Abbaye De Floreffe Prima Melior - Brasserie Lefèbvre SA

danieelol

Australia

2.65/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

A: Well carbed initially, blackish brown. More carbonation than a typical BSDA imo. 3.5

S: Nose opens up after a while. Can only barely pick up sweet stewed fruit (pear) and yeast. Bubblegum. And some alcohol leaving it port-like notes. Not unpleasant though. 4

T: Bit of pear flavour, some relatively nice spices like cloves. Way too sweet though. Makes me not want to drink it. 2.5

M: Quite fine for the style, but it's hard to ignore the sweetness when reviewing the mouthfeel. 3.5

D: I couldn't finish the bottle. I probably drank about half of it, and it took me ages. Has to be a 1.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 03:12:18 | More by danieelol

Haydn-Juby

Quebec (Canada)

3.69/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served from a 330 ml bottle

A: Very dark in appearance. Ruby red highlights are visible in the light. The beer is topped with a large bubbled two fingers of beige head. Delicious looking.

S: Brown sugar, dried dark fruits. Alcohol is a tad too noticeable for the style.

T: The dominant flavor is really brown sugar most likely because of the addition of dark belgian candi sugar. Dried dark fruits like in the smell are also present. Figs, plums, prunes, and dates come to mind. Perhaps a bit of apricot as well. The alcohol once again is to prevalent and is displeasing to an otherwise well done beer. A bit metallicy at times as well.

M: Fairly dry and a touch to thin for me. Crispness is good however.

O: A fairly decent beer with the main problem being noticeable alcohol. Wouldn't recommend it or buy it again but it was a good experience.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 20:13:36 | More by Haydn-Juby

PolarBear3

Australia

1.94/5  rDev -48.4%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

A - Pours a dark brown colour with large frothy off white head that dissipates very quickly.

S - Dark cherry or sherry like aromas with some dark chocolate malt

T - Very sweet malts with some burnt cherries and aniseed,, leaving a awful slightly bitter finish

M - Over carbonated with medium bodied

O - Very ordinary, will not be able to finish the bottle. That says it all.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 06:06:57 | More by PolarBear3

DoubleJ

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

330 ml bottle served at Het Waterhuis in Ghent and served in its branded goblet. On to the beer:

Who likes a fluffy head which retains well? I do. I also like the dark brown color with reddish hues of this beer. The nose of toasted malt, kiss of chocolate, and a dose of cherry make a pleasant aroma. A good flavor continues the momentum, which starts with dark chocolate and toast. A kiss of tartness adds a little something different. Brown sugar notes too. Its aftertaste withers into a semi-sweet flavor. Regarding its feel, the beer is medium full with pleasing carbonation and somewhat acidic sensation.

Agreeable strong dark ale, and one that doesn't weigh you down too much.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 03:12:47 | More by DoubleJ

Ciocanelu

Romania

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-15-2013 19:05:54 | More by Ciocanelu

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

03-16-2013 21:45:28 | More by NightINgale

sagath

4.25/5  rDev +13%

01-23-2013 22:10:45 | More by sagath

pin

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

12-17-2012 02:50:42 | More by pin

djrn2

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

11-22-2012 20:06:33 | More by djrn2

mactrail

California

3.08/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Huge foam-up that dissipates to some streamers of froth.

Distinctive flavor of nuts, spice, pumpkin pie, licorice-- the whole candy store. Besides "canesugar" the label lists spices, so maybe the wise ones will know if this is spiced up like Anchor Christmas ale, which is exactly what this tastes like-- only sweeter. Clean flavors, no hint of oxidation or other odd flavors, but it's just very plain, just lots of cinnamon, allspice and such.

For the ridiculous foam and the excess of additives, and the lack of Belgian flavors, I don't rate this very high. However, I suppose you could call this a Winter Warmer and enjoy it with a slice of fruitcake. From the 33 cl botle bought at Beer And Gin House in Gent.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 21:26:26 | More by mactrail

jpworld

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

08-14-2012 01:40:45 | More by jpworld

harpus

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

07-24-2012 14:46:21 | More by harpus

chasmandocharles

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-24-2012 20:56:50 | More by chasmandocharles

educorgan

Portugal

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-01-2012 19:12:45 | More by educorgan

no8

Antarctica

4/5  rDev +6.4%

03-22-2012 05:42:50 | More by no8

starlight37

Korea (South)

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

01-24-2012 16:52:18 | More by starlight37

Stoutsman

Kansas

2/5  rDev -46.8%

01-14-2012 22:02:13 | More by Stoutsman

Everydayoff

Thailand

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

330ml bottle poured into a Leffe chalice by freshness date.

