Abbey Belgian Style Ale - New Belgium Brewing

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Nice looking but could have used a bit more head and lacing. Color was a pretty amber-brown color, clear and clean looking. Rising bubbles.

Smells of brown sugar, yeast, spices and some malt, with just a tinge of alcohol. Really smelled good to me, I kept sniffing the glass over and over.

Tastes absolutely wonderful. Sweet and fruity, spicy, roasted malts and a touch of earthy hops are the flavors that come to mind. A very complex and tasty brew, I really like this beer!

Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, with flavors that dance across the tip and down the sides of the tongue. Moderate carbonation isn't overpowering, but also isn't flat. Just a hint of bitterness in the aftertaste.

Definitely a drinkable beer that I'll be buying on a regular basis from now on. Since many of my sessions are after work, at home, consuming around three beers, this is just fine for those nights.

Rating and review slightly adjusted on 25sep10. Taste slightly lowered after trying more of this style. Still a top quality beer tho for any style, and within the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2010 14:04:49 | More by AlCaponeJunior

Fargrow

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

06-19-2013 20:31:38 | More by Fargrow

MacStinson

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%

06-19-2013 00:16:41 | More by MacStinson

Hopmodium

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

06-18-2013 05:14:35 | More by Hopmodium

TargaFlorio

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

06-17-2013 23:59:41 | More by TargaFlorio

aProtagonist

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

06-17-2013 05:19:40 | More by aProtagonist

BSDA

Texas

4.21/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Lovely ruby-mahogany color in a 16oz glass bell mug with a mid-range opacity. The head rose to a single finger, and as I drank, raced down a trail of departure to fine lacey candy on the side of the glass. Low visible carbonation, but easily revived by a small swig and swish in the mouth, more on that later.

Smell is complex, slices of warm banana on toasted bread. Caramel sugars abound. Need I say more?

Taste is full of those tell-tale bananas and darker candied fruits, possibly figs or plums. Lingers heavy on the center of the tongue with the caramel.

Lends a bit of alcohol bite to the general smooth feel of other darker Belgian ales, froths a little at the corners of the mouth. Feels very soft and lingers heavy on the center palate, as well as tingling the gums if you give them a pass. Swishing the beer once or twice among the teeth and lips gives a nice revival to the low carbonation, leaving the thicker candies to sit on the gums and tease the edges of the tongue, waiting for the next taste. The feeling of this beer is delightfully rich without the cream filling of darker ales like Chimay G.R., etc.

Overall a great beer for after a modest meal. 3 of these after-eats will put you in bed sooner than you expected, unless you are used to dubbels and trippels. Keep it coming, New Belgium Brewery!

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 04:11:04 | More by BSDA

menacho1

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%

06-15-2013 01:38:07 | More by menacho1

LifeByTheDrop

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

06-13-2013 03:41:51 | More by LifeByTheDrop

backphish

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

06-10-2013 02:30:33 | More by backphish

Lagerquestrian

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +18.2%

06-10-2013 02:15:48 | More by Lagerquestrian

BrySoChi

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.5%

06-08-2013 03:56:11 | More by BrySoChi

jstevep00

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

06-06-2013 06:24:52 | More by jstevep00

dochs

Missouri

5/5  rDev +24.4%

06-04-2013 03:30:39 | More by dochs

randymanar

Arkansas

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

06-01-2013 19:54:19 | More by randymanar

ChrisKayler

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-30-2013 19:19:40 | More by ChrisKayler

freeHorizon

New York

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%

05-30-2013 03:34:36 | More by freeHorizon

RyanTheLion13

Iowa

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-29-2013 01:54:51 | More by RyanTheLion13

metter98

New York

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear amber in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high off white head that died down, leaving a patch of bubbles in the center and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderately strong aromas of candi sugars are present in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste has sweet flavors of candi sugars along with some notes of dark fruits and hints of spices.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I thought that this dubbel was a good represention of of the style and wasn't overly sweet.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 23:28:05 | More by metter98

smithj4

New York

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

05-27-2013 23:27:27 | More by smithj4

RedWeizen83

Texas

3/5  rDev -25.4%

05-27-2013 19:38:03 | More by RedWeizen83

Mojo

Alabama

4.16/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle -> Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass

Let me state upfron that Belgian style offering are not my favorite. But I loved this. It pours a deeep amber with a small head, great retention, and lacing taboot, taboot. The nose is mostly bananas but I also get some clove and spices. Taste is very sweet upfront, maybe apples, bananas, and asssorted other fruits. The finish is dry and yeasty, but not bad. I've had a few other Belgian ales where the finish was so yeasty I just didn't like it. Here it is more restrained. I like the mouthfeel. Lots of carbonation. A pleasant surprise!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 19:37:30 | More by Mojo

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

05-26-2013 19:23:23 | More by mikeincharleston

csfcmitchell

Texas

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-23-2013 15:54:29 | More by csfcmitchell

kvnstfrd

Missouri

1.25/5  rDev -68.9%

05-23-2013 13:56:29 | More by kvnstfrd