La Trappe Isid'or - Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.

rvdoorn

Netherlands

4.47/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally, the La Trappe anniversary beer! The only Dutch trappist brewery celebrates its 125 anniversary, and to celebrate this, a limited amount of La Trappe Isid'or beer is available in 2009. I bought the bottle from a local liquor shop, indicating that La Trappe started the larger scale distribution of this beer.

Poured into a La Trappe glass. Pours a nice, light brown amber color, with a white/amber colored head.

Scent is a bit like the Westvleteren blond, complex smell, spicy yeast, some caramel, fresh and lots of fruity (citrus) notes.

The taste is very good. The beer has a slightly bitter taste (a great mix of spicy hops and yeast) with a fantastic fruity aftertaste with some faint hints of caramel. It's is a surprisingly well balanced amber beer.

The mouthfeel is very smooth, but the beer is a bit high in carbonation.

Overall a very good Dutch beer, especially for the summer period. One of my favourite La Trappe beers already (although not better than the la Trappe Quadruppel). I hope that the la Trappe brewery will decide to brew this beer also in the future!

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2009 20:11:35 | More by rvdoorn

BeerDetective

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer from a bottle this evening while awaiting some friends. It poured a nice tan color with some red highlights. The nose was like a good bier de garde, which I was not expecting, though it was a pleasant surprise. The taste was reminiscent of Gavroche for me, but a little bit more spice in the back of the palate. Mouthfeel was smooth and excellent, you can roll the beer pleasantly around. Overall a highly drinkable 7.5% Belgian. Get it while you can.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2009 23:11:37 | More by BeerDetective

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my first trappist beer in a 75 cl bottle with steel cage and natural cork - I can't wait...

A: The pour is redish golden, almost perfect amber, slightly hazy with a grand white rich creamy head that last for a really long time. Some nice lacings.

S: Light bitter, spicy and sweet caramel malt at first, but then there's lots of fruit in it. The most complex La Trappe beer I've smelled so far. A clear yeasty precense.

T: Sweet caramell malt and some wheat, dark fruits and spices. A light alcoholic taste. Yeast (like most Belgians). Bitter and fruity (Bananas and citrus).

M: The longlasting aftertaste is really sweet and dry/bitter at the same time. The body is full and the carbonation is medium.

D: This is a really nice beer. To bad it's only brewed once. If you get your hands on one - buy it, drink it and enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2009 18:07:52 | More by Sunnanek

mbunje

California

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Tyler's in Durham, North Carolina

A - Dark Amber color with a cream color head. '
S - Caramel, wood, richness
T - like a quad but with more bitterness, less sweetness, and a woody/oak finish that makes all the difference.
MF - full bodied, but not syrupy and very smooth. The dry finish from the wood is perfect. This could not be done better.
D - A lot of beer to drink more than one or two. But this is a very drinkable high end belgian...er...beer from the Netherlands.

Overall, best "belgian style" beer I have had in a long time (even though it is from the Netherlands). Awesome, must have beer for any beer geek. No question.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2010 01:47:07 | More by mbunje

cdrogers

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle to La Trapp goblet. Purchased a 4-pack set with the glass. It included two Isid'or and two of the quads.

Appearance is a nice dark-copper, pretty much tea-like in color. It had a darker off-white head and it went from real thick to thin fast.

Smell is slightly fruity / floral, but very subtle. Some earthy hop aroma, but this goes with the others and is subtle.

Taste is quite good but I'm a bit bias because by default I love anything Trappist. :) It's got a very subtle sweetness, probably belgian sugar. It finishes with a little hoppy bite, but very smooth.

Mouthfeel is good with nothing lingering around. The bitterness and slight sweetness do hang for a bit, but go away fast.

Overall I love this one and highly recommend it. This is my first shot at the non-Belgian Trappist from Koning and it's looking good. Got the quad to look at tonight as well.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 03:13:00 | More by cdrogers

alysmith4

District of Columbia

4.53/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer on-tap at a 2 Amy's pizza restaurant in DC. I was pleasantly surprised that they had such a great brew available, and it was only $7/glass. The appearance was a nice caramel color, with redish/pink undertones. The taste was excellent! Lots of juicy fruit, bread, and sugar. The main flavor that kept coming through for me was cherry. I would have thought it was some kind of cherry beer if I didn't know otherwise. I would definitely have this beer again, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good Belgian Pale.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2010 21:15:46 | More by alysmith4

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A rich amber colored beer with a super size foamy white head.
Extremely well carbonated that helps to maintain the foamy head to the bitter end. (get it!)
Aroma is of rich complex malts fruity yeast and some bitter hops.
A rich tasting beer smooth and creamy with a sweet caramel maltiness some toasted malts can be picked up too. The hops take a back seat, typical of Belgian pale ales, and are slightly bitter. I can taste a fair amount of alcohol warming too.
A well made beer I think with lots of nice lacing. With a dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2010 12:39:49 | More by micromaniac129

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

La Trappe Isid'or

There does not seem to be a freshness date (just a production code), although the label reads "...can be aged like fine wine". This was produced sometime in 2009, and most likely early on, so this bottle is about two years old.

