Black - Brugge Brasserie

Sean9689

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap at Brugge.

A - Pours black, cream-colored head, thin collar.

S - Malty and yeasty, pretty sweet with light roast.

T - Roasted malts, light sugary sweetness, some chalky notes.

M - Light, good carbonation, roasty clean finish.

O - An average Dark Ale, at best. I'd probably give this another try, but if there's a sour on-tap, I'm going for that.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2012 18:32:57 | More by Sean9689

ZombiesAteMyDog

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A – A nearly black body with no lacing and only a slight, off-white head. Does not appear too thin, which is a nice plus.

S – Chocolate malt, caramelized sugar, and maybe a bit of spiced plum?

T – Sweet… Molasses and slightly charred fruit.

M – Medium body. Very smooth with little to no alcohol detection.

0 – Another nice brew from Brugge. Not my personal favorite from them, but I liked it for a style that I am always hit or miss on.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2012 00:17:04 | More by ZombiesAteMyDog

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Brugge Brasserie last weekend. Served in a tulip.

Poured near black with a good off-white/light tan head and some good lacing. The nice brought a bit of yeast plus a large amount of roasted malt. The flavor was mostly all roast with some light dark-fruit character. Interesting, but not all that enjoyable. There was some creaminess to the feel, though mostly dry roast. Overall, this was far too dominated by bitter roasted malt.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 23:58:17 | More by Thorpe429

Verecund

North Carolina

2.93/5  rDev -21%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours bistre, with a nice creamy head.

Some earthiness, muddled dark fruit, and sappiness. There's also a roasted character that's surprising to find. Little yeast presence. The taste is equally confused, in my opinion. Dark malts, some dark fruit, and a breadiness. It's toasty, and I expect it was brewed with some black patent.

Decent body, but the carbonation is too high. I can imagine a nice BSDA with this level of carbonation, but this is more of a hybrid between a BDSA and American stout, in my opinion. And it doesn't accomplish the task as well as, e.g., Black Albert does. The Belgian part of this beer is just lacking for me, and it's muddled without being complex.

Eh. Okay, but Brugge Brasserie has far better. This one just doesn't do it for me with respect to the style.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2010 19:10:37 | More by Verecund

Brettster

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this in Broad Ripple, Indiana. This was served black with a thin white head that fizzled down to a white lace around the glass. It smells of hints of fruit and roasted malts. Tastes slightly roasted and hints of chocolate and fruit. Very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2009 03:09:43 | More by Brettster

bruachan

Rhode Island

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark but black? Head fizzled

Yeast smells the same as that of the Trippel. similar spice profile, too. touch of molasses

Tons of chocolate flavors--like a dessert stout without the viscosity. interesting interplay between chocolate and spice, which is nonetheless diminished

Not "lazy" to add same yeast to a different grain bill but the yeast could perhaps get more out of a deeper malt profile. this one is sweet with a bitterness but lacking in midrange roasting depth: caramel? Even a little lager character (vienna, munich...mmm) would go a long way. Touch of blackcurrant at the finish

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2009 04:06:41 | More by bruachan

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.43/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Sampled at Broad Ripple. The beer arrived a lighter shade of black (what). More along the lines of a Schwartz. The server said that this beer a stout beer, but after the nose and taste, not even close. A light off-white to almost tan color head but limited retention and lacing.

The nose is limited overall. Some lighter malt notes with a light hint of chocolate. Some bready and a light nutty thing that mixes oddly. Some yeast notes but mostly clean. Some esters, a light plum and (don't laugh) horseradish. Some minor wood pulp and alcohol but for the most part clean.

The taste is a bit more descript. The malt come out a bit more with come caramel and light chocolate. Some roast notes and a touch of vanilla as well. Finishes a bit dry, would like to see some lingering sweetness. There is a light molasses taste in the finish as well. The yeast is light as well. Some generic yeast notes and a light ester. Would have liked more depth for BDS.

The body is limited. A bit wispy and limited in the finish. The carbonation is limited as well. Overall a beer that doesn't quite fit style, but overall would like a bit more depth.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2009 20:23:27 | More by Oxymoron

tmoneyba

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Draft in snifter at brewpub. Poured hazy brown color with an average fizzy off-white head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Moderate toasted sweet malty and small alcohol aroma. Medium body with a slick texture. Medium spicy sweet flavor with a medium sweet finish of moderate duration. Complex drinkable brew.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2008 01:22:49 | More by tmoneyba

spointon

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this one on tap at the Black Sparrow Pub in Lafayette, IN.

A= This ale poured a deep dark black color with an almost non-existent thin tan head. Not a lot of carbonation release and zero lacing down the glass.

