Kasteel Cuvée Du Chateau - Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.

CrellMoset

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap at Monk's Cafe, Philadelphia, PA. Served in a tulip.

Appearance: So, looking at this in the dark lighting provided by Monk's Cafe, I see a truly gorgeous mahogany-hued body, replete with soft and slow carbonation, capped by a small and short-lived but significant head. Using my phone as a flashlight to really get in to things, however, shows the body to be much muddier, dirtier, cloudy ... essentially far less attractive. So I'll take an average. Either way, there's only the faintest hint of a collar and no side or surface lace.

Aroma: Warm sugars greet the nose immediately, but they're followed very closely by tons of warm fruit sugars - strong white grapes, black cherry, and raisins are prominent among them.

Taste: The 10 years of age on this beauty shows. Tons of sweet, glassy malts wash over the tongue - brown sugar, caramel, molasses, and dried, dark toffee balances perfectly with some medicinal Belgian phenolic spices, vaugely reminiscent of coriander. The fruit notes shine through in spades, though, with a slew of macerated cherries and raisins as well as a few more unexpected notes like prunes (that definite telltale tartness), figs, pear, and slight green oakiness.

Mouthfeel: An amazing smooth, well rounded, and mature mouth. Tons of smooth, soft, definitively Belgian carbonation in a thick, sweet, malty body make for the perfect balance of lift and smoothness. Immaculate.

Drinkability: An expertly crafted brew. A fantastic drinking beer that had no hint of alcohol at all - I was shocked to read that this one was 11% ... between the mild tartness and maltiness, its completely buried. If you like malty Belgian's, this is one for you - worth seeking out, even at the (somewhat) steep price.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2010 19:51:27 | More by CrellMoset

impending

California

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-

La Trappe. Poured into a Kasteel glass, a deep dark brown with red copper highlights. Decent head but little retention or lacing.

Aroma is a treat. A quad, of this there is no doubt. The aroma is thick, weighty.

Full bodied mouthfeel. The taste confirms, Quadish. A figgy rum spice cake in all it's glory, surely an old recipe. Phenols are mild but pleasant. Alcohol is restrained and warms appropriately as it hits room temp. Inhaling before the sip hits the back of your throat and you taste the aroma.
cheers
jd

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2010 02:06:27 | More by impending

glid02

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta.

Pours a hazy and dark amber-brown color with a one-finger slightly off-white head. The head recedes into a thin cap on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of sweet malts with hints of biscuit malt aromas. Also present are large amounts of dark fruits - plums and raisins mostly - with slight amounts of pears.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Sweet dark malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by sugar-coated dark fruits. Raisins are predominant with hints of dried plums and figs. Midway through the sip the fruit flavors lighten up a bit and then carry through to a crisp ending.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a very nice thickness with fine carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass quickly and could have another without a problem.

Overall I was a fan of this beer however it wasn't quite as complex as I would have liked given the big ABV. Still, a nice sipper that's worth a shot in the colder months.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2010 18:13:14 | More by glid02

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draft pour into a 10.5 oz tulip for $7.50. 11% ABV. Indicated as the Kasteel Bruin aged for 10 years.

A: Served with a finger and a half of light brown foamy creamy head with respectable retention. Sheet-like lacing begins to smather the glass as the firm collar and sudsy film stay alive. The body is pitch brown and seemingly opaque until it is held in front of light, where a transparent ruby body is garnered. Active streamers keep the collar alive and well throughout the course of the drink. After the head has dissipated, the body doesn't contribute any more to lacing.

S: Toasty, earthy and woody. Faint cherries add a touch of fruitiness to the nose. This brew is by no means one dimensional, but the aroma has less complexity than expected. Very good nonetheless.

T: The cherry flavor is more distinguishable on the palate. Actually, everything is more pronounced on the palate than it was on the nose. Delicious. Rounded flavors with bitter English hop undertones, very soft, with a finishing flavor of port wine. Rich and smooth. Faint spices including anise.

M: The mouthfeel is wonderfully rich, smooth and supple providing just enough mild carbonation to keep things safely distant from cloying. Long finish. Alcohol is hardly noticeable, until the brew warms, and even then, it was only noticeable on the exhale.

D: This brew has aged gracefully (or has forced-aged gracefully according to an earlier reviewer). The Kasteel Cuvée Du Chateau is very much a sipper and could have just as easily been labeled a quadruple rather than a BSDA. Perfect as a digestif.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2010 00:07:13 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

nickd717

California

4.08/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft at Ebenezer's. Apparently this is also called by the less appealing name "Donker."

