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

Macca

Australia

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours a very dark cloudy amber with a generous beige head.

Big whack of Malteser-esque malts on the nose. Some dark fruits and a bit of alcohol.

Dark malts on the palate along with some milk chocolate, molasses sweetness. The dark fruits are there too. Bit of caramel.

Medium bodied.

I always want to like dubbels more but I always get left wanting something more. In this case I think it is a nice soft cheese.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 10:01:49 | More by Macca

atlason

New York

4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750ml bottle into tulip glass.

A: Dark copper, head is generous and frothing but doesn't live very long and leaves almost no lacing.

S: Belgian candi syrup and yeast character set the tone here. Very true to style. No hops on the nose.

T: Excellent balance of hops, yeast spicyness, residual sugar and carbonic acid makes this a compelling and complex drink. What a winner.

M: Good balance of relatively high carbonation with somewhat low carbonation gives this a rich yet fresh feel.

O: This is a top notch Dubbel, right up there with Westmalle and Ommegang and way beyond most others.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 04:39:35 | More by atlason

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a De Struise glass. Freshness date is 12-2013.

It appears brown/red with a tan head that dissipates slowly. You can see the little bubbles constantly coming to the top to keep a little head around.

I pick up mostly malt and alcohol with a little dark fruitiness and chocolate in the nose.

As you drink some lacing is left in the direction of the pour to your mouth. The beer is smooth with a medium body, malts, a slight spiciness, and slight sweetness. Picked up the alcohol more towards the end of the glass.

Overall a good dubbel, but nothing outstanding for me. I dug the carbonation level.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 07:09:33 | More by MattSweatshirt

RodneyFarva

Spain

3.58/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

on-tap, poured into a chalice at El Lupulo Ferroz.

one-finger head, slowly dissipates, good head retention. deep brown, mahogany color

dark fruit, overripe plums, some malts on the nose

more dark fruits, cherries and plums, some spices such as cloves, a sweetness which perhaps becoming cloying over time

fairly thick mouthfeel, finishes with some creaminess.

a solid dubbel, but a bit cloyingly sweet. better widely available options.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2011 20:35:57 | More by RodneyFarva

avalon07

South Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a goblet. Had a dark brown color and a thick, murky texture. Lots of chunky sediment. There was an off white, foamy, long-lasting head. Aside from the fact that there was no lacing, this was a great-looking beer.

S: A pleasantly warm aroma of yeast, some fruit, malt and spices.

T: Tasted of fruit (apples), some yeast, malt, and a hint of spices (cloves, etc.). This is a nicely complex flavor that gets better as it goes along.

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

O: A solid, easy to drink beer. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 13:07:38 | More by avalon07

mattboyer182

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - dark brown to maroon in color. A light brown head that fizzles out very quickly.

S - smell is rather vague. Alcohol is present and and definitely a strong malt.

T - taste is really good. Lots of dark fruits. Raisons and plums. Alcohol is warming at the end.

M - medium bodied and heavily carbonated.

O - I love Trappist ales. Good dubbel

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 19:08:05 | More by mattboyer182

magictacosinus

California

4.08/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Duvel tulip glass from a bottle. Freshness date is listed as "October 2013."

What a beautiful looking beer that this is! Poured a phenomenally gigantic head with creamy appearance of milk shakes. It has a notably darkened, reddish color that you only really find in the most best dubbels. Nice carbonation, fun lacing all around the glass - a nearly perfect looking beer in many respects.

The first aromas that hit are immediate sweetened malty flavors, although what follows is quite memorable. Peppermint, clove, red licorice, candied fruits... However, the amount of tingling spiciness completely cancels out all of the hyper-sweet aromas, which makes it quite balanced and quite awesome to whiff from time to time.

When it comes to the taste and mouthfeel, however, I'm having trouble placing it where I would typically label a "dubbel." It definitely is one, no doubt, but not as thick as others I've had in the style. It's got the characteristics of dark ales, but not nearly as roasted. It holds fruity flavors such as red apples, and contains less sugar in the taste overall. Caramel flavors hit pretty amazingly as it warmed up. Nutty flavors come in from time to time. The hoppiness in this beer is excellent, and gives a spicy sensation. More watery than expected, but still an easy drink to have. However, by the end, it retained a syrupy flavor. The alcohol hides itself well at first, but eventually displays its warming power as time passes.

