De Dolle Oerbier - Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers

kdb150

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 2012 bottle into a Chimay goblet.

A - Having learned my lesson from other De Dolle beers, I gave this one a very cautious pour at fridge temp, which still yielded 2 fingers of off-white head. Great retention, it kept a nice coating throughout. Color is a deep purplish-brown, but with the impressive head retention, this one is a beauty even though it leaves minimal lacing.

S - Mild nose of dark fruits - plum, raisin, fig. Definite caramel notes, with that slight sour back that De Dolle's yeast imparts to all of its beers. Smells good.

T - Same dark fruits as in the nose, perhaps a hint of cherries in there as well. A decent caramel maltiness backs it up, along with another note that I can't quite place - perhaps a candi sugar. Just the slightest hint of the trademark sour yeast notes, which seem to come through much more when the beer is cold, and much less after it has been allowed to warm. The taste only loses points because the yeast gives almost a metallic taste at fridge temp, where the yeast flavor dominates. This goes away as the beer warms.

M - The feel on this one is superb. The carb that is left after what is lost in the pour is a perfect amount. Likewise, the beer is just thick enough to coat, but not so thick as to be syrupy. The head adds a bit of creaminess to every sip that even further aids drinkability, and the beer leaves a very pleasant aftertaste of dark cherries. Absolutely nails it.

O - I've had the Reserva before having the base beer, and the Reserva seems to have much more of the yeasty sourness, which is largely lacking here. This is not a bad thing, as the beer itself has a lot going for it. The head retention adds a lot to both the appearance and mouthfeel, which definitely accentuates the overall experience. This beer is one I will look for in the future, another excellent offering from one of my favorite breweries.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 22:01:47 | More by kdb150

jtladner

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-18-2013 21:59:55 | More by jtladner

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-18-2013 21:17:01 | More by Photekut

ystazi

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-18-2013 01:33:50 | More by ystazi

DStoked

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-17-2013 18:29:24 | More by DStoked

Ciocanelu

Romania

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-15-2013 18:49:57 | More by Ciocanelu

Liquoric3

Germany

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-14-2013 18:16:28 | More by Liquoric3

earlholman

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-14-2013 13:32:14 | More by earlholman

BierMeJohn

Germany

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-07-2013 19:13:34 | More by BierMeJohn

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +19.3%

04-19-2013 10:20:16 | More by Jason1337

saiconotto

Maine

5/5  rDev +19.3%

04-13-2013 21:49:58 | More by saiconotto

AndrewIronfist

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

04-12-2013 18:25:54 | More by AndrewIronfist

emottram

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

04-11-2013 21:29:51 | More by emottram

Atomicskis5

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

04-11-2013 02:00:08 | More by Atomicskis5

IrishColonial

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

04-09-2013 01:19:11 | More by IrishColonial

JoninVT

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

04-06-2013 22:41:21 | More by JoninVT

zestar

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

04-05-2013 08:49:29 | More by zestar

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A 330ml bottle with a BB of July 2011 (bottled July 2009). Picked up ages ago from Trembling Madness in York and stored in my garage. I didn't mean to leave it so long before drinking it - I just never got round to it. Hopefully this strong brew will have stood the test of time, making it worthy of my 800th review!

Poured into a Duvel tulip. Bottle conditioned. A deep, hazy reddish-amber hue with visible sediment and plentiful carbonation. Produces a large head of creamy beige foam with good retention; this slowly reduces to a patchy surface layer. A rich port-like aroma: intensely fruity and sweet. Notes of plums, raisins, figs, dried fruit, cake, brown sugar, vinegar, caramel, tart cherries, mustiness and earthy yeast. A warming whiff of booze in the background; this complements the sweet, oxidised character. Wow - it smells incredible.

Tastes of rich, fruity malt with a complex character and a dry finish. Notes of plums, raisins, figs, dried fruit, red wine, fruitcake, brown sugar, vinegar, caramel, tart cherries, mustiness, faint grass, mild stewed leaves and earthy yeast. A subtle sourness provides a counterbalance to the sweet fruity flavours, while the oxidation yields a vinous quality that hints at port or sherry. A slight alcoholic warmth in the background, though the booze is well hidden. A mild dryness upon swallowing, with a lingering fruity taste. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and pleasantly tingly, with well-judged carbonation and good body. Somewhat astringent, with an aftertaste of rich dried fruit, brown sugar and fortified wine. Superb.

Most impressive - a highly complex and fruity brew that calls to mind wine rather than beer. It looks the part, with an amazingly rich aroma and a flavour that is a shade more restrained. The body does the beer justice. The tart, oxidised element is subtle and deliciously subversive, adding depth to what would otherwise just be a strong, sweet brew. Truly a world-class example of the style; it should be on every beer-lover's essential list. Not to be passed up if you have the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 01:15:35 | More by jazzyjeff13

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.5%

03-25-2013 00:36:31 | More by Sparky44

nrb1

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

03-23-2013 15:23:36 | More by nrb1

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

5/5  rDev +19.3%

03-23-2013 07:36:35 | More by grahamboudreaux

mscudder

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

03-20-2013 03:55:15 | More by mscudder

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle date-stamped September 2012

Appearance: Murky deep brown, light brown around the edges with a really persistent beautifully bubbly off-white head.

Nose: Green caramel apples, nuts and all. Tart and juicy green apple, rich, sweet caramel, nutty chocolately malts. Really nice.

Taste: Feels a bit dulled down compared to the nose, but its definitely unique. Roasty, almost stewed meat-like malt flavors up-front covered in caramel sweetness. A bit of the tart fruity apple comes through in the middle. It finishes bitter, like a coffee aftertaste but less intense. ABV is nowhere to be found. I was expecting a complex sipper but it feels more like a chuggable drinker.

Mouthfeel: Nice, fine carbonation. A bit lacking in body.

Overall: Not what I expected but very nice nonetheless. The nose promises more than the taste can deliver, but the taste is still a delicious and different flavor profile I haven't encountered anywhere else.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 03:48:49 | More by fdig23

smartassboiler

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.5%

03-16-2013 14:17:16 | More by smartassboiler

yancot

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

03-14-2013 16:21:06 | More by yancot