De Dolle Oerbier - Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers

kylehay2004

Florida

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2.5 finger thick off white head with nice lacing on a brownish orange murky body. Very nice lacing. Strong sweet dark fruit aroma, one of the best Belgian dark strong aromas I have experienced with cherry and raisin dominating. Flavor has more dark fruit with a sweet mild chocolate note. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Overall this is an excellent beer and excellent member of the genre. Very drinkable and complex.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2012 14:03:00 | More by kylehay2004

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft pour into a 10oz chalice for $8.50. Sampled 1/28/11.

A: One finger of creamy-foamy light brown head. Respectable retention deposits a delicate web of lace as it drops. A crescent shaped collar lasts long but no lace is added from the body. The color is dark tawny with faded plum accents. Cloudy to borderline murky.

S: Light oxidation on the nose. Flesh of plum, dates, cherry and possibly even a hint of orange peel. The dark fruits are as mellow as can be. Not as complex premier BSDAs tend to be, in either width or depth of aroma.

T: Emphasis on smoothness and the integration of a small canvas of flavors. Mild alcohol comes through but it is very smooth and almost undetectable. A feat given the ABV.

M: Soft, velvetty texture with gentle effervescence for a smooth and creamy result. The beer seems to levitate over the tongue.

D: [DRINKABILITY] Extremely easy to drink - perhaps even too easy - but I don't really have the interest in ordering another. I guess I went in with expectations too high, because I wasn't that impressed. Maybe this beer prefers to be poured from the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2012 15:28:53 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

taigor

New York

4.63/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into small glass.

A - Poured cloudy dark amber color with big head that slowly dissipated leaving lots of lacing around the glass.

S - Belgian yeast with dark fruit dominate the nose.

T - Sweet brown sugar and figs, raisins and other dark fruits. This is followed by bready yeasy and slight tartness with a slightly dry finish.

M - Medium bodied with average carbonation.

O - Excellent BSDA with ABV very well hidden. Even with that it is a sipper. I would highly recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 17:14:38 | More by taigor

moosejaw7

Connecticut

4.95/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I love this beer. It's pretty ridiculous how much I love this beer. I firmly believe that you could sip this beer for hours and still not quite pick up everything it has to offer.

The color is intriguing. The nose, alluring. The taste, amazing.

When I sip this beer, it wraps me up like a warm blanket. Everything is going to be all right. The American economy? Just take another sip. My girlfriend is pissed at me again? The chubby little yellow Oerbier dude would never be angry at me. Is someone trying to break into my house? That's fine. Just let me keep my Oerbier.

Seriously, though. There is so much going on here it's crazy. Dark candy sugar, yes, so it's sweet, but not too sweet. It's more dry than anything. There is only a slight hop bitterness, but I don't have time to dwell on that. It's all coming at me too fast. Dark fruits, sweet malt, a wonderfully subtle tartness, and, oh right, there's the booze.

This is definitely a sipper, but I don't know why you'd be in any rush to finish it.

God, I love this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2011 06:25:37 | More by moosejaw7

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Eulogy, Philly, PA

Pretty damn tasty strong ale, dark and flavorful, served in a crucible-type goblet. Tasted somewhat like an unflavored lambic. Poured a bit cloudy mahogany. Aroma of dried dark fruits. Taste of dried dark fruits, roasty malts, and some dark sugar, molasses or toffee. Complex and tasty. Medium mouthfeel and a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2011 19:27:05 | More by Rifugium

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Monk's Cafe, 4/2/11.

A-Pour is a clear dark amber with some nice ruby red a frothy tan head and a sticky sheet of lacing.

S-Light aroma of Belgian yeast and sweet dark fruit.

T-Brown sugar, fir and caramel sweetness with a slight tinge of sourness in the back of the finish.

M-Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

O-Nice, but not up to my admittedly high expectations from previous experience with the bottled version.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2011 15:07:09 | More by sholland119

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

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

Served on-tap at MiKro Beer Bar in Hamden, Conn.

A: Dark, reddish amber color with a thin, off-white head of carbonation. Bits of yeast are barely visible beneath the dark, clouded exterior.

S: Rich and fruity with a hint of cherry Robatussin; smells a bit hot with alcohol and tangy, sour fruits. Bits of raspberry and apple fill the nose as well.

T: Dark, candied sugar and fruity malts rush the palate, coating with plum, cherry, berries and pear. Bits of raisin and fig climb forward but can't overcome the tart cherry notes. Finishes a bit boozy and bittersweet with lingering, sticky malt sweetness.