S= I found aromas of chocolate malts, yeast, and alcohol. All were a bit thin though.

T= I picked up flavors similar to the aromas, mild chocolate maltiness up front, Belgian yeast, and sourness mixed with alcohol in the finish. I really wanted to like this ale as I have loved everything else from Brugge Brasserie. Unfortunately, I found this ale to be a bit thin on flavor and a bit too sour in the finish.

MF= Thin bodied and moderately carbonated.

D= Not a bad black ale, just not all that it could be. Could serve as a gateway beer into sour ales though...

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2008 00:31:07 | More by spointon

JamesS

Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer had a nice dark body, but with little head and little lacing. It had a very sweet/malty aroma with chocolate hints. The taste was great! It had a nice malt/hop balance, with a wonderful smoky flavor and tastes of chocolate and vanilla in the finish. It's a little rough but goes down fine.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2008 03:12:28 | More by JamesS

leftmindedrighty

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at Brugge Brasserie

Smell, heavy on the toffee and nuts, some bitter chocolate

Taste, quite sweet and pleasantly bitter. Bitter chocolate, nuts, plum, and raisins all stand up for an appearance. A little on the sweet side, but the bitterness does lend a helping hand on the back end.

Overall, very unique, and very enjoyable. But one glass is all I could drink in a sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2008 15:00:26 | More by leftmindedrighty

Umbra

Maryland

3.8/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on draft at the brewpub in a chalice. Pours black, opaque with a tan head and some nice lacing. Didn't get much more than light malts and yeast aromas.

Taste was all malt with limited hops to speak of. If pressed, I'd say the predominate flavor was that of alcohol-soaked plums with a banana-like yeasty chaser.
Was very light-bodied in the mouthfeel, which added to the drinkability with the ineresting flavors. Great brew. If I didn't have to drive to the other side of town, I could see myself having several

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2008 15:43:53 | More by Umbra

StrangeBrew1

Kentucky

4.3/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A very well balanced black beer. Sweet and not hoppy. I was expecting more of a certain hop or barley but it was smooth and drinkable for anyone. Pretty powerful stuff that is very drinkable. Watch out! I highly recommend Brugge Brasserie to anyone on a brewpub/gastropub hunt in indianapolis.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2008 16:32:49 | More by StrangeBrew1

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served as a very deep brown colored beer with tannish puffy head.

Smell shows some light caramel notes and a bit of yeast.

Taste does have an alcohol character to it, at least when colod, which seems to subdide with warming. There is some dark fruit evident, along with a yeastiness.

Finishes with more dark fruit, and maybe a bit of molasses.

A good beer. Enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2008 20:35:59 | More by tgbljb

tmitch75

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a snifter at Brugge Brasserie at lunchtime on 3/4/08.

Dark opaque black color with a one finger head.

Smells roasty and sweet. Flavor is similar with a little chocolate. A very tasty beer.

Mouthfeel is pretty thin, but this really just makes it go down even quicker. Very drinkable. This one tastes and feels more like a lager than an ale, at least to me. I like it a lot.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2008 22:10:45 | More by tmitch75

BeerBelcher

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer was a component of a very nice visit to Brugge Brasserie. This beer sort of plays in the double/quad space, and offers an assortment of Belgian beer flavors, from dark malt to sour fruit to spice.

This beer arrived in a plump tulip with a good 2 centimeters of head, and an opaque black body. The beer was served a bit too cold for my liking, but at a temperature that was probably appropriate for their other beers (like their witbier). Aroma was a bit clovey with some fairly nice yet understated dark roast (chocolate and coffee). Flavor was significant spiciness (this was the predominant flavor) balanced with roastiness and a faint sour cherry taste. Mouthfeel was a bit thin, but not bad. All-in-all, quite a tasty beer.

I would recommend this beer, and I would highly recommend Brugge Brasserie.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2007 20:11:22 | More by BeerBelcher

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

(Served in a snifter)

A- This beer has a slight opaque brown body with a light tan lumpy head that sticks to the glass after each sip. It was a bit to dark to see any carbonation but there was a slight glow of dark brown at the base of the snifter.

S- This beer has a light smell of dark chocolate malt with a black strap molasses note also.

T- This beer has a chocolate malt and light bourbon note with a chocolate nougat hint which finishes with a light green pine hop flavor. As the beer warms there is note of cola in the malt.

M- This beer had a medium mouthfeel with a watery texture and a tight fizz finish.

D- This beer had a pretty soft smell and a thin flavor that was a bit underwhelming. The flavors that were there were nice but it didn’t have much depth or character.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2007 15:44:48 | More by rhoadsrage

BlackAngus

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Deep jet black, creamy head, laced the glass all the way down. An impressive-looking beer. I actually watched people stare at it as it was being brought to my table in its snifter.