Pours medium-dark brown and somewhat opaque with a nicely formed off-white head.

The aroma is nice with caramel, brown sugar, Belgian yeast, and dark fruits.

The flavor is somewhat fruity with plum and raisin notes, nuts, sweet caramel malt, mild roast, and Belgian yeast.

Medium-full bodied with average carbonation.

Not boozy at all - the 11% ABV really hides itself, making this a dangerous beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2010 18:14:49 | More by nickd717

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Teresa's next door the other day.

The beer pours a dark cola color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is also pretty attractive, showing cherry, light milk chocolate, some vanilla and a hint of ginger. This beer smells pretty good, but it still didn't prepare me for the carousel of flavors I encontered on the palate. This beer showcases a terrific array of chocolate, brown sugar, rootbeer and spice, but then on the finish that black cherry really kicks in. Yummmm!!!! The mouthfeel is medium bodied, and the beer seemed to have no more then moderate sweetness. It actually finishes with a fairly light and dry finish, albeit spice infused throughout. Drinkability in this beer is sensational... the alcohol is just no where to be seen.

This decandently delicious beer is flat out dangerous.... that's how easy drinking it is. Impressive. Really hope this beer makes it down to Baltimore, as I'd like to see this around from time to time.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2010 22:12:19 | More by johnmichaelsen

jneiswender

Massachusetts

4.97/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had on tap at Ebenezer's Pub. Served in a chalice.

A-black body

S-very vinous smell, some sweet grain smell.

T-sugar, black pepper, grapes, plums and spice

M-medium

D-world class beer. Just one of the best beers I have ever had. I would drink this beer again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2010 14:48:28 | More by jneiswender

beast4534

Rhode Island

5/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer was a complete shock, and I mean that in the best way. I've found a great bar in where tap beers are available in 6-rack samples at 7 ounces each. I somewhat randomly selected this beer because I happen to like high-alcohol, Belgian beers.

The appearance was dark with a nice, thick head. Of course, 7-oz sample glasses don't do the appearance of any beer particular justice. But for a Belgian, this one looked exceptional.

The smell was a blissful mix of fruits blended with the odor of wet oak, like the woods after a night of rain (sans mosquitos). In a word...inviting.

Taste. Wow. I can't believe I wasted my time ordering the other five beers in this rack. I should have order six of the Cuvee. The inviting scent has in no way be let down by the actual taste. Is that carmel? Am I drinking brandy? What kind of fruits are in here? No adjectives can do this taste justice.

Mouthfeel...savor it. The taste does not fade. The flavors swirl around, fighting for total control, but thankfully, no single flavor wins. Great aftertaste.

Drinkabity? If this is really 11% then I will have to execute extreme moderation because all I want is another.

In Field of Dreams, Shoeless Joe asked "Is this heaven?"

No, brother, it's Kasteel Cuvee.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2010 17:00:19 | More by beast4534

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Track 84 on 5.4.2010. Served in a tulip. Poured an opaque mahogany with burgundy highlights when backlit. A half inch, creamy, off-white head quickly receded into a thin consistent skim - no lacing present during the tasting. Nose was very subdued - some malt and a slightly vinous quality. Taste follows nose - dark fruit dominates, but not particularly malty, sweet or complex. Flavor profile is lacking the big malty, sugary quality I've come to associate with the style. Mouthfeel is medium-light with a subtle carbonation - somewhat thin for the style, with a slightly dry finish. I have to say that I was a little disappointed. Not really style consistent; closer to a Belgian Strong Dark in my opinion. Alcohol was well-hidden, but I was a bit disappointed by this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2010 02:10:21 | More by Jwale73

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Stone

A: The pour is a dark amber color with a thin off-white head.

S: The nose has a definite sugary, sweet note to it. Plenty of caramel malt and brown sugar, along with ripened dark fruits.

T: As the nose would indicate, there's a lot of sweet, bready malts, brown sugar, plums, and raisins. Pretty standard flavors with a bit of a dry finish.

M: The body is fairly full with a soft, low carbonation and the aforementioned dryness.

D: A bit sweet for me, but not bad. The flavors are good, but considering what this beer "is", I was expecting a bit more.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2010 07:00:08 | More by womencantsail

Halcyondays

California

3.58/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ, the Donker aged in steel for 10 years, so vintage 2000,

A: Pours brown with a soft white head into a goblet, nice lace.

S: Surprisingly light, but some notes of malt and molasses, very sugary.

