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

tylerzander

Arizona

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - opened with a slightly delayed gushing despite having had a stable home prior to opening, and as such roused some of the yeast, resulting in a cloudy beer with floaties in it; otherwise, pours a sienna color with a one finger larger bubbled off-white head with good retention, as all the small bubbles seem to stick around

S - this brewery is quite good at getting a very appealing raisinets aroma (see also the Oerbier) to come out, with just a hint of ethanol to give some complexity to the various sugars at work here, a wildflower honey and caramel aroma coming out on top with a few background notes of black licorice, some malt breadiness, a little clove

T - starts off with that caramel flavor, transitions to some peppery spiciness and clove-like phenols (and a smack of hop bitterness to balance it out) accentuated by the mildly hot ethanol finish

M - full bodied and dextrinous, almost like chewing on a caramel candy but without any kind of cloying sweetness

D - there's a lot going on in this beer, but it doesn't fatigue the palate, even though you expect it to with its strong aroma and high abv level; to some extent the phenolic/alcoholic finish does limit the drinkability some, but I certainly didn't want it stop at one with this beer

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 03:24:23 | More by tylerzander

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

nrb1

California

4/5  rDev -3.8%

03-23-2013 15:24:17 | More by nrb1

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

03-21-2013 00:19:16 | More by randylangford

BGsWo22

New York

2/5  rDev -51.9%

03-21-2013 00:11:40 | More by BGsWo22

mdaschaf

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

03-13-2013 22:53:00 | More by mdaschaf

shigg85

Japan

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

03-09-2013 02:04:40 | More by shigg85

AngusOg

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

03-04-2013 18:26:21 | More by AngusOg

Seaba

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

02-28-2013 14:37:21 | More by Seaba

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

33cl bottle with quite a bit of age on it (I believe best by 07.) Poured into an Oerbier oversized wine glass, the brew appears a burnt copper color that is quite clear. However, despite a careful pour some yeast particulate makes its way into the glass. Rising bubbles of carbonation maintain more than a finger of khaki head throughout the entire experience. A swirl revives more than a finger of froth effortlessly back to the surface and produces some finger-like patterns of stringy lace.

The aroma is sweet with an essence of belgian candy sugar but contrasted with almost a cheesy to funky aspect is also present when swirled. There is a bit of earthen quality about this that blends into something more fruity like cherry, apple and/or pears. That 10% alcohol is evident but very faintly across the back when a deep whiff is taken. Once the brew goes beyond ideal temperature, there is a very soft suggestion of vinegar that while not distracting was not expected.

The flavor of this brew is quite bready with malt that blends into a touch of cardboard-like oxidation. Some sweetness is present tasting a bit like caramel, toffee and transitions into more of a fruity alcohol note like apple and/or pear skins. Some earthen notes are ever present with every sip that breaks up the experience a bit. The aftertaste has a very faint suggestion of cider. I hate to say this but the overall flavors of this brew are better while colder. As the brew comes up to temperature, the alcohol inclusion becomes almost solvent and numbing to the palate.

This is a medium bodied brew with a lively but not overdone amount of carbonation. The flavors are spot on for what anyone could want/expect in a tripel. However, despite this brew having quite a bit of age on it, the alcohol is well pronounced but integrated fairly decently in this brew. If anything, the warmth of this brew distracts just a bit from the overall ease of drinkability. The last time I had this brew it was from a 750ml that was 17 years old. It was not the best of experiences but this even with its own significant aging was much better. I am curious now about having a bottle as fresh as possible just for the sake of comparison. If you havent had this yet, what are you waiting for? I will need to put this on the to-do list to grab more of these when I see them.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 02:46:18 | More by stakem

BigLittleHokis

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

02-25-2013 04:03:14 | More by BigLittleHokis

alelover

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

02-22-2013 07:51:03 | More by alelover

mcphish22

Maryland

4/5  rDev -3.8%

02-19-2013 03:21:06 | More by mcphish22

duceswild

Maryland

4/5  rDev -3.8%

02-19-2013 01:39:14 | More by duceswild