A very interesting brew - definitely different from other dubbels I've had and contains a different yeasty taste from other Trappist ales. However, it is quite reminiscent to Rochefort 6, if that gives me any idea what it tastes like - spicy, malty, slightly boozy, yet not too thick or sweet in character. Definitely recommended!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 18:53:39 | More by magictacosinus

Sunnanek

Sweden

3.93/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours deep copper with a massive thick and creamy pale brown head that sure takes it's time to set; into decent lacings.

S: Lots of dark dried fruit, for example cherries (a bit sour and dry). Sweet malt, some caramell. Some yeast and a faint spicyness.

T: Dark sweet malts, and lots of dark dried fruits; cherries, figs, plums. But also some fresh fruit; ripe red apples and oranges. Slightly sour. Yeast.

M: Aftertaste lingers for some time holding a sour sweet bitterness. Body is full and carbonation is moderate.

O: A Dubbel is always a Dubbel; nice - especially if brewed by Trappist-monks.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 16:24:24 | More by Sunnanek

karait95

Mexico

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: dark reddish color some dark amber color is also seem, the carbonation is abundant making a big head that dissipates slowly leaving behind not many traces, a permanent layer is feed by it.

S: mixed malts with hops aroma, little toasted is present and may be due to some brown caramel sugar.

T: some alcohol tasting is present, but the main flavor are barley malts some hops very vague and dark fruit like prunes are certainly present.

M:nice mouthfeel not to difficult to drink starting mild with some sweetness changing slowly to some medium bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 02:44:17 | More by karait95

hustlesworth

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

i love saying "La Trappe". no clue why. koningshoeven bottle, believed to be 2-3 years old. cellared properly.

A- murky plum colored juicy looking body is topped with a thin beige head. once it settles to a thick ring the retention is *nice* and the lace is modest to meager. still a provocative looking brew due to its purpleish hue under incandescent light.

S- bold fruity aroma with a powerful caramel malt punch. cherries, berries, and prunes, raisin, date, fig, banana, ginger and very mild cocoa. some woodsy, nutty, and earthy notes. sandalwood and cedar with a touch of soil, slight perfume, dark cookies, brown sugar, and white grape tartness. dizzang.

T- caramelish and chocolaty flavor, less fruity and much woodsier and earthy than the aroma. some dried fruits such as raisin, date, prune, and fig move in near the finish to compete with the mellow but brisk hop bitterness. as the beer warms, there's some fruity alcohol and a back-lit berry tartness up front, eventually giving way to the cocoa and grainy malt flavors. oak and maple wood dominate the woodsy side of things with grape skin, mineral, and tannins like a shiraz. finishes toasty, malty, lightly hoppy, with a touch of banana peel and apple skin and a peppery spice. booze comes out in the finish also, but isn't a bother thanks to the masking dark flavors.

MF- the zesty bubbles. more like a fleece blanket of bubbles. i can't discern individual bubbles, they just seem to flow over everything and become one. a voltron of bubbles. that being said, the body underneath is full and juicy with an alcohol softness and minor powdery feel.

D- drinks as good as other monkly dubbels although flavor is lacking just a bit for me, even after a couple years, as trappist brews generally break the 4.5 mark in my book. this one is welcome in my chalice any time.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 04:15:35 | More by hustlesworth

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

3.63/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle poured in a chalice.

A: Pours a beautiful dark amber color with a huge bubbled aired beige head. Low retention. Not much lacings left

S: Fruity (Raisins mainly). Caramel, caramel malts and yeasts. Quite biscuity and bit hoppy end

T: Follows the nose. Mild sweet and molasses upfront. Caramel, raisins, caramel malts, yeasts. It finishes with a mild hoppy bitterness

M: Medium body and carbonation. Sweet upfront. A bit molasses sensation. Mild bitter end

O: Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 14:56:56 | More by eduardolinhalis

Mako82

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into snifter

A - Dark brown with a reddish hue, tan foamy head that did not last long.

S - Sweet and tart champagne type smell, followed by caramelized malts and yeast.

T - Receive a strong sweet coffee taste right away with a peppery/spicey taste in the background. Sweet coffee taste last well into the aftertaste. Aftertaste was slightly bitter with a hint of alcohol esters.