S - Cherry and dark fruit aromas, carmelized sugar, toffee, roasted coffee, chocolate.

T - Aromas carry through to the flavor. Carmelized sugar, toffee, definite bready flavors. Wow.

M - Medium body, surprisingly clean, with a mild sweet aftertaste.

D - This is my go-to beer at the Brugge if they're out of the tripel. A showcase of Ted's talent.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2006 12:39:00 | More by BlackAngus

GreenWBush

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer comes to the table mahogany, towards black. 2" head and amazing lace.

Nose is filled with candied fruits, toffee, figs, and bing cherries. Intense to insane sweetness detected, candi sugared malts. Vaguest roastiness.

This beer is not the Belgian Stout I was hoping for, but is delicious nonetheless. Toffee, roasted candi sugar, blackstrap molasses, strong yeast phenols, and rye bread.

Finishes strongly on licorice characteristics and a smooth sensuous candied darkness. Damned good.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2006 21:15:40 | More by GreenWBush

CRJMellor

Arkansas

4.38/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a dark mahogany and brown color. Very little light penetration. Big light tan head retains through much of the pint.
Aroma of chewy chocolate, caramel and dark fruits with some herbal and citric hoppiness thrown in on top of some yeasty, bready notes.
Flavor has a lot of caramel smoothness with some cracked grain underpinings. A little bit of anise and pepper as well. Complex sweet flavors really develop as it warms but never becomes cloying. Balancing yeast and hop finish make this one a joy.
Mouthfeel is medium to full with a really well rounded flavor that runs from sweet to sweeter to psciy to yeasty. good representation of Belgian style in a little bit of a darker beer.
Drinkability was excellent. Indy folks are lucky with this new brewpub.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2006 19:35:47 | More by CRJMellor

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a large snifter-type glass. Love the proper glassware at Brugge! Pitch black, no highlights at, simply black. Thick tan head on top stands for quite some time, leaving behind some great patterns of lace. Nose is spicy, licorice and yeasty. Sweet canid sugar flavor combined with licorice, cocoa and a hint of coffee. Finishes sweet. This beer became even more wonderful as it warmed and the coffee/chocolate flavors come out. Medium body, carbonation fairly low makes this even better. Solid!

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2006 02:48:37 | More by Bierguy5

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

*** Correct me if I am wrong ***

Black seems to be a Belgian Dark with an accent towards Belgian Yeast which anchors the style.

Appearance is a dim russet hue topped with an instantly settled head cap to a collar.

Scents are muted with a hint of the Belgian doughy yeasty prescence.

First swigs: Ephemeral of black liquorice that falls just short of anise with a rootbeer meets Belgian doughy essence. A dry immediate aftertaste. Some kicked around notes of toffee and roasted malts.

Feel is a bit soft and restrained medium bodied.

Last swigs: Black is a meld of many but falls short of something. If this went in a direction of coffee or roasty or anise, then this would be impressive. Otherwise, it reminds me of a beer on the doorstep of Fantôme.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2005 04:49:33 | More by blitheringidiot

secondtooth

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep black in appearance, with heavy carbonation. No lace.

Nose is chocolatey malts, some burnt tones. Appealing and different.

Taste is very sweet, and almost fruity. I get a distinct alcohol burn, as well. Some burnt maltiness. Nice mix.

Not bad at all, and definitely a Belgian-style brew with character.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 13:30:18 | More by secondtooth

glid02

Georgia

3.3/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle shared by Joe - much obliged!

Pours one shade from black with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing.

Smells of roasted malts with mild amounts of char and dark molasses. Also present are a good deal of indistinct tart fruits that have a minor salty quality.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Lightly roasted malt flavors kick things off with hints of deeper char and are quickly overtaken by tart dark fruits and green apples with a somewhat salty quality, similar to the aroma. These flavors carry through to a mildly tart and bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is OK. It's got a decent thickness with overactive carbonation.

Drinkability is not that great. I didn't have the easiest time finishing my glass and would not have another.

Overall this seemed to be infected but even through the off-flavors it seemed to be a one-dimensional beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 00:29:36 | More by glid02

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

2.68/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

750ml bottle brought back from Indy -- thanks Jason.

A: jet black
S: too cloying, a bit of diacetyl, no real Belgium character at all
T: sweet, thin, a hint of Belgian candy sugar possibly but not much better than an average homebrew, almost like a weak stout
M: too gassy, sweet
D: what do you do when you have a 750ml and a mediocre beer? Pour it...

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2010 02:02:14 | More by wisrarebeer