Kasteel Donker - Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle, poured into Leffe Chalice. Dark with auburn edges, almost opaque. A small tanned head bursted out towards the end of the pour but it faded straight away. Initially the yeasty, cranberry aroma was weak but it got stronger as the beer warmed. Tasted brown sugar, cranberry, cherry, yeast and molasses. Finish was delayed and had a biscuity edge to it, there was also a slight burn from the booze. Had an initial prickly edge from the carbonation, smooth texture, light bodied for the strength. I liked how it hid the booze, need to explore a few more strong dark Belgian ales before I can really give a good judgement on this.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 15:07:22 | More by jonb5

Marc_V

4.4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Belgian Beer Shop. Very beautiful dark red brown colour. Thick, creamy beige head that lasts very well. The aroma is malty, dark fruits, sweet, clear alcohol presence. Candy sugar, sweet, vinous, creamy, malty, heart warming. Very complex. Super beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 20:02:29 | More by Marc_V

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 33cl into Westvleteren chalice.

A. 1 finger head. Good retention. Not much lacing. Color is dark amber brown.

S. Dark fruit, brown sugar, caramel, rasisins, figs. Good amount of Belgian yeast. Slightly on the sweeter side.

T. Nice raisiny dark fruit mixed with quite a bit of caramel. Has a little spice on the finish. Taste is delicous. Also get some bready malt as it warms. Really dig the caramel spiciness, which is different then the full on dark fruit onslaught of some other quads. Almost has a cookie quality to it.

M. Full bodied. Low carbonation. Finishes with touch of sugary spice. Really nice mouthfeel on this one. Coats the mouth in creamy caramel dark fruit delicousness.

O. Damn good Quad. Up there with the best. Nice balance. Hides the ABV away without a trace.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 21:16:49 | More by siradmiralnelson

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared by CesiumBrews. Thanks Caleb!

Hooray Belgium.

The beer is chestnut brown with crimson highlights, sporting nearly an inch of beige head. The aroma offers dark fruits, yeast, malt, alcohol, brown sugar. The taste follows suit, with the 11% abv well hidden. Sweet, but not cloying. Thick body with moderate carbonation. Palate coating and a tad syrupy. Notes of nuts (clever alliteration, n'est pas?), perhaps almonds. Brown sugar, spices, perhaps nutmeg. a solid quad. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 23:37:44 | More by Huhzubendah

xmorgan

California

5/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had 33CL bottle in Hua Hin Thailand and Mondo Vino. Of all the beer places I have scoured in Hua Hin, This one understands how to serve, pour, store beers.

Appearance:
Dark Brown with a dirty white head

Smell: Raisin sweetness with a slight bread like comes out, You know this 11% is going to be sweet from it's smell

Taste: Raisin, mollases fruity, the sweetness is pleasent and does not hit or offend like many beers with high alcohol percentages have. It is well balanced.

Mouthfeel: It sticks to your pallate and leaves a pleasent fruitcake like aftertaste.

Overall: Greatbigbeer! Strong and sweet, I would drink a few of the these over the colder months. As it sits it is quite pleasent in warm weather only as long as you dont excert yourself.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 08:26:53 | More by xmorgan

psuKinger

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

25.4 ounce bomber, corked and caged, poured into one of my Kasteel chalices.

Bottle *pops* with a lot of force. Good carbonation here.

A: Pours a murky brown color with a thin white head on top, and carbonation readily visible, enveloping all edges of the chalice.

S: Molasses, with a hint of figs and prunes, all at a moderate volume.

T: Rich and sweet, this beer tastes like "beer brownies" to me. The molasses is prominant. Figs, prunes, and other dark fruits are present. A healthy dose of candied sugars just heap on the sweetness.

A good dry finish, with some slightly sour acidic notes on the back end that give this beer some depth.

M: A surprising amount of *heft* to this beer for such a large amount of carbonation serves as a good reminder that this beer is indeed 11% ABV. It finishes moderately dry, and sticky-sweet.

D/O: Enjoyable as "dessert beer", but it's just a shade too sweet for me to enjoy multiple pints of in one sitting.

The 11% ABV also puts an upper boundary on this beer's drinkability for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 01:50:59 | More by psuKinger

The_1084

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice brown color with some amber undertones.