M - Medium carbonation with a medium body

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 17:39:23 | More by Mako82

allforbetterbeer

Colorado

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

Poured into a snifter.

Poured lightly, this beer yields a finger of thick dark caramel colored head that slowly fades. Body is cloudy (I let it stand for 48 hours before uncapping) and the color of rich caramel.

My first whiff displays dark fruits dripping in caramel and some moderate yeasty phenol notes on the side. A little swirl revives the head and produces strong malty notes, smells as if this beer was brewed with different crystal malts and some dark sugar.

The taste is sweet and sugary thick, with a depth of malts and syrupy flavors. Caramel and strong malts are predominant, with just a touch of yeast bite. No hops are detectable. Alcohol is there but very subtle.

The mouthfeel is highly carbonated, and this counteracts the sweetness and heavy feel of the beer. I prefer lower carbonation, however the score isn't affected as I know that it is close to spot on for the style.

Conclusion: this is an outstanding Dubbel, and one that I consider a benchmark for the style. Tasty and complex. Certainly worth your money and time.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 23:25:30 | More by allforbetterbeer

stephens101

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Murky brown with a small to near non-existent tan, airy froth which surrounds a swirly sea of small aimless bubbles. Vinous aroma up front with a little yeast, dry grain and plums at the end. More grape and grain to the tongue with taffy and plum finishing it off. Noticeably airy but still satisfying and perfectly balanced. Consummately refined and more straight forward than bold. If they served this at communion instead of grape juice I still might be going to church.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 22:46:47 | More by stephens101

FanofHefe

Illinois

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

Poured from a 750 ml corked and caged bottle, cork dated 07/10, into a Duvel tulip. Deep, dark ruby red body, mostly clear, with a big three-finger dark mocha colored head. The head retains fairly well but leaves only a little creamy lacing.

Very fruity aroma featuring mostly sweet, dark, fruits, caramel, toffee, and a hint of lemon at the end. Not much from the yeast characteristics, even as it warms.

Fairly tasty blend that follows the aroma. The sweet raisin, plum, and fig tastes dominate, but there is a decent light spiciness from the yeast. In fact, there might be the slightest note of noble hops at the very end of the flavor.

Medium mouthfeel that is very drinkable. Solid offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 22:31:10 | More by FanofHefe

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This Dubbel pours out as a earthy brown color with a cream colored head. The head lasts for a little while. The smell is of dark fruits, earth and yeast. The taste follows up with the same qualities as the smell. The mouthfeel is smooth and silky, not much carbonation but had a good medium body to it. Overall I'm not a huge fan of Dubbels but this one worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 02:35:33 | More by Knapp85

anakar

Israel

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

App - Pours a caramel brown, nice head. Very much like a McChouffe or many other Belgians that are a bit dark

Smell - Yeasty, Beery smell. Doesn't feel cheap, it smells like it's expansive and has a lot of alcohol.

Tate - Sweet and bitter. Not much more to say. You can taste the alcohol. Best word is sweet.

Mouth - That's it's only average thing. It feels like just about any other beer. Goes down fine, you feel the carb. Not particularly smooth.

Overall - A very nice Belgian dark high-alcohol beer for people who like that taste

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 10:14:01 | More by anakar

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Cafe Belgique in Amsterdam. From notes.

A - Pours a really deep mahogany or copper. Thick, creamy one finger beige head. Decent carbonation streaming up the sides. Appears bright. Fairly good lacing down the sides of the chalice and a thin cap of head retention.

S - Rich dark fruits, some alcohol, sweet spice, and yeast.

T - Sweet with obvious candi sugar. Rich prune, plum, and date flavour. Some alcohol, and sweet spice.

M - Medium body with mild carbonation. Sweet, slightly alcoholic finish.

