Abbey Belgian Style Ale - New Belgium Brewing

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.81/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a New Belgium globe glass.

Look: Dark ruby amber color. Thick cream colored head. Slow ressesion with decent rings of lace.

Aroma: Biscuits, nuts, and floral fruits. An almost bubblegum quality.

Taste: The sweet bubblegum thing comes out and dominates. The hop finish is more grounded in citrus.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, creamy.

Overall: Just too yeasty and bubblegummy. Typical New Belgium?

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 00:39:53 | More by JuicesFlowing

EagleTalon

Arkansas

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

Pours to a nice white head, moderate lacing and brown amber color. Aroma is a complex blend of fruits, spices, vanilla, clove and specialty malts. Flavor is a complex blend of caramel like flavors, complex sweet spicy and fruity. Refreshing clove finish. Mouthfeel is medium to light. Overall this beer rocks my palate and totally owns my nose.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 23:56:42 | More by EagleTalon

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: a brown color. almost opaque but with slight clarity. two fingers of tan head that leave behind a lacing

Smell: candied sugar and dark fruits

Taste: the belgian yeast gives of tastes of dark fruits and a slight breadiness, the candied sugars come in pretty strongly. There is an alcohol taste which i prefer hidden in this type

Mouthfeel: very sweet aftertaste. a touch too sweet

Overall: I had higher hopes for this one since new belgium made a great trippel. this one was just slightly lacking in all aspects

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 14:52:38 | More by SportsandJorts

rangerred

Tennessee

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

12oz bottle into a goblet.

Pours a crystal clear deep ruby with a half finger tan head that goes away farily quickly. There is some wispy lacing left on the surface with a little lace clinging to the sides of the glass.

The aroma is full of swee, dark fruits along with a little bit of roasted malt. Some clove and banana from the yeast tying everything together. A really nice smelling beer.

More roast up front than I was expecting in the flavor with dark fruit quickly following behind. Molasses and brown sugar as well. The yeast characteristics stay buried until the finish where they quickly spring forward to become the dominant flavor. There is a light bitterness and moderate sweetness on the finish but the mouthfeel is not as soft as I was hoping for.

Overall, a decent attempt at a Dubbel by New Belgium and I really think they pulled it off. It is still a little rough around the edges but for the availability and price it is hard to beat.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 01:50:23 | More by rangerred

themind

New Jersey

4.24/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Quality American take on a Belgium brew! I really enjoyed this beer. Rich, full flavor with a nice aroma....yea I could down a few of these puppies. If your a Belgium beer lover you should look this way, its worth a glance for sure.

Bottom Line: Good beer worth drinking over and over!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 03:41:01 | More by themind

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Candied malt, fruit flavor and savory notes abound in this- a trademark of the famed New Belgium brewery. Their Dubbel Ale is a staple in classic Belgian flavor profiling. It's simply a who's who of the taste of Belgium.

It's near perfect clarity casts only the faintest of diffusions against a bronze-ruby backdrop. The classy ale releases a dense blanket of foam that nestles the beer nicely in a cocoon of light tan froth. A slow recession to skim the beer yields intricate lacing left on the glass behind the fading beer. It's a beautiful looking ale.

Whiffs of toffee and brown sugar start the aromatic spread. But the beer's sweetness and fruit character carry complementing notes of candied malt, black cherries, caramel apples, and a tinge of red licorice. The aromas excite the senses with spiciness of white pepper, dried orange peels, and a dash of soft coriander. Earthy hops offer a soft glow of wood that simmers underneath all that fruit and spice.

Delicious tastes of brown sugar and toffee sweetness coat the tongue with a candied taste of confectioner's sugar. Hiding just beneath are the fruit flavors of apples, cherries and grapes. Richer and earthier stone fruit flavors of dates, figs, and raisins give a depth and variety of taste that exudes savory and succulent notions. Racy red wine flavors are slim but do offer vinous taste to usher in a spicy and earthy sweetness of light cinnamon, clove, and allspice. The taste is remarkably understated but complex, while retaining exemplary drinkability.

The savory ale starts off with a body that's malty and semi-rich. But it very quickly makes a turn toward dry spice, and evaporative warmth. A slow fade at middle palate never reveals its deviant turn to spicy heat late. The beer is simply way too drinkable to be so strong.

New Belgium Abbey Ale comes so close to selling the authentic Belgian character to me, but alas it reveals too much caramel sweetness and earthen yeast character that I expect from American-made Belgian beers. Where those are overly simplistic and sweet, this one doesn't go that far, but approaches the Dubbel Ale taste with somewhat timid character.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 06:14:35 | More by BEERchitect

tronester

Oklahoma

3.53/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear amber/brown with a medium creamy tan head. Aromas of toasted grain. Taste begins with some fruit sweetness, then some toasted grain, and finishing with some tart, clean earthiness. Mouthfeel is good. Overall not the best NB beer ive had. A little bit dissapointing.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 22:29:37 | More by tronester

breakingbland

Michigan

3.56/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

At inside out gallery in Traverse City, MI, March 2013

Poured from a bottle dated 17 nov 2013

Appearance: Small head that thinned quickly. The beer is a deep, clear mahogany color.

