierkoning on ratebeer.

Pours dark brown with a large tan head and good lacing.

Aroma is peaty smoked ham, roast, coffee, and some mild fruity notes. Really smoky and great for this style.

Flavor is also smoke city. Peaty with smoked ham/BBQ notes, scotch whiskey, wood, roasted malt, and some hop bitterness.

Palate is smooth and smoky with medium body for the style.

Drinkability is good and the ABV is well-hidden. Overall I like this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2010 20:44:01 | More by nickd717

CookstLiquor

British Columbia (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 330ml bottle. This bottle produced a ridiculous amount of thick beige head no matter how carefully it was poured. That said, it really provided quite a whiff of the smokey goodness. There's lots of sweet bacon & leather on the nose. It's oddly enticing. The taste, however, is unbelievable. Doesn't seem like it would work, but the dark fruits, chocolate and smoke flavours are balanced and integrated with a lovely bit of sweetness that is gently knocked on the head by the bitter finish. So complex and interesting, even if you're not a fan of smoked beers.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 21:55:46 | More by CookstLiquor

avalon07

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a dark brown color and a hazy consistency. There was an inch of off white, foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: A smoky aroma, as you would expect, with a lot of malt and a sweet element as well.

T: Tasted of malt - a decently high amount of malt - an earthy quality, chocolate, light hops, and the aforementioned smokiness. An interesting flavor that gets better as you go along.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

O: On the whole, a solid, well made, and drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 13:10:21 | More by avalon07

beerpirates

Belgium

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

75 cl bottel poured into my cantillon tulip glass

A : Deep mahogany with a small head, no lacing

S: Sweet caramel with red fruits, raisins and molases. Light hops and light smoke.

T : Smokey and sweet. A bit woody. Some butterscotch. Dry finish. Slightly bitter

M : Carbonation is lively but soft at the same time,alcohol is well hidden

D : smooth and very drinkable

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 20:55:32 | More by beerpirates

eric5bellies

Australia

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Drank from my Duvel Tulip

A - Pours a thick black colour with a large off White head that reduces very slowly and laces.

S - Nice burnt wood aromas and some sweet malt.

T - Up front some real nice smokey malts with a hint of expresso and sweet chocolate. The finish is smokey and long.

M - Very zingy up front and almost too much. I like the way how it smooths out. The body is medium to full.

O - Loved this one, The smokeyness is really significant and I would liken this to a genuine Rauchbier.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 15:13:06 | More by eric5bellies

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle, 8.2% ABV. 'Blood, Sweat, and Tears'. Yum?

This beer pours, it um, pours, well, it pours with only a slight initial bottle tilt into a tumultuous, disturbingly fast-rising tight foamy ecru head, which comes perilously close to beer shame overflow, and eventually gives way to a fuzzy painted wall of lace around the glass as it lazily settles.

It smells of smoky caramel malt, salted meat, some surprisingly inoffensive medicinal notes, dark fruit and chocolate, and herbal, grassy hops. The taste quite a drop-off of the Islay by way of Bamberg nature - more of a big caramel chocolate malt, mild iodine and sour fruit edgy offsets, and a nice prodding grassy hoppiness.

The bubbles are still a bit prickly, the body a sturdy medium weight, airily creamy, and tacitly smooth. It finishes well off-dry, the relatively new-found chocolate malt still in its heyday, the bitter, smoky, phenolic components mostly laying by the wayside.

Given the awkward first impressions, I'm glad I powered through it all, to get to the real goods - a pungent chocolate malt offering, with more subtle smoked beer leanings - making it a much more drinkable affair than otherwise imagined.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 03:12:32 | More by biboergosum

Aethien

Netherlands

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Look: Very dark brown with a HUGE tan head that almost spills over the top of my Duvel tulip, almost but not quite. It did stick out over the top though. Aside from the explosion at first, it's a really nice head that sticks at close to half an inch and leaves plenty of lacing around the glass.

Smell: An intense smell of smoked bacon fills the nose with complimentary malts, chocolate and some grassy hops and dark fruits. The bacon is definitely the star though.

Taste: Smokey and charred malts, chocolate, dark fruits and the bacon is still in there as well though nowhere near as prominent as in the smell. There are some mild spices and medicinal notes in the flavour as well which really add to the meal in a cup taste.

The mouthfeel is surprisingly light given the taste, foamy and an almost smoke like feel with a dry finish that leaves an aftertaste like you've just inhaled some smoke from the barbeque, but in a nice way.