O/D - Not a bad Dubbel. Not too full of those yeasty notes, most likely because it's filtered. A nice drink in a small alley with people passing. Tasty and worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 21:34:30 | More by tbeckett

paulozanello

Brazil

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a gorgeous reddish brown color, with fairly transparent with a beige head that lasts for a while leaving average lacing.
Aroma is raisings, dark fruits, caramel and toffee.
Taste is dark fruit, caramel, light chocolate, toffee and butterscotch. Finishes with a burnt note. No hops at all.
Mouthfeel is sort of astringent with moderate to high carbonation. Aftertaste is lasting with nutty, plums and burnt caramel notes.
Overall a great representation of the style. One of the best dubbels out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 00:36:15 | More by paulozanello

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the corked big bottle marked 10:15-K11010. Sampled on April 12, 2011. A dynamic looking ruby red when held to the light and do hold it to the light because out of the light it looks a bit brown with a fluffy, tan head. Aromas of yeast, smoky malts, and dark fruits like plum. The body settles comfortably on the tongue while the head delicately tickles the lips. The flavors abound with moderate malts with a hoppy, alcohol bite at the end. Interesting and engaging.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 23:36:27 | More by puboflyons

StJamesGate

New York

3.93/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours tawny ruby with piles of tan foam that fade to film. Soil, cinnamon and strong cold tea on the nose. Raisin, earth, and apple up front, phenol twang, birch beer hops end. Light to medium, lively, slight burn to end.

Burns a tad too much, but otherwise great balance between complexity and drinkability - what makes this style great.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 19:47:06 | More by StJamesGate

LukeK1231

New York

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500ml "ceramic" bottle into a pint glass (I know wrong glass, severly lacking glassware while studying abroad)

A- Dark ruby red.

S- The aroma was spicy and caramel like with a light-fruit smell in the background.

T, M- The taste was sweet and caramelly and was very enjoyable. It had a smooth finish, although the alcohol came through just a little. (not bad though)

O- Overall a very nice Dubbel and would try again.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 19:33:19 | More by LukeK1231

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

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

Poured into a crystal beer mug, the beer is a deep mahogany. A creamy off white head builds and stays for a couple of minutes.
Very inviting look.
Smelling the beer, you will be introduced to sweet malt, honey, caramel, dried fruit like dates, plum, sugar.
The taste up front confirms the sweetness, which was announced earlier. Honey, brown sugar, dark fruits, banana.
In the middle the sweetness turns to more roasted malt flavor, being nicely balanced at the end by some hops, leaving a great bittersweet aftertaste, which asks for more beer.
Very drinkable brew, good carbonation and freshness. I would buy this definitely again.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 04:31:38 | More by Hopfenpeter

AgentMunky

California

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 33cL bottle into a Gouden Carolus chalice. Best before January 2011.

A: Quite dark, too much so to see through, blood-red in the light. A big creamy head subsides into small white bubbles on the surface.

S: Candy sugars and dried fruit.

T: Banana milkshake! That's what it tastes like. Strong, creamy vanilla flavours as well. Quite pleasant, but one-dimensional, and rather odd for a dubbel. The aftertaste is a bit fruity-dry, but not entirely pleasantly so. Hrm. Strange beer.

M: Thin, but creaminess coats the mouth. Virtually no carbonation, a real drawback.

D: Very sweet, milkshake-sweet, but nice all the same. It disappeared before I realised it.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 23:26:23 | More by AgentMunky

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

We pour a brew somewhere between deep tawny and a glowing amber. A relatively soft pour reveals a beige head, cola-like in appearance, and voraciously bubbling. It recedes at a medium pace, leaving little lacing as it goes. There is a definite haze to the body, but no sediment is noted otherwise. The carbonation appears active. The aroma is bright, showing off bready malts, cold and metallic yeasty scents, and a nice balancing fruitiness, of dark pit fruits and berries. These are contributed to by light esters, while buttery diacetyls swirl through the back of the nose. The taste begins with heavy malts and expertly intertwined medicinal phenols. The middle moves forward with cool, cleaning bubblegum esters, and a light cherry sweetness. As we finish, there is a washing bitterness, of yeast and darker malts, working to further scrape the fruit and phenols from the palate. The aftertaste breathes with a hint of booze, riding upon those bitter notes from the end. The body is medium and the carbonation is medium. The feel to the mouth is wet, but not watery. The slight syrupiness to it is satisfying, and the mouth is left ultimately cooled and dried. The abv is standard and the beer drinks with great ease.

Overall, what we liked best about this beer was the inviting aroma and the complexity to the taste. From the first whiff of the beer you are drawn in, and want to sip it right away. Once you finally do you are met with a straightforward dubbel, with some inherent complexities through the finish of the taste. What was most surprising about this drink was how quenching and cooling it was to sip. The drinker is left refreshed and wanting more.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 03:09:34 | More by TheBrewo