De Dolle Dulle Teve (Mad Bitch) - Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers

HiroProtagonist

Maryland

4.72/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

It is common at my local beer store to find, with some digging, older bottles with lower prices from days gone by stuck in back of the newer product. This comes in handy if you are looking for an aged bottle, or just a lower price. Digging into the very back of the Dulle Teve row in the cooler I happened across a partially moldy bottle that was $2 less than the front ones...bingo. Had it been there for months...years? No dates on the bottle. After cleaning some black crud from around the cap, I poured the nectar inside into my Duvel tulip. The beer was a hazed/cloudy vibrant golden-yellow-orange color, and was topped by a billowing tower of off-white head, which slowly settled down into a nice hilly blanket form. The nose was wonderful, with notes of fresh sweet/tart granny smith apples, intermingled with aromas of pineapple, citrus zest, stalks of lemongrass, and ancient mustiness. This was liberally accented with smooth coriander and a spicy hops. The moldy exterior was not detrimental to its taste either. I experienced potent honey/mead-like malts that warmed the throat while releasing excellent gewurtztraminner-grape flavors and notes of pineapple and cinnamon-clove-musty spices. The finish presented a nice pop of spiced dessert wine flavors and an excellent spicy bitter hoppiness. Alcohol was evident here but it melded perfectly with the flavors throughout. The body was creamy, smooth, silky, and a bit fluffy...working extremely well for the flavors and character of the beer. This tripel was a vibrant, delicous, and masterfully balanced flavor monster. This mad bitch is quite loveable, despite being a little unattractive on the outside!

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2004 05:07:39 | More by HiroProtagonist

jaxon53

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

06-16-2013 19:55:44 | More by jaxon53

ystazi

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

06-14-2013 18:28:54 | More by ystazi

jtladner

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -3.8%

06-14-2013 01:59:12 | More by jtladner

WynnO

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

06-04-2013 20:27:28 | More by WynnO

straightlambic

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

06-03-2013 18:30:08 | More by straightlambic

Gww1864

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

06-01-2013 20:40:26 | More by Gww1864

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bright iridescent orange that glowed in the light this is amongst the most gorgeous tripels I've seen. The head was white and bubbly that collared quickly but laced well.

The scent was fruity, clovey and a touch yeasty. Flowery aromas gave way to a more clove-centric scent.

The taste is superb with huge flowery flavor, honey, clover, sweet candy, doughy malt and did I mention flowers. There's a honeysuckle flower taste that hangs around that is so alluring.

I rank this amongst the best tripels I have had; it is smooth, light, tasty, flowery and and just good to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2013 00:39:40 | More by KYGunner

JRod1969

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-26-2013 15:36:51 | More by JRod1969

lupercmda

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

05-25-2013 03:36:58 | More by lupercmda

robertmitchum

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

05-24-2013 09:14:02 | More by robertmitchum

kylehay2004

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%

05-23-2013 00:16:55 | More by kylehay2004

Dyelawn

Maine

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-22-2013 13:46:03 | More by Dyelawn

emilylee

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-14-2013 21:06:19 | More by emilylee

GRUUMSH

Belgium

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-14-2013 06:59:41 | More by GRUUMSH

imperialking

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-10-2013 17:54:42 | More by imperialking

BierMeJohn

Germany

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-07-2013 19:10:54 | More by BierMeJohn

crosenkrantz

Switzerland

3/5  rDev -27.9%

05-01-2013 00:08:14 | More by crosenkrantz

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-19-2013 10:19:03 | More by Jason1337

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.66/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

From: Binny's, Algonquin, IL
Date: "Bottled" is marked on cap, but the rest is missing (purchased winter 2011)
Glass: Tulip

Dulle Teve comes across as a midline tripel: Belgian in yeast and fruity esters, uniquely bitter, but like most De Dolle beers, this is a little too exuberant in showcasing its ethanol presence over other flavors, subtracting a few points in my book. This would be good as a warmer in colder months, but I, personally, do not appreciate the "in your face" ethanol aspect of some beers. Otherwise an enjoyable tripel, though also priced overly high ($6 per bottle) for what it is.

Pours a massively tall (>4cm) head, composed of medium-sized to large bubbles and white in color. Retention is excellent, lasting severl minutes before fading to a thin cap atop the body of the beer. Lacing is present and fairly substantial, thick clumps cling to the sides of the glass in randomized locations. The body is a fairly clean, transparent, and cool golden yellow in color, with light bringing out brighter yellow hues. Carbonation is readily visible, quite active and numerous.

Aroma is of pale malt sweetness, musty Belgian yeast, and light fruit esters (baked Bosc pears, dried apples). Not a poor aroma at all, but not as exuberant or expressive as others in the style. Perhaps it's age?

Overall flavor is of pale malt sweetness, musty Belgian yeast, some fruity esters, and ethanol. The closing bitterness is a nice, unique touch, though the ethanol obviousness detracts from the enjoyment for me. Front of tongue tastes pale malt sweetness, fruit esters, ethanol, slightly musty Belgian-style yeast. Mid-palate is of pale candi sugar, pale malt sweetness, baked Bosc pears, dried apple slices, and light Belgian yeast with honey-vanilla flavors. Back of palate features somewhat prominent ethanol with continued pale malt and candi sugar sweetness, some bright fruity esters, light Belgian yeast, and dried hay. Pleasant lingering bitterness in the aftertaste, along with light mustiness, pale malt sweetness, baked pear esters, and light Belgian yeast. Ethanol becomes more prominent in the aftertaste as the beer warms.

Beer is medium to medium-heavy in body, with carbonation of medium intensity, resulting in a mouthfeel that is never fizzy, but gently foamy and smooth. Ethanol is rather easily noticeable on the throat and in the nostrils, less so on the tongue, and particularly so after each sip when the beer warms somewhat.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 05:20:04 | More by falloutsnow

zestar

California

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-05-2013 08:49:13 | More by zestar

tbryan5

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-05-2013 03:30:16 | More by tbryan5

Caskaway

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

04-04-2013 00:25:08 | More by Caskaway

bacasnax

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%

03-31-2013 23:15:23 | More by bacasnax

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.8%

03-25-2013 00:37:13 | More by Sparky44