S - Unlike any other beer I have smelled. Presents a mixed fruit aroma with the presence of cherry and raisin being easily recognized. Also, gives off the hint of a sweet wine.

T - Very sweet with a strong taste of wine that is mixed with a variety of fruits.

M - Thick and creamy with light-medium carbonation.

O - This is the first beer I have drank of this style, but overall I am impressed. For a beer with 11% ABV, aside from its high level of sweetness (almost too sweet for my personal taste), it is very easy to drink. A little added carbonation may help balance out the sweetness, but that is just a small note to make in comparison to the many qualities this beer contains.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 05:16:07 | More by The_1084

laurastradford

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Had this on my Belgian beer tour at a little bar in Bruge,recommended by a local. It poured a dark rich color with a minimal head and very little lace. I tend to prefer golden beers but this was a delicious dark beer. It had a lightness and sweetness to it that I was not expecting.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 19:31:16 | More by laurastradford

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 ounce bottle into chalice, bottled on 090901. Pours fairly clear super dark brown color with a small off white head that recedes quickly to a ring of lace. Small amounts of spotty glass lacing; with slight carbonation streaming up from the bottom. Aromas of big raisin, grape, prune, molasses, caramel, candi sugar, red wine, bread, and slight yeast spiciness. Some nice and well balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of big raisin, grape, prune, caramel, molasses, pear, apple, toffee, candi sugar, bread, red wine, earth, and slight yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of raisin, prune, molasses, caramel, bread, toffee, and earth on the finish for a good bit. Very sweet with minimal spiciness; but it is not cloying at all. Fantastic flavor balance and good complexity. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a nice creamy and fairly slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a very slight warming noticed on the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Belgian quad! Big flavors with good balance and complexity; and very smooth to sip on for being 11%. Loved this one, and will get it again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 03:13:34 | More by superspak

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750ml corked and caged bottle served in an oversized wineglass.

pours an opaque, slightly ruddy, deep mahogany tone with a finger of beige/off-white head that quickly lapses into a thin collar; middling, spotty lacing.

aroma is right there with what i look for in a BSDA: nice bouquet of caramel malts, dark fruits, brown sugar, belgian yeast, and maybe some candied sugar. i'm suddenly pretty jazzed about this beer. flavor, unfortunately, doesn't build off that momentum. it largely follows the nose but with a much greater, almost cloying degree of sweetness... dark fruits up front with a big caramal malt wallop emerging in full mid-palate(ish); packs a boozy punch in the finish.

medium-plus/borderline full bodied mouthfeel with adequate carbonation. if the sweetness was dialed back a bit this could be a great beer... still very good, but IMO just a bit too sweet. would absolutely be game for another glass in the future, but i won't be gunning for it either.

originally reviewed: 11-01-2010

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 01:01:14 | More by BostonHops

jhtipton

Spain

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up in southern Spain. 750 ml bottle with a best by date of July 2016. Poured into my wine glass and it had a minimal head. Very much a dark fruity small and taste. Not much head but it was light brown head and did lace slightly. Deep brown almost ruby color. Lots of fig cherry sweet dark fruit taste. Definitely a sipper and some warming from the alcohol. Very heavy beer and coats the mouth and throat. Overall a splendid quadruple dark Belgian and will consider packing a few when I leave Spain and will continue to stock this.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 16:39:57 | More by jhtipton

jcomp21

California

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wooowwww!

You gotta try this beer. Strait outta belgium, this beer makes me smile. One of my favorite types of beer, the beglian quadruple/belgian strong dark ale.

Appearance - Very dark brown with some red undertones, there was a quick head that evaporated quickly... but at 11% abv that is expected!

Smell - Wow - like falling in love with a blonde girl in lederhosen on the alps. very figgy and sweet. Some strawberries and chocolate on the back of the nose. Take me to Belgium!!!

Taste - Sweet, pruny, cherry/strawberry, tart raison, with a bite and you can feel a bit of warming from the alchohol.