Overall this is a surprisingly easily drinkable meal in a cup. The only real downside is the rather explosive head that makes pouring this beer in one go a real challenge, even with a large tulip.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 18:17:05 | More by Aethien

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle that includes a note it will last 5 years. Wow! Bottling date is 6/7/2011.

A - clear brown/dark amber with a VERY fluffy tan head that leaves streaky lacing down the glass. Lots of carbonation in the glass. Takes a while to settle.

S - huge, sweet smoke and honey on the nose. Exceptionally powerful.

T - this one is all smoke, start to finish. Underneath is fairly strong grassy hops finishing with dark fruit. Very earthy/leather undertones throughout. Smoke still dominates, but there are some other interesting tastes there.

M - mouthfeel is a bit harsh on initial taste. After a few minutes it settles significantly. Body is light to medium, and even after losing a bit of carbonation is a touch harsh.

Overall - this is a crazy beer. I've had Rauchbiers and lots of smoked porters, and plenty of Islay Scotch, and this is probably the most intense smoky beverage experience I've had. Impressively there are still some nice flavors under the smoke, but it's still super-intensely smokey.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 20:25:04 | More by DoktorZee

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown, near black. Nice creamy beige head. Not much in the way of lacings.

On the nose, initially, a big hit of acrid smoke. This gives way, almost shockingly, to some really nice, sweet, malt. Roasted and lovely chocolate aroma.

Again, acrid smoke right up front, verging on sour, but it's followed by really nice roasted malt. Less chocolate in the taste, it switches to more dark fruits with a slight vinous touch to the finish.

A nice smooth drinker, good body.

This is an interesting smoked beer. I can't quite make up my mind about the smoke taste. I stand by "acrid" as a descriptor but I waffled between hating and liking it. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 18:47:25 | More by CanuckRover

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at 't Arendsnest in Amsterdam. From notes.

A - Black pour with dark brown at the bottom. Good lacing remains from the beige-ish head with thick layers but there isn't much retention.

S - Lot's of coffee and a mild coffee and smoke element but the smoke is blended in so as to make it quite mild.

T - Coffee is strong with sweet notes and licorice and chocolate. Smoke is very mild but there.

M - Medium carbonation and a full body. Definately a chewy aspect.

O/D - Not too shabby. It seemed more like a stout when I was drinking it. Not too sweet, mild smoke. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2011 20:54:19 | More by tbeckett

StJamesGate

New York

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Leathery amber with unholy amounts of rocky beige head that leaves chunks. Nose is slightly medicinal but not unappetizing Kielbasa smokiness.
Wood chips, brown bread crusts, some iodine, carob and a clean herbal bitter hops end.
Smoky meat finish and spicy tingly linger. Light to medium, crisp, round, smooth.

Based on the head, I'd say de Molen still have that carb problem they supposedly solved...

The ingredients are a laundry list for this one. Don't really get the chocolate malt or the roasted barley. Sladek is similar to Saaz, apparently - I guess it makes sense to keep the hops simple with some much else going on here. Not so sure mixed peat and Bamberg smoke is a good idea.

Opens up into a very decent smoked brown ale (not quite Schlenkerla but you can see it from here) but seems like a lot of trouble to get there.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 00:17:09 | More by StJamesGate

laituegonflable

Australia

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a murky bronze-orange colour. Head is modest but retaining very well; nice tightly-packed bubbles on top and some pretty special, sticky lace around. Fair haze in the body and a steady bead that's invisible except when tilted. Pretty good.

Smell is odd, quite smokey. Lots of charred meat and wood character with a slight brandy snap sweetness at the back. Slightly sour overall and frankly a bit weak. Could use more aroma, or more complexity to it. But nice for what's there.

Taste is quite roasty actually. A large caramel malt flavour on the front then develops into strong smokiness, with hints of bacon and wood smoke, some pine bark flavour on there. Mid-palate gets quite dark and roasty and that's what you're left with at the end. Some espresso notes and maybe a slight licorice spice with a slight bite of alcohol at the end. Really quite pleasant - the curious flavour of a smoked beer, but subtly melded into an enjoyable dark beer palate.

Fair body but feels slightly lighter than I would want. Leaves smooth, though.

Yeah, quite an enjoyable beer. Curious flavours done well, finely crafted into a pleasant beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2010 02:18:15 | More by laituegonflable