M: Full-bodied and slightly boozy, imparting some alcoholic sting, but quite lush and enjoyable otherwise.

D: The over 9% ABV isn't masked all that well, but I allowed the brew to warm a bit and it settled out some, making Oerbier a pretty nice sipping Belgian dark ale.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2011 21:10:39 | More by Gambrinus1184

HopHead84

California

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Stone.

A: Dark brownish red with a small head.

S: Baked bread, clove, banana, plum, dark cherry, and grape. Strong esters and a rich malt profile with toast and caramel. Increasingly spicy as it warms. Really nice malt profile.

T: Rich malt imparts notes of caramel and baked bread. Upper moderate sweetness with a little candied sugar. Dark fruits are pervasive, reminiscent of plum, grape, and prune. Mildly spicy, with subtle clove-like phenols. Alcohol is soft and deftly hidden.

M: Upper medium in body with upper low draft carbonation. Mouthfeel is smooth with much alcohol warming.

Overall: A very nice Belgian Dark Strong Ale. Good stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2011 02:17:33 | More by HopHead84

JoeBloe

New York

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

on tap @ the Swift Hibernian Lounge - I had this on lunch break 2 days in a row - poured a deep hazy mahogany into a chimay goblet, where it puts up a 1 finger head - smells of the dark cherries, burnt sugary molasses a little alcohol and a bit of funk - taste works it's way through the mouth on many levels - the dark fruitiness up front yields to an almost vinegar - like sour and then to a roasty malt finish - prickly carbonation lightens up the otherwise heavy mouthfeel -alcohol taste is slight but the high abv is otherwise noticeable - pretty good stuff off the tap, but I'd be a fool to have another on a working lunch break.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2011 00:16:55 | More by JoeBloe

Viciousknishs

Virginia

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

A-Pours a dark ruby tinged amber/mahogany with a slight haze. A quarter of an inch of tan head rests at the top of the glass. The head quickly recedes into a thin halo of foam. Oerbier has a warm and inviting appearance.

S- The aroma consists of a huge dark fruit characteristic. Gobs of ripe plum, date and raisin upfront with a slight tart cherry note. Sweet sticky Belgian candi and estery alcohol bite in the middle. Finishes clean and crisp with a dry cake like nature.

T- The taste mirrors the aroma like the return of the chorus in a great pop song. Opens with ripe staining dark fruit. Alcohol warmth is felt in the chest and bolsters the fruitiness. Dry Finish with a spiced tart cherry infused cake.

MF- has a medium body with an average bubbly carbonation. There is a hint of astringency and prickly booze on the palate with an overall creamy mouthfeel.

D- Medium drinkability. Oerbier has a very bold flavor and aroma however the construction is simply straightforward. They are stacked in a straight line instead of being woven together like a tapestry. That being said the construction should not put the drinker off. The building blocks themselves are superbly delicious and would pair extremely well with a pungent sharp cheese or grilled beef/lamb!

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2011 05:34:47 | More by Viciousknishs

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.96/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Tap at abbey,

Huge frothy head forces a very slow pour, leaves some sticky Belgian lacing, dark auburn rosy molasses colored beer.

Nose has some Belgian candi sugar, dark malts, molasses, caramelized sugars, toffee, dark fruits bit of plum and raisin, bit nutty and light spices touch of booze.

Taste is a little creamy, some nutty spices, little booze, toffee, caramelized sugars, raisin, dark malts, light bitterness with a slight earthy slight herbal hop bite, touch of minerality. Finishes lingering herbal hop bitterness, some sticky malts, bit of malts, nutty spices lingering. The herbal hops are a lot more dominant than I ever remember in the bottle. Perhaps the freshness of draft brings them out rather than aged in the bottle, but either way I'm not a big fan of those hops. The combination is nice and bottle aging adds a nice mellower taste..

Mouth is med bodied bit creamy, decent carb.

Overall pretty nice, good strong Belgian beer with nice flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2011 19:46:45 | More by jlindros

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at memphis taproom. Baller two de dolle on draft in the same night.

A- comes to me with a small cap of tan head that settles instantly to leave just a couple specks of lace on the glass and a mirror finish on top. Dark brown red in color with a good bit of haze to it.

S- dark fruits and a touch of sour cherries. Complex layers of dark malts and slightly funky yeast.

T- fruity and funky with musty grape skins, dried cherries, some apples. Malts are well roasted and bring a bit of chocolate and dark breadiness to the mix.