In a full glass, the body appears a crimson accented light chestnut brown, but when held to the light it's a glowing orange-crimson. For this being such a longstanding bottle I'm surprised it has poured such a murky body, but I guess it did get moved a few times recently and that probably disturbed it. The head rises up quickly, forming a dense finger thick cap of yellowed off-white; and then slowly settles down. Unfortunately the lacing is not quite as good.

The aroma offers a waft of floral character over a delicate golden-caramel maltiness that's spiked with some yeasty fruitiness (including some dark-skinned fruits) and spicy phenolics.

It's quite supple and smooth across the palate with a moderate, very-fine bubbled natural carbonation and a medium-light body. There's a gently dextrinous edge to it though, and that, coupled with the soft carbonation, allows it to appear more medium in body.

The flavor is not overtly rich, but it is full, and it is complex, and it is fairly sweetish. The yeasty fruitiness seems to dominate at first sip (some strawberry!), but then the softly caramelish and lightly toasty malt becomes more apparent. Both are always balanced by an infusion of delicate spice that I believe is mainly yeast based, but also at least partially hop induced. At times I find the fruitiness to be more apple-like, but in most sips I find it to be more plum-like (with some fig and grape). The core of it, however, is the gently spicy (clove, white pepper, perhaps some all spice, cinnamon and anise) and plastic-like yeast phenolic; and as you progress through the glass you'll find it grows in the finish to the point that really, that's almost the only thing you find. Sure, there will be hints of dark fruit skins and bitterness, and perhaps some echoes of floral hops and toasted malts, but the phenolics take center stage, gently swirling at the back of your mouth. And that's what really balances it because there's not a lot of bitterness there. It's the alcohol and the phenolic spice that give the bitterness that is there enough grip to keep it in check.

It's remarkably drinkable, and the more it warms the more velvety and supple it becomes both in terms of mouthfeel and in flavor. It's a charming, delicately complex and sweetish sipper. It's almost sherry-like in a way, but not as rich or full. If I were to pair it with food I'd stay on the lighter side: soft cheeses with chewy bread, moules in white sauce with a hint of anise, sweet potatoes fried, roast pork, carrot soup - you get the picture. Well worth trying before it's gone!

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 20:19:45 | More by NeroFiddled

atlason

New York

4.53/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rich impressive lacing tending towards cubism. Amber brown with light haze.

Nose: doughy with seductive caramel

Taste: Caramel with yeasty belgian malt. Well integrated damp foresty flavors: mushrooms, moss.

Aftertaste: lingering caramel

Overall very pleasant trappist, second only to Orval.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 03:04:33 | More by atlason

ccrida

Oregon

4.6/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served in a La Trappe goblet, Isid'or is a hazy burnt gold with a thick, creamy head leaving nice lace.

Smell is sweet cured fruits with a nice complexity, class Belgian esters.

Taste is awesome. Big, rich tasty malt flavor, cured fruits, wow. Bitterness on the clean finish provides balance to the really nice candied raisin sweetness.

Mouthfeel is very creamy, medium light bodied.

Drinkability is high. I'm really loving this beer, killer!

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2009 23:35:31 | More by ccrida

cudmud

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Nice orange color combined with a fawn head of one finger. Nice lace. In all, a wonderful appearance.

Smell: Great yeast esters. Very bread-like combined with spice, and orange smells.

Taste: Killer malt and yeast flavors with a good bitter aftertaste. Kind of reminds me of raisin-bread.

Mouthfeel: Thick and bready.

Drinkability: Very good. All the elements are balanced well. This is one you want to drink all night.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 01:44:35 | More by cudmud

StephenRich

Ontario (Canada)

4.72/5  rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The La Trappe Isid'or was brewed in 2009 to honor, and commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the La Trappe Trappist Brewery by friar Isidorus Laaber. The beer was created for the entire world to enjoy, and bears La Tappe's first Brewmaster's name. Like all of La Trappe's beers, the profits from the sale of Isid'or will go directly to charitable causes, this specifically to their co-friars in Uganda to help them set up a community and a self sufficient monastery.