A:
Blackish opaque brown with massive rocky frothy head that retains very well then leaves several lacing patches stick to a glass once dissipated.

S:
Dark and roasted malt, dark fruits reminiscence of raisins and some sweet portion of sugarcane, a little bit spice from alcohol.

T+M:
Quite complex, it comprises by 3 tiers. I – Barley malt and roasted malt kick off after sip. This portion also lends some bready and astringent traits. II – Following by dark fruit esters generate by yeast. III – Sugarcanes bring sweetness until the finish with slight bitterness from hop hiding in. Alcohol fusel can be detectable along mid-way to the finish. The body is medium with right amount of carbonation.

O:
Another good Strong Dark Ale, definitely worthy.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 09:57:59 | More by Everydayoff

jjkatter

Australia

3.33/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

750ml bottle poured into a Trappistes Fochefort goblet…

A- Dark, porter like color with a caramel, pillowy head. Lots of carbonation present.

S- fruity, flowery aroma with a hint of yeast.

T- Overwhelmingly sweet. This beer could do with some taming of the sugar. Very yeasty
MF- so sweet, it’s difficult to find it a pleasant experience.

O- Thank God I’m not diabetic. Maybe it would do better aged for some time, but I am having trouble finishing this bottle. The beer had good intentions, but did not deliver. Hell, it looked and smelt great... I would not buy this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 08:02:24 | More by jjkatter

heygeebee

Australia

3.48/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a half finger tan head over dark brown body. Head dies quickly.

Into Xmas pud territory straight away on the nose, with some sherry and brandy hints as well. Also raisins.

Taste is as smell, with no hop presence noted at all.

Mouthfeel quite light for the ABV.

Not an outstanding example of style, but not the worst either.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 07:53:08 | More by heygeebee

rekel

Netherlands

4/5  rDev +6.4%

11-30-2011 23:28:33 | More by rekel

BeerSingh

India

5/5  rDev +33%

11-16-2011 11:10:43 | More by BeerSingh

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Duvel tulip glass.

Revisiting this guy, complete with review, after remembering enjoying it about a year ago. I let it warm up a bit from the fridge (just FYI). It pours a dark-ish ruby-brown topped by a finger of slightly-off cream foam. The nose comprises rye bread, Belgian yeast, nutmeg, figs, brown sugar-cinnamon, pecans, and oak. The taste brings in all of these for a reunion, along with some red apple skin, black grapes, black pepper, and a touch of cocoa and vanilla. The body is a medium that yearns to lean to the lighter side, with a very light moderate carbonation and a lightly grainy feel. Overall, a very nice BSDA, one that affirmed my memory (always a plus) and seemed to please the lady (always a plus). Good times here all around.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 00:44:01 | More by TMoney2591

eric5bellies

Australia

3.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice clear dark Mahogany colour with an off White head that retains real well.

S - A burnt caramel aroma and quite sweet.

T - A little chocolate up front and some sweet malts. HAs a slight oak flavour in the middle with the sugars always present but not spoiling the beer. The alcohol is well disguised.

M - Light to medium body with a medium to full carbonation.

O - This one really suprised me in a nice way. The sweetnes threatens to take over but never does.I recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 14:44:57 | More by eric5bellies

mandolinhomebrew

Austria

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Black, or extremely dark brown given right angle and lighting, nice fat caramel looking head, and fair amount of carbonation - doesn't explode though. Head dissipated fairly quick.

S: Sweet, roasty chocolaty & a bit of caramel. Not strong in terms of alcohol. There's some sort of freshness to it, but I hesitate to say it's the hops.

T: Chocolate & roasted malts. It's not bitter at all really but the sweetness is still under control, maybe due to the roasted malts. The sweetness definitely comes through at the finish. There is a slight woodiness to it, and some caramel comes out in aftertaste. I'm getting some yeast, some biscuity-ness, and even hints of raisins or plums. The 8% is masked fairly well, but when I take a bigger sip I definitely know it's a strong ale.

M: Light to medium body. Carbonation is pretty generous, and the bubbles are small/fine, which adds some smoothness.

D: Pretty drinkable for an 8% dark Belgian.

O: Most of my favorite Belgian beers tend to mask the stronger alcohol content so you can focus on everything else that's going on. This is a dark strong Belgian ale that does this fairly well. It really showcases the malts without being too sweet or overly roasty. It's definitely on the sweet side, but I've had plenty of dark strong Belgians that were much sweeter. It's definitely a nice sipping beer to sit and think about.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 20:09:33 | More by mandolinhomebrew