M- the body on this is just perfect to style and with a nice light yet effrevesant carb that keep a rather big bsda quite light on the palate.

D- great stuff. Every time I get the chance to enjoy a de dolle its always a treat but on draft is a whole other monster. Its like a familiar room on drugs, safe and warm but new and mind blowing at the same time. Its a special thing to get to see thing from another angle sometimes.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2011 06:26:42 | More by oglmcdgl

ThaCreep

Belgium

4.58/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Harmonious and complex nose that mixes both the roasted malt and fruity notes and many delicious as the raspberry, blood oranges, grapes and apples.

The mouth, where one feels the presence of sugar candy, is a little alcoholic like a quad style. Body creamy, smooth yet powerful. Her touch reminds vinous barrels of Bordeaux or even a Scotch whiskey.

The fruit is also present and a nice way, making this beverage difficult to categorize. Beer complex.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2010 15:59:00 | More by ThaCreep

roughsax

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap @ Capital Ale House, Downtown. Served in a goblet. Listed as 7.5%abv?

A- brown, nice head with some lacing

S- alcohol, sweet, tart, earthy funk

T- sweet/tart, candi sugars, dark ripe fruits, caramel, lingering finish

M- medium bodied, light carbonation

D- excellent. not too tart. vinous, like a wine. alcohol present, but not overwhelming. would be nice to age.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2007 17:51:30 | More by roughsax

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Monk's Cafe...
Appears a dark brown with a light red hue. A creamy tan head floats on top and slowly fades. Lots of streaky lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of rich malt with syrup, raisins, and Belgian yeast that evolves and comes through as it warms.
Taste is of sweet, sugary, molasses, and malt with a medium sugar dosage, and a light alcohol burn.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with the molasses like sweetness that quickly turns into a mild sourness that is enjoyable and fits into what they were trying to do.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2006 15:17:20 | More by weeare138

Lnedrive14

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Capital Ale House Innsbrooke...

Pours a dark red - so dark that the red fades to black (i apologize for the Stones cliche). Huge vanilla mousse head. Really a beautiful brew in the chalice. I would separate the brew's taste into two distinct stages. Stage 1 - a nice dark, belgian brew with raisins, plums, caramel, and even some coffee/stout type characteristics. Stage 2 - a flemish red, sour cherry ale.

A very unique brew. Highly drinkable and very interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2006 05:24:50 | More by Lnedrive14

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From notes. This beer poured a deep brown with ruby hues with a finger of head light khaki head that maintained well through the drink. Nose was slightly like black currant..fruity and sharp. There were notes of light raisin and light cherry. Nothing was overly strong, but nice. Flavor was much like the nose. Solid black currant and raisin with a toasty character on the finish. There was a faint tart zing to it that I enjoyed. The feel was moderate with a nice tight moderate carbonation that kept it easy drinking. Overall, I thought this was enjoyable. The nose was a touch light, but the flavor and feel worked well in this one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2006 03:42:19 | More by kmpitz2

Fish113d

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a wine glass, it pours a hazy mahogony color with a condensed thin white surface layer.

Aroma is of grapes or cherries (reminds me of a lambic). Aroma also reminds me of wine. Not much else doing here, but a nice aroma none the less.

Sipping, it is very tart! Sour grapes/cherries come to mind up front with a malt body and a sweet plum finish. Great flavor! Aftertaste reminds me of grape Kool-Aid!!! My fiancee says it reminds her of a merlot wine.

Carbonation is stingy on my tongue, body is thin and the finish is a bit drying and of some oak flavors.

Easy to drink, fun and refreshing, but I would bet this is a dangerous one at larger amounts of consumption.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2005 18:26:27 | More by Fish113d

jokelahoma

Missouri

4.58/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a 20 oz De Dolle Oerbier glass, on tap.

Poured a lovely ruby red with a thick head that dissipated fairly rapidly. It made for a beautiful presentation in its own brand-specific glass.

Aroma is rather fruity, almost berry-like. Very sweet smelling, reminding me in a (good) way of the old "Malt Duck", believe it or not. It was hard to get a handle on how one would expect this beer to taste based on the aroma.

And even more hard to get an idea of what it was supposed to taste like after actually tasting it. It's very hard to describe the flavor, really. Fruity, sour, balanced, bitter without being bitter... there's a lingering sourness in the aftertastes that carries on for several seconds, refusing to admit you've already swallowed that last sip. There's not a lot of malt flavor, yet you know there's a firm barley backbone in there somewhere. The entire beer seems to be one long contradiction. It's A without being A, B without being B, etc. It's almost playful in the way it teases you with hints of various flavors, then yanks them away before you can get a grasp on just what it was.