La Trappe (Koningshoeven) has been one of my most favorite breweries since I began drinking real beer - I do consider it an honor to be drinking this beer in La Trappe's original Brewmaster's esteemed memory. The Isid'or is classified as a Belgian Pale Ale - I'm not really sure where it belongs though. It is definitely not pale, has rich fruity flavors, but isn't a Dubbel or Quad. It is 7.5% abv, so its not quite a Belgian Strong Dark Ale either. I don't really care what beer style this should fit into, because really, I am just happy to be enjoying it.

The Isid'or comes in a Belgian style 330ml bottle, which is just enough to fill a Koningshoeven chalice, and also enough to tease me. I want more! I would love to find this in a 750ml bottle to age. After enjoying it I just imagined how smooth and wondrous it would be with another year or two to mellow and mature in the bottle.

I opened the Isid'or at cellar temperature around 12C (54F) and poured it into a Koningshoeven chalice, one of my favorites. The pour was smooth and gentle but showed rich life immediately as the beer hit the glass. A direct pour created a murky reddish brown beer with flecks of amber gold, brick, bronze and mahogany. A creamy and tightly packed head build up just over an inch with a nutty eggshell color. It's pretty gorgeous sitting in its chalice - the gold rim on the glass creates a crown for an otherwise kingly beer. Touches of golden brown shine through the center, and into the light it reveals a totally opaque and hazy depth.

The nose is packed with a huge wave of classically Dutch Trappist beer aromas; mulled fruits meet soft spices and earth. It begins with gentle malts showing both pale sweetness and dark richness. Bananas, plums, figs, dates, raisins and grapes are all over the nose with touches of cinnamon, coriander, pepper, all spice, and cloves. Hints of biscuit and apple sauce fade in the back with a gentle balance of floral herbs and a touch of booze. It is tantalizing and mouthwatering already.

It seems so fitting that Monks brewed this beer - even before tasting it you can tell that this is a beer meant to be sipped slowly, and savored. The first sip brought lush and gooey malts to the forefront of my palate showing wide dark fruits and a rustic yeast sensation. What I mean is that the sweet pale and crystal malts come through as a complex and hazy structure, rather than a clean and tight one. This beer has been crafted by the hands of the Monks, and you can tell.

Soft pears, plums, dates and apricots flow through your palate with an earthy backbone, but a silky and creamy texture. Hints of spice, grapes and yeast show up to add fresh flavors and a touch of balance to the Isid'or. Hops are gentle but very floral which, when paired with the esters and grassy aromas of the beer create a genuine sensation of heritage and traditional brewing.

As the beer warms, smoother more elegant malt flavors open with a still floral and earthy flavor. Malts begin to show caramel and melted toffee, and a hint more of bitter hops show up to play. The finish is long and warming creating a uniquely Trappist end to a masterful beer. I loved the smooth and balanced complexity of this beer, but it is the general flavor that had me reaching back for more. I love the richer and deeper Quadrupel, but this Isid'or is a touch more refined in character, but at the same time is much more rustic. Does that make sense?

Just try the beer if you can find it, and don't share it with any food. While I can think of a great many cheeses, desserts and mains that would work very well with this beer I would argue that it is meant to be savored as a meal itself.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 15:21:16 | More by StephenRich

orz

Netherlands

4.78/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Perfect, appealing cloudy amber color. Nice, thick, a bit off-white head, however it collapses too quick.

S: Black pepper, bananas, citrus and yeast. Well balanced but nothing extraordinary.

T: Herby bitterness and bananas, and I guess that's all I can say about it. But don't get me wrong, I love it. At the beginning you feel only bitter herbs without anything else, which may be a bit disappointing, but after some more sips bitterness disappears and bananas with slight sweetness come into play. WOW! Superb!

M: Due to the taste sensations "dynamic" is the right word! The beer surprises with every sip. Medium to full bodied with perfect carbonation.

D: I think I'll buy a six-pack and keep it for special occasions. I graded drinkability 5, but I wouldn't be able to drink one after another. I don't even want to! Keep it exceptional!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 20:37:01 | More by orz

xmorgan

California

5/5  rDev +25%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from 33cl bottle in to a adequate goblet.

the nose was of dry fruit, blackberry coming assocs. as does a with of cabbage.

she is not her fathers daughter as the beer will kick-up her skirt foe many a boy (Had this beer had boobies.)

but whe is drinkable crispy and pleasant. Hats off the fellows add lasses who make such stuff of angels!

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 08:30:17 | More by xmorgan