Westmalle Trappist Dubbel - Brouwerij Westmalle

rangerred

Tennessee

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle into a tulip.

Pours a clear very dark brown, nearly opaque. Topped by a huge billowy off-white head that keeps growing thanks to the abundant carbonation. Some of the best head retention I have every seen.

Aroma has lots of dark fruit such as figs and cherries layered on top of wood. Hints of pipe tobacco along with wet grass and hay. A little bit of light cocoa underneath.

The flavor really has tons going on. Like in the aroma, dark fruit predominantly up front consisting largely of cherries and figs. A decent woody note is present along with a little bit of must although it nicely compliments the other flavors. Grass comes in next along with a moderate, cleansing bitterness. The beer finishes dry on the palate with bitterness lingering long after all other flavors depart.

Overall, a truly complex and amazing beer. There is really so much going on here and the flavors change as the beer warms. One of the classics.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 01:36:53 | More by rangerred

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-19-2013 00:10:42 | More by Photekut

hotsudge

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-18-2013 01:52:32 | More by hotsudge

nickleeye

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-17-2013 11:00:45 | More by nickleeye

mkennedy119

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

05-16-2013 02:19:11 | More by mkennedy119

apanloco

Sweden

5/5  rDev +19.9%

05-15-2013 17:44:54 | More by apanloco

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

4.01/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Dark red-brown. A 1 1/2 finger head. I am not a fan of soap-bubble type heads.

S - FIGS. sweet figs. Brown sugar. would be a 5 if there were some more complexities

T - Smooth. Figs. Sweet. honeysuckle. Something empty in the middle that seems more like a session beer than a flavorful Dubbel. Nonetheless, very tasty. Tiny dryness in the back.

M - Slick. Low-medium carb. a little too slick.

O - a little underwhelmed. Especially for the price, but it is an import... This would be my "cheap session beer" if I lived in belgium and it was indeed cheap... Unfortunately it is not, at least here in the States.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:45:41 | More by TastyAdventure

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

330ml bottle from The Cave, Glasgow (£2.99):
Murky brown with a hazy appearance and a thin, one centimetre tall, light brown head that that turns to a patchy lacing

Rich and complex smell that begins with some dark fruits such as plum, raisin and cherries. There is a strong and sweet caramel malt aroma that follows this along with some sugar, prunes, dates and figs with tiny amount of alcohol.

Strong and sweet dark fruit taste to begin with all the same fruits from the nose making an appearance, particularly the figs, raisins and dates plus some cherries and sugar. There is some toffee malts and a warming, light alcohol taste next with a hint of yeast and some caramel malts.

Sweet & well carbonated, medium body and a rich, complex taste that has a very good balance. There is some nice spice towards the end and the alcohol, hidden for the most part, is only noticeable in places and compliments the drink well with a nice, warming finish to it.

Very complex yet well balanced beer that was quite rich from the get go and dominated by dark fruits and sweet malts throughout. A really nice one that takes a while to open up but once it does there is no looking back.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 15:23:52 | More by flyingpig

jimbuck

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-14-2013 07:10:48 | More by jimbuck

LuauLarry

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-14-2013 06:44:14 | More by LuauLarry

DudMan

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-13-2013 23:40:10 | More by DudMan

tootsMcGee

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-13-2013 00:51:07 | More by tootsMcGee

Danny1217

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-12-2013 08:38:42 | More by Danny1217

hepcat

California

5/5  rDev +19.9%

05-11-2013 04:28:10 | More by hepcat

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours a murky brown with a little orange and two fingers of light tan head that lasts a while and leaves some great lacing.

Smell. Sweet ripe plums and light fruits, brown sugar, and some fruity belgian yeast.

Taste. Brown sugar, plums and apples, some light earthy bitterness, caramel and some smooth malts.

Mouthfeel. Medium body with fairly strong and fairly soft carbonation.

Overall. A quality beer but maybe bot quite on par with other trappist offerings.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:46:21 | More by Rutager

justforrazors

Missouri

3/5  rDev -28.1%

05-10-2013 01:47:10 | More by justforrazors

joemacangel

Belgium

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-07-2013 18:21:34 | More by joemacangel

BrewmanCapote

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

05-07-2013 04:05:25 | More by BrewmanCapote

RaphaelSC

Brazil

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours dark amber body, with thick caramel head.

S: Dry fruits, caramel and woody.

T: Bitter hops, smooth fruit flavors and a woody cognac in the end, carbonatation is good and the alcohol is well hide.

M: bitter and dry, but not overwhelmingly bitter and dry, which make its a very drinkable beer after all, as a matter of fact it is a standard Dubbel and shows how the style should be.

O: If you search for a real complex beer try a trippel or a quadruppel, but if you look for a really good beer even if it is simple a Westmalle Dubbel will serve enough.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 21:11:25 | More by RaphaelSC

pkenkman

Estonia

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

05-06-2013 18:56:12 | More by pkenkman

AugustusRex

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-05-2013 03:21:17 | More by AugustusRex

6thstreetbrewpub

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-04-2013 19:46:32 | More by 6thstreetbrewpub

Polasiuss

Ireland

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-02-2013 20:41:05 | More by Polasiuss

Poupae

Thailand

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-02-2013 12:56:15 | More by Poupae

Hallertau

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-02-2013 02:28:50 | More by Hallertau