T: Clearly drier than the Brune, but still is a bit sweet. Moderate notes of residual sugar. Dark malt, raisin, but really didn't add any complexity over the 10 years. It tastes good, but that's about it.

M: Off-dry, creamy, very soft carbonation. Not as thick and cloying sweet as the Brune.

D: I think it's cool that this beer was brewed when I was in high school. That being said, I didn't really get anything except a drier version of the Donker. That's fine, I guess I just expected more.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2010 21:16:51 | More by Halcyondays

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Ebenezer's on 2/27/10. This was aged in oak barrels for 10 years!

A - The liquid possesses a deep red wine character reminiscent of a bordeaux with a sparse off-white head that reduced into a patchy, wispy veil and deposited subtle web-like lacing around the glass.

S - Subtle tart and slightly sweet cherry character with a hint of oak wood. Overall, the nose is much more tame and subdued than I was expecting (althought definitely not in a bad way). I was anticipating a much more tart cherry character with more of a pronounced wood character, especially since this was sitting on oak for ten years! There is a hint of cherry cough syrup in the background.

T - Flavor is balanced nicely with a subtle oak character. While the cherries don't impart a huge tartness, they actually blend rather artfully with the oak to provide a hint of sweetness in the midst of dry, woody and sour notes. The cherry character is definitely more prevalent in the flavor than the aroma, however.

M - Medium bodied with subtle carbonation and a syrpy texture. Finish is slightly dry with a mild sourness on the palate.

D - This provided me with a wonderful sipping experience while enjoying my visit to Ebenezer's. This wasn't as crazy and in-your-face as I was expecting. Instead, I was treated to a rare and delicious blend of cherries and oak.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2010 16:40:44 | More by ffejherb

ToasterChef

Maine

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from my notes. Served at the Lion's Pride, a preview of what is to come at their first annual Belgian Beer festival. The beer is basically the Donker aged for 10 years in barrels (I don't remember what kind though). It pours a very dark brown and is opaque. The thin tan head dissipated quickly to a tiny skim and one large clump of bubbles. Swirling the beer around the glass leaves a bit of a bubbly coating. It has an interesting aroma. There is a mild sweetness to it. I can pick out red grapes and a hint of alcohol. I think there may also be prunes, raisins and/or dates present as well. Like the aroma, the taste is made up of malty sweet purple fruits--plus, grapes and their dried counterparts. There is also a little bit of crystal sugar. I can taste some alcohol, especially in the finish, but the sweetness and fruit flavors linger as well. I'm not tasting some of the hearty malts typical to the style, but I'm also not getting any of the yeast flavors you find in many Belgian ales. This is a very unique beer. It has a medium body and a sugary sweet coat. I can lick my lips and taste crystal sugars that have been deposited there. Medium levels of carbonation are felt all over my mouth. There is also a slight tinge of alcohol. The beer feels very drinkable. I'm taking it slow because I enjoy the complex taste, but I could drink it faster and still enjoy it. Along the same lines I could easily drink a few glasses of this.

I should note that I feel that this beer deserves a higher overall rating than the individual scores I have given it..."sum great than the parts" and all that. This is a very good beer that fans of Belgian and English styles should seek out, as well as those who appreciate what aging in a barrel can do to improve a beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2010 13:28:37 | More by ToasterChef

stingrayvr6

New Jersey

4.85/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia. Poured deep reddish black into a tulip with a thick creamy head. Absolutely beautiful, color of a dark red wine. Smell was equally impressive, fruity and malty, bitter cherry and caramel notes. Taste starts sweet and fruity, malty with some vanilla too, finish is tart cherry and Belgian hops. Mild carbonation. Fantastic beer, 10 years of aging has done this one well.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2010 00:35:10 | More by stingrayvr6

ShadesOfGray

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Issac Newton's in Newtown PA had on tap...stated very limited...new, and will probably never have again. Most people confuse this beer with a Belgian Brown ale, but infact...this is a Barley wine. Pours a dark brown with maroonish tinge, from tap. Brought to our table almost immediately and already no head what-so-ever, and with that said, not much lacing to speak of.

On the other hand, aroma was very pleasant...sweet, Belgian-like of raisins and other dark over-ripe fruits. Slight boozy scent, malty and Belgian yeasts. Overall, a sweet smell.

Hmmm...wow. Great taste. Sweet flavor wasn't as strong as the aroma led to believe. Still good, but more booze in the flavor to counter-balance the sweetness. Not much hops to speak of. Finished pretty dry.