Aroma: Somewhat mild but could detect a yeasty brett funky aroma.

Taste: More hops than funk. Not a deep flavor profile but good. Piney hops lingered after swallowing.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, pleasant carbonation.

Overall: A good example of this style. I'll have it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 15:25:25 | More by breakingbland

scot_chale

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

A- 1 finger of creamy white foam with a dark red copper body and no signs of carbonation. the head retains well and the lacing is quite thick.

S- dark cherry, almost red wine with some yeast and a lingering caramel malt undertone.

T- sticky caramel malt dominate with a very faint hop character in the background. it's a nice flavor, but get ready for an assertive medium malt bite.

M- Dry, medium-to-light body, and very spritzy carbonation. It's sessionable at 7 percent, which is dangerous, but delightful.

O- I could drink the hell out of this. It's got a very nice pronounced flavor but with the body and level of carbonation leaves you able to continue on without getting fatigued. I'd pick up a 6 pack any day.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 23:02:24 | More by scot_chale

brewcore

South Carolina

3.99/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass.

A: Medium brown in color. Aggressive pour yields a two finger creamy white head that slowly dissipates into a sheet across the surface of the beer. Nice bubbles up the sides of the glass. Amazing lacing.

S: Quite sweet and certainly spiced. Banana, clove and spice as expected from the Belgian yeast.

T: Sweet, bready malts make up the majority of the flavor profile. Belgian yeast flavors punch through.

M: Thin to medium mouthfeel. Moderate carbonation. Easy drinking.

O: A good example of a malty Belgian. Really impressed by this sampler offering. Definitely a good beer for the dubbel style, especially for the price and availability.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 00:37:23 | More by brewcore

Moose90

Colorado

3.44/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Best By – November 2013

A – Light brown with amber and copper hues. Head is thin and left spotty lacing.

S – Yeasty and fruity. Some sweet malt notes as well. Bit of alcohol comes through on the nose.

T – More dark fruits again, plums and raisins. Big yeast notes and sweet sweet malts. Balance is fleeting.

M – Smooth with medium carbonation. Finish is brief.

O – Okay beer, good representation of the style, but couldn't help but feel that something was a little off.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 20:57:58 | More by Moose90

CHickman

New York

4.31/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very hazy dark chestnut brown color with some reddish hues around the edges where the light hits it, a creamy 1 finger tan head that faded and left a creamy layer on top, and very good lacing that slid down slowly. This brew had a ton of yeast particles floating in it, so it looked like seawater after the tide crashed in or a dirty fish-tank that had too much leftover fish food floating in it.

Smells of dark fruit, yeast, sweet malt, caramel, toffee, plums, grapes, brown sugar, French toast and mild alcohol; some spices like cinnamon and coriander come through after the sweetness settles down, but this smells like it’s from Belgium and not Colorado – well done.

Tastes of dark fruit like plum, raisin, cherry and fig, followed by yeast, then a real sweetness with a combo of malt, caramel, toffee, apple, grapes, brown sugar, French toast, toast like cinnamon raisin bread, mild alcohol, herbs and spices like cinnamon, tea leaf and coriander, and then a metallic yeasty finish. Belgian style ale indeed, this had the tasty flavor, balance and ingredients to mimic the best of Europe.

Mouthfeel is smooth and slick, velvety and buttery even, with a medium chewy body, very mild carbonation that bordered on flat and watery, and a sweet fruity finish that had the classic metallic yeast coating that seemed to linger forever.

A very, very good beer overall that was easy to drink, true to the style and got better and more flavorful as it warmed. An excellent American version and certainly one of the best produced state-side, which I highly recommend trying.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 04:51:14 | More by CHickman

kagent777

Utah

4.36/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle rescued from Las Vegas poured into my perfect pint.

Appearance: Something like a three finger head sits atop effervescent crystal brown beer.

Smell: I love the subtle smell on this one. Wonderful Belgian phenols that remind of light stonefruit and a bit of vanilla. I also get some spice reminiscent of cinnamon.

Taste: A bit sweet up front, follows with fruity phenolics and Belgian yeast spice. Overall, a nice bready aspect to the malts.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with lower carbonation. Flavors coat really well with a slick mouthfeel.

Overall: A very nice dubbel. I wish we could get New Belgium here. I try to get some of their beer each time I travel.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 04:09:23 | More by kagent777

UCLABrewN84

California

4.2/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Best by 4/21/13.

Pours a clear copper with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, spices, Belgian yeast, and a very nice banana bread aroma. Taste is much the same with a banana bread flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with a great smell and some tasty flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 04:13:57 | More by UCLABrewN84

hosehead83

Ohio

4.14/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a Fat Tire balloon glass.
Dark brown/copper in color, with a nice looking cap of tan foam.
Aroma-Fruity, spicy notes
Taste-Plum/apple, spicy yeast. A bit subdued but very pleasant and drinkable. A nice take on the style that's very approachable .

