La Trappe Dubbel (Koningshoeven / Dominus) - Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.

DaveBlack

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Beautiful deep reddish brown/mahogany color. Relatively thin layer of head that has a moderately long retention, and leaves smattering of head throughout the time that I was drinking it.

S: Molasses and candied dark fruits are there, as well as some yeast and spice. When I first smelled it I didn't think that there was much there, but as it warmed up more and more complexity started coming through on the nose.

T: No lack of flavor here. Lots of dark fruits, Belgian yeast, molasses. The yeast brings a nice biscuity flavor, and there is a bit of spice to brighten it a bit. Lots of sweetness, but it isn't overwhelming.

M: Not as heavy as the flavors would seem to suggest. medium body, slightly sticky with a relatively low amount of carbonation.

O: A little darker and heavier than I have come to expect from Dubbels, but that's not a bad thing. The flavors are good and well balanced, the alcohol is enough that you know it's there, but it's subtle. Good showing all around.

O:

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 22:16:05 | More by DaveBlack

desint

Belgium

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

05-24-2013 12:01:10 | More by desint

johntfox

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-21-2013 00:18:56 | More by johntfox

RaphaelSC

Brazil

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark brown caramel with high carbonation and a one finger caramel head, with low rentention.

S: Has a earthy smell with some sweetness notes and some toasted malts that resemble caramel.

T: A light woody flavour, dry wine and toasted malts that bring a softly coffee flavour. The high carbonation does not disturb the flavour and only make the beer more refreshing.

M: The high carbonation make a spicy feel, that cover the dry feel common in Dubbel style with in this case make the beer more refreshing and drinkable in hot days particulaly.

O: A different dubbel, less bitter than Westmalle Dubbel and other dubbels, but still a great beer. La Trappe dubbel is different from its sisters because it not resembles to wine like other which makes that dubbel quite unique. To me La Trappe Dubbel is another must have beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 20:55:04 | More by RaphaelSC

BuckeyeSlim

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-09-2013 04:38:31 | More by BuckeyeSlim

TallSaint

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

05-07-2013 23:37:05 | More by TallSaint

joemacangel

Belgium

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-07-2013 18:18:27 | More by joemacangel

chinchill

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Aged 750 ml bottle served in a St. Bernardus snifter.

Pours more-or-less clear, dark ruby-mahogany in color, with a nice fluffy cream colored head. The head initially leaves nice lacing on the glass, but it has poor retention and soon reduces to a thin ring.

Aroma: rich and complex, but gentle aroma of dark fruits and spices, with suggestions of raisins, dates, figs, toffee, brown sugar, banana, flowers, brown bread, cinnamon, chocolate and some earthy yeast. Fantastic aroma!

Taste: rich, dynamic and complex; mildly bitter/sweet with suggestions of raisins, dates, figs, toffee, brown sugar, banana, brown bread, chocolate and some spicy yeast. Lingering notes of dark fruits, chocolate, dark malts and light spicing.

Medium carbonation and medium+ body. Slightly harsh; about as expected with 7% ABV.

Overall: this excellent Dubbel lives up to its reputation. Great balance and complexity Alcohol is partially hidden but with light warming. Exceptionally enjoyable flavor and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 22:42:54 | More by chinchill

Dave_Treat

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-04-2013 23:06:57 | More by Dave_Treat

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

04-30-2013 17:36:54 | More by rolltide8425

Rohkey

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-28-2013 01:45:49 | More by Rohkey

3Pope7

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

04-27-2013 02:56:52 | More by 3Pope7

ltdantheman

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

04-26-2013 14:32:23 | More by ltdantheman

lsummers

California

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-18-2013 23:29:27 | More by lsummers

FLima

Brazil

4.09/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Brown color with a two finger head with low retention.
Aroma of prunes, malt, Belgian yeast, raisins, brown sugar and notes of pears.
It brings a very interesting sensation, spicy, refreshing and tingling-effervescent. Complex and flavorful, taste of earthy hops, Belgian yeast, oak, brown sugar and condiments. Also full of fruity notes, raisins, bananas, oxidized apples and alike. Dry and bitter aftertaste. Medium body with a good carbonation.
Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 21:31:50 | More by FLima

Poupae

Thailand

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-14-2013 16:30:23 | More by Poupae

Elbrownbag

Netherlands

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

04-13-2013 19:12:59 | More by Elbrownbag

superspak

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into chalice, 07/10 printed on the cork. Pours very hazy and cloudy dark ruby red color with a nice 1-2 finger dense and fluffy cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big raisin, pear, apple, caramel, brown sugar, light banana, pepper, floral, clove, brown bread, candi sugar, and earthy yeast spiciness. Fantastic aromas with great complexity and balance of fruity/spicy esters with malt sweetness. Taste of raisin, apple, pear, caramel, brown sugar, pepper, clove, light banana, floral, herbal, brown bread, candi sugar, and earthy yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of light fruits, caramel, brown sugar, light banana, pepper, clove, brown bread, floral, herbal, and earthy yeast spiciness on the finish for a bit. Damn nice balance and complexity of fruity/spicy ester with malt sweetness; with great robustness and zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a smooth, fairly slick, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent Dubbel! Great balance and complexity of malt and fruity/spicy esters; and very smooth and crisp to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 05:16:04 | More by superspak

draftpunk

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -23.7%

04-07-2013 23:07:34 | More by draftpunk

joaopmgoncalves

Portugal

4/5  rDev +1.8%

04-04-2013 21:09:17 | More by joaopmgoncalves

yancot

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

04-04-2013 19:08:38 | More by yancot

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml Trappist-embossed brown bottle purchased from Steve's Cool Booze in Kingsford.

Pours a deep ruby-brown colour, quite hazed, but light enough to ensure the red filters through when held to the light. Head fizzles up in a beige-crest to begin with, but settles down to a minimal film of small bubbles. Body looks very light and a little thin, No lacing to speak of. Overall, it's decent, without being particularly captivating.

Nose is pleasant, with rounded Belgian esters providing some banana and dried fruits, and spicy pepper characters giving a rich Christmas pudding note. Some background notes of red wine and oak come through pleasantly as well, making a deeper complexity possible. It's really quite nice.

The taste is slightly thinner, but where this leaves some of the round, sweet characteristics behind, it allows the spicy, phenolic spicy characters to rise up. There's pepper, cinnamon spices on the front, with some boozy, slightly astringent characters towards the end: tannic red wine and slightly charred oak finish up. There's a bitterness towards the back too, but more from the booze and the astringency than any real hop character. It's more like the bitterness that comes from a little too much spice.

Feel is light, but helped along by some of the flavours, which have quite a textural element to them.

Overall, this is very decent stuff. I tend to be quite a fan of dubbels in any case, but I'm happy to say that the La Trappe's Dubbel is the best of their standard range I've yet had (with the Quad to come). Nice stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 03:53:34 | More by lacqueredmouse

Stevotex

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

03-31-2013 00:37:13 | More by Stevotex

Chrily

Norway

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

03-14-2013 12:29:25 | More by Chrily

BierMeJohn

Germany

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

03-04-2013 19:40:32 | More by BierMeJohn