Mouthfeel - Creamy and smooth

Overall - I want to drink this alot

see you on the next one.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 02:57:41 | More by jcomp21

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.6/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured to a New Belgium tulip from a small bottle which says ``bottled on 100506''. The pour is brown, clear, and very dark. Carbonation is low and there is a thin layer of foam on the beer. The nose is quite unique. I haven't encountered a beer like this one before. I get cherries and raisins, then once I start swirling I start to get a little bit of alcohol, a slight sour note, and a strong wine-like component.

The beer is full-bodied and the taste is complex, sweet, and strong. Initially, I get lots of dark fruit, brown sugar, and caramel. There is a slight touch of alcohol warmth, but the real treasure lies at mid-palate. The flavors develop there and take on port-like qualities. It is absolutely delicious. The mouthfeel is viscous and ``chewy''.

What a wonderful beer. It is like drinking a nice glass of port. It's definitely a sipper and not the easiest beer to drink, and I think it could use a bit more carbonation to help stimulate the palate, but that doesn't take away from its great qualities. I wouldn't suggest this to someone new to beers of this caliber. It has a lot of complexity and a lot of power.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 09:45:39 | More by deadonhisfeet

nout72

3.78/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

This could have easily been my favourite beer, but it is just too sweet.
The earlier review in which I stated this beer is on par with the Rochefort 10 I have deleted, very unfortunate.

There is so much in favour of this beer: it is so smooth (no headache or stomach ache ever), the smell is gorgeous, the taste is full and very balanced, ...but why so damn sweet?

I think I have to buy a bunch and store them for a year and come back to review them again.

Still, I cannot give this beer a lower rating than 4 for taste, because with less sweets it could have been a perfect beer.

Edit 04-14-2012
Yes I can give this beer a lower rating than 4 for taste, it is just way too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 18:11:45 | More by nout72

RodneyFarva

Spain

4.68/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle poured into a snifter

a: deep brown, nearly black, with a two finger tan head which took several minutes to dissipate, nice lacing.

s: dark roasted malts, toffee, alcohol heat.

t: malts, bittersweet cocoa, butterscotch and toffee, plums, raisins, a touch of brown sugar, alcohol heat at the end. very rich and smooth. coats the tongue with its richness.

o: splendid, although somewhat sweet quad. alcohol was present but surprisingly, did not end up being a detraction. lots of complexity, and still incredibly smooth.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 20:15:26 | More by RodneyFarva

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: 1/2" tan coloured head over brown liquid with decent clarity.

S: Yeast, pears and figs.

T: Raisins, figs, pears, yeast, honey and barley malt. Quite sweet.

M: Medium viscosity and a medium level of carbonation.

O: Tastes like sweet raisins. If you like that sort of thing, this might be your beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 02:48:41 | More by DaftCaskBC

MrMichael

Pennsylvania

4.98/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A
Very dark. There was a little foam, but it quickly went away

S
Dominated by dark, dried fruit.

T
A little fruity. It was sweeter than I expected, but incredible. There's a little coffee or red wine note as well

M
Smooth with very light carbonation

O
This is one of the best beers I've ever had. The one I had was part of a Belgian sampler and I went out the next day and bought a whole case.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 18:45:09 | More by MrMichael

keithmurray

New York

4.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle poured into a chalice

appearance - dark mahogany color with thin lacing of khaki head

smell - red wine, purple grapes, malt, brown sugar, cinnamon

taste - plums, raisins, red wine, malt, brown sugar

mouthfeel - medium bodied, ample carbonation,rich, sweet upfront and in the finish, slight detection of alcohol - warming but not overwhelming

overall - this is a really good Quad,on the sweeter side, but if you see it, be sure to try it

Price Point - $4.79/11.2 oz bottle

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 00:16:16 | More by keithmurray

DARIVA

Netherlands

3.65/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A beautiful and sweet dark beer with a slightly smaller head.
This beer drinks very easy way and has a slight carbonation, which I personally might be a bit more.
The taste of caramel is very present.
Furthermore, an above average beer but not really special.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 16:19:13 | More by DARIVA

jsp2

Virginia

5/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750 ml corked bottle poured into a tulip glass.

Beautiful deep reddish brown hue topped with thin foam.

Aroma of freshly baked sweet fruity pastries, with raisin, orange, and apple.