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 18:53:01 | More by hosehead83

kristenspaintings

California

4.06/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Labeled confusingly as a “Belgian Style Ale” as Belgium has many ales, this should be listed as “Yummy Delicious Amber Ale”. After the confusion, nothing but enjoyment will follow. Upon pouring you will notice a wonderful head as well as a slightly nutty/malty aroma.

The dark, but not black, color is deep and beautiful to behold. Upon drinking you notice a multitude of flavors which would easily compliment a nice steak or a rich stew.

Personally, I was surprised at how lovely tasting and reasonably priced this beer was. Now and then we all deserve a nice surprise, even a drinkable surprise in a tulip glass.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 17:29:16 | More by kristenspaintings

vkv822

Oregon

3.89/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz : tulip
Best By: Sep.22 2013

Clear mahogany red with a foamy off white head and nice lacing.

Banana, light bubblegum, clove and spice. Really inviting.

Banana bread, faint clove/spice.

Medium- body, light bubbly carbonation.

A very well done Dubbel. I'm generally not a huge fan of the style, but I really enjoyed this one and would enjoy having it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 09:23:48 | More by vkv822

Hawksfan79

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Glass: Snifter

Appearance: Brown with ruby highlights. Thin bubbly white head.

Aroma: Spiced, ginger, clove, cinnimon, and a slight banana aroma.

Taste: Clove, cinnimon, belguim yeast, slight sour finish.

Mouthfeel: thin, light bodied, nice mellow carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 04:27:41 | More by Hawksfan79

Mgm54

New York

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving type - 12oz poured into a pint glass.

A - a nice deep brown, like a dubbel should look like. slight brown tinge in the head.

S - sweet malt dominates the smell, not much else here, but it does the trick for this type of beer

T - Again, sweet malt is the main taste here, with slight bitterness that comes out in the end, and lingers a bit. slight citrus and lemon comes out in the end.

M - very smooth, and you can feel the malt here

O - malt bomb, very good and artfully balanced. Must try.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 23:23:19 | More by Mgm54

TheMarkE

California

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Everything a Belgian is supposed to be: dark fruits, banana, chocolate, caramel, coffee and roasted malts. Perfectly balanced and complex, and still very smooth. I sacrificed my last bottle to a pot of chili, I think it’s time to reload.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 23:23:40 | More by TheMarkE

rajendra82

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The appearance is much more attractive than the traditional murky brown Dubbel. The body is clear, and almost a glowing shade of brown. The smell is full of dry fruits like fig, raisins, and apricots, and provides a great preview of what is to come. The taste is very good in terms of showcasing fruity esters, but the overall flavoring s short of what is hinted at by the aroma. There is a bit too much simplicity and dilution in the flavor department. The feel in the mouth is slippery, oily, and smooth. The beer goes down easy, but I want to find out if this has ever been recast as a quad, because that's what it is aspiring towards.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 06:06:39 | More by rajendra82

matjack85

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I got this as part of a build-your-own six pack for $9.99 at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL. 12oz. brown bottle with a date of 08/14/14 on it. This beer must hold up well as this date is over a year and a half away yet.

The beer poured a rather nice looking semi clear reddish/copper color with ruby red highlights when held to the light. Unfortunately it only produced a half finger of off-white head that didn't last long and produced very little lacing.

Sour cherry and wine-like grapiness in the nose, as well as plenty of malt and a touch of alcohol.

Malty, with dark cherry and dark chocolate flavor. Cinnamon/clove spiciness and some warming alcohol in the background. Dry finish. The 3 varieties of hops don't make much of an impact at only 20 IBU's, but give just the slightest bitter bite for balance.
It's on the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

I like even more malt than this in a dubbel, but this is still a tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 05:10:10 | More by matjack85

CloudStrife

New York

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. 14APR13 on the bottle.

A: Pours a clear dark ruby with a one finger off white head. Lots of visible carbonation. Leaves some lacing on the glass. Head takes a few minutes to dissipate to a thin covering.

S: Love the nose on this. A sweet candied belgian yeast with loads of fruit. Has a background of banana.

T: Good take on a belgian here. Great yeastiness and sweet dark fruits. Alcohol is well hidden. Might say its too sweet.

M: Medium body with some good creaminess. Perhaps a little thin for the style but that helps with the sessionability.

Overall I am impressed with this beer. Would recommend everyone give it a shot at least once. In the top 10 American dubbels?

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 01:27:34 | More by CloudStrife

jimmah120

Minnesota

4.26/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25

12oz no date into mason jar

look is very clear amber with a small off white head. smell is very bright bubblegum, apple, grain. taste follows with a slick bubbly medium feel.

fantastic drink, all my favorite attributes in a beer: great taste, drinkability, and a high ABV that's well hidden. don't hesitate to grab some. I only wish this was available in 12s where I live. this is all coming from someone who isn't a fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 07:40:41 | More by jimmah120

schoolboy

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

We bought a bunch of this drank my first 1 on the bus up to Vail yesterday. This one is served more properly and it looks real nice in the glass. Lots of lace. The aroma is ok but a little weak.it's very smooth and not very yeasty. The aftertaste is pleasant. We have some good regional beers to drink this week.so far we seem to have made good choices.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 01:03:17 | More by schoolboy