Mouthfeel is oily, but certainly not thick. It's remarkably easy to drink.

This is a very unique brew, and quite drinkable. It's not all that easy to find on tap (I got mine in Joplin, Missouri), but well worth seeking out. Overall, I'd highly recommend this.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2005 19:58:40 | More by jokelahoma

Crosling

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Sampled on draft at the brewery in Esen, Belgium.

Golden.

Pale to rich malts provide a buttery and caramel maltiness but a more elaborate ripe fruitiness is more prominent, providing notes of plum, banana and clove.

Rich, full of depth, yeasty as hell and full of fruit notes; mainly apple and pear.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2004 14:41:58 | More by Crosling

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

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

brewsclues

Pennsylvania

4.71/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bottle on 3/10/13 at Paradiso Pizzeria in DC.

What I love about this beer: I call it, "The Tart Malt Sandwich" - and I could't mean this in more of a complimentary fashion. I've never had a beer with such layered, complex and robust flavors in one quaff before. OK, here's how it goes down: big, juicy, dark fruits on the nose that is balanced nicely with a rich plum and grape/malty backbone on the first note. Immediately after, you pick up some of the sour-y, tart-y, citric acids that are almost like someone left 1/8 of a glass of Flemish Sour Red in the glass before pouring. But it's just subtle enough not to scare away those folks that aren't big fans of the Flanders-style brews. But, after that small glimpse of tart-alicious, it's finish is pure rich plum, with a hint of chocolate malt with a touch of coffee and red wine.

Oh man. This kills it. Insanely drinkable and unquestionably an ass-kicker. Just wish this was more accessible in PA. One love: De Dolle

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 04:10:00 | More by brewsclues

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.96/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle says 9%. 11.6 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a very dark burnt sienna color. The head is a rather attractive two finger cream color. It features a soft, creamy layer over top some rather thick-looking bubbles. Retention is excellent - even after a couple of minutes the head is one finger high - and a good layer of lacing is left on the glass.

S: Okay, this is interesting...not only are the usual BSDA suspects quite evident (dark fruits, chocolate, pears), a sour undercurrent rests wonderfully below that. I really enjoy the tart cherries, sour apple esters, and general acetic quality as well. The complexity of the aroma isn't overbearing, either.

T: Compared with the first inhalation, the sour quality is far more restrained here, taking on more of a lactic tone. Sadly, the coinciding cherry esters are also downplayed. For a brief glorious moment, sour cherries initiate the profile, before giving way to a chocolaty yet dry midtaste. And now a THIRD element comes along that I didn't foresee - hoppiness. The finish is full of grassy, earthy hops, with touches of leather as well. Certainly, it's complex; but at the same time, the complexity is cohesive rather than messy - I'm impressed how well balanced the seemingly clashing elements work together. Even if the lack of acetic sourness is a letdown for me, the only thing really wrong here is the slight paper quality in the aftertaste.

M: This one is dry, more so than many others in the style. Given the sour/hop bend of this, it isn't surprising. Lush, creamy, and silky aren't terms I'd use to describe the texture - more like papery, coarse, and rough - but the firmness also helps make the carbonation seem a little lighter than what it is. I find its semi-abrasive feel endearing, to be frank.

O: A BSDA that's sour and hoppy? Interesting. A BSDA that's sour, hoppy, and isn't a clusterfuck? Now you have my attention. Okay, it doesn't work perfectly and isn't the most chuggable offering...but damn, it's just so much fun to sip and contemplate over.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 00:14:03 | More by ThisWangsChung

Jonada

New Jersey

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

Appearance: Pours a deep murky reddish brown color. Less than a finger of head that dissipates quickly to a thin film and ring around the edges of the glass. Little to no lacing.

Smell: Dark fruits, red apple, cherries, along with a bit of a spicy yeast character. It smells a bit tart as well.

Taste: Raisins, plums, grape, spicy yeast, with a hint of tobacco leaf. There's a tartness throughout which carries through to a tart, slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with carbonation on the high side. Despite the carbonation though, it has a bit of a soft mouthfeel

Overall:This is the textbook definition of an all around "very good" beer. Everything about it was enjoyable, but there was nothing that really sent it into excellent or super memorable territory.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 22:55:42 | More by Jonada