A very complex and earthy, fruity flavor with huge sweetness. Sweet, intense, complex, and delicious. It is sweet and the hop level is low, but the earthiness really balances out the sweetness.

Carbonation is low to moderate and keeps the brew lively and light, a great sipper.

Among the best tasting substances to ever come from a bottle, a perfect quad.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 01:00:38 | More by jsp2

karait95

Mexico

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: A very dark color can be seen, when against light some reddish hues are clearly detected, head is brown but not too big with medium dissipation and no many traces are left behind.

S: Malty aroma, toasted barley smell with clear alcohol, fruits may also be present.

T: Flavor is pretty intense, a full malt and robust body flavor with some toasted ingredients and a strong alcohol flavor.

M: Complex sensations that starts neutral with some sweetness that rapidly changes into bittersweetness and then bitterness at the end not too hard on the mouth but present and also the alcohol sensation hits almost at the same time.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 02:16:29 | More by karait95

Everydayoff

Thailand

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle poured into an Orval goblet.

A:
Mysterious dark ruddy brown with likely clear texture, thin beige foam forms on top and quickly collapses into some patches of bubble, almost no lacing.

S:
Smell of good malty, dark fruits, caramel, brown sugar, a bit tea leaves, chocolate, coffee, dough and some phenolic spiciness.

T:
Mellowing fruitiness and sweetness, phenol and spice are inserted as leverage. In its sweet and fruity note, there are varieties of flavor wandering together; plums, raisins, sugar, caramel malt. Subtle hop bitterness fades in at the end also with a long tail of tangy sweetness and fruit.

M:
Full-bodied, a bit syrupy, good and lively carbonation enwraps a palate then scattering and yields silky smooth mouthfeel.

O:
Alcohol is well concealed, don’t feel it much in both aroma and flavor, indeed a worthy pick.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 17:21:03 | More by Everydayoff

magine

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a goblet.

Pours a lively, bubbly dark brown near black with some ruby edging. Lots of bubbles cascading to the top of the glass. Wispy constant carbonated and moving thin island sits atop the brew. Crazy, the ever moving island of bubbles is constantly moving - looks insane. After emptying the full bottle the head now is more present and is nice and creamy and thicker atop the brew. Nice patchy lacing left behind. Good looking brew.

Brew smells of dark fruits, estery Belgian yeasts and sugars, figs, cherries, plums and booze all represented. Good nose.

Brew is very balanced; great carbonation and spice up front, then a smooth creamy middle and drying end. With each sip you crave the next. Sweet flavors; dark fruits, yeasts and mellow maltiness. Barely there booze. Wow this is a tremendous quad.

Wow - tremendous treat here. If you are even remotely interested in Belgian ales you must pick this up if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 01:43:26 | More by magine

BelgiumBill

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served up in a tulip glass. Dark brown nearly black with some garnet highlights when held to the light. A quick beige head that was a bit sticky throughout.

The nose was a sweet malty bready with some dark fruit.

The flavors were dominated by sweet ripened dark fruits such as fig and raisin and banana nut bread. really good! Sometimes I don't care for these overly sweet dark fruit flavor profiles but this one was spot on perfect.

It was smooth and slick in the mouth with well balanced carbonation and only a slight presence of alcohol .

Overall, best quad I've tried yet. Complete package.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 00:16:29 | More by BelgiumBill

JerseyKirk

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Ruby red to deep rich brown. Small khaki head that clears quickly since this is a high octane beer. Excellent lacing and alcohol legs that coat the glass.

S: Molasses, toffee, burnt sugar, caramel, bread, biscuit, sweetness and subtle dark fruit.

T: Caramel sweetness, sugar, molasses, burnt notes, tobacco, almost sherry like and slight belgian phenolics.

M: Rich and velvety. Coats the mouth and tongue with a slick layer. Thick, chewy with an almost taffy feel. Huge alcohol hit but not burning or warming. Just in flavor. Sherry like.

O: An excellent sipper. Can't take more than a baby sip because it's so complex and sweet. It's not something you could have a lot of (high alcohol) and incredibly unique flavor experience. Good stuff. However, I would only want one once a year. Waay to rich to be an all the time beer on hand.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 23:13:18 | More by JerseyKirk