Thick, full bodied...robust! Booze is definitely warming. This beer came out of nowhere! Very, very good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2010 00:49:30 | More by ShadesOfGray

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.88/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A dark brown beer with a settling head, which disappears after a while. No head is visible.

The smell is malty with a sweet and port-like sensation. The beer has a tart smell that also has some cherry and berries in the smell. LIght dark malts which are not burned or roasted.

The taste is sweet with the port taste also present. The berries and tartness remind me of lacto or brett? The beer is sweet, but light in a way, it is drinkable, and not cloying at one point. The first sip I suspected artificial sweeteners but this beer is the best beer from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 21:35:55 | More by Absumaster

OF001

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750 mL champagne top served at just under cellar temp, 8C, in a tulip with etching.

Very dark ruby-amber pour that is almost black with a nice sedated head that is super find and tops out at about 3 finger with a careful pour. Gentile carbonation maintains head at a dense and resilient 1cm.

Nose of boozy caramel and a touch of toffee, sugary cooked dark fruits: plum and raisin.; and a slight citrus note to elevate it from just deep and dark.

Smooth cooked sugars dominate a base of sweated plums and mulled pears, some dried figs and raisins. Lemon peel and alcohol give some levity and brightness to it all.

Mouth feel medium-heavy bodied and is smooth on the initial taste but quickly carbonates and combines with the citrus and alcohol (broken record i know, but the counter balance is persistent) before it comes to a juicy peak and medium dry finish.

Over all a nice Cuvee/cru, hits all the right notes but lacks a little body and that thick heavy malt base I expect. It looks fine but I want the fluffy wafting head a belgian should always have. Nose is balanced and is in line with the taste and body, but a bit boozy. As it warms the taste does deepen but at the expense of alcohol domination, which I normally like but here it's a little much.
some more residual sugars would have helped a lot, the finish is just too much on the dry side for a dark, fruity belgian.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 00:13:00 | More by OF001

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

3.98/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 33cl bottle into Westvleteren Chalice. 2012 vintage.

A. Poured about a half a finger of head, that disappeared prett quickly. Very little retention. Little lacing. Color is very dark amber brown.

S. Smells pretty dry. Dark fruit, yeast, caramel, brown sugar, a bit of grape. As expected more complex aromas come out as it warms.

T. Dark fruit, raisins, candi sugar, belgian yeast. Taste is more on the sweet side. Missing some of the complexity of flavor of other top quads. ABV is very well hidden. Has a little bit of hop punch in the way back. Has an interesting way of going back and forth from sweet to dry that is unique.

M. Medium bodied. Low carbonation. Finishes dry.

O. Not the best of the style, but the style is the best of beer. Good aroma, Good flavor, average mouthfeel. Just nothing that reallys stands up and makes you say Wow.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 03:49:26 | More by siradmiralnelson

DoubleJ

California

3.68/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Closing out the night with a Belgian ale. This is a 2010 Cuvee du Chateau, which is corked, caged, and covered tightly in paper. On to the beer:

Into a Kasteel chalice it goes, the beer's color is chocolate brown with a small head forming on the pour, quickly fizzing away to a thin lace around the glass. The nose is strong, sweet, and very alcoholic. Red grapes and red wine come to mind first. Touch of licorice and Good & Plenty. Lots of alcohol is present, and it smells like some medical ointment. Let's drink...

The aroma comes off aggresive, but the taste is more comforting to approach. Sweet with a slight semi-tartness. The flavors of cherries, red grapes, dates, and bread crust make their mark. A moderate dose of alcohol makes its presence, especially when the beer goes down and warms your throat and tummy. Its a full bodied beer with low-medium carbonation, drinks slow but steady, and is an adequte example of the quadruppel.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 06:34:42 | More by DoubleJ

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 bottling. Poured into a Leffe goblet. The beer pours out dark brown with ruby highlights. Very little in the way of carbonation or head. Very classic quad nose on this one. Sweet notes of raisins, figs, cake batter, and port wine. Oh yes!

Luscious full body and a nice firm feel. It could probably use more carbonation, but I prefer quads to be a little flat so I can get more of the subtle flavors. This one rocks! Lots of ruby port flavors all over the palate punctuated by sweet raisins, dates, sarsaparilla, and brown sugar. The finish has a nice warming touch of alcohol which adds even more richness to the flavor. An enjoyable sipper that goes down much too quickly.

Gosh I love a good quad, and this is a good quad. For big, robust, complex flavors, they just cannot be beat. This one has all the attributes I look for: sweet dark fruit, big bready malt, that Belgian yeast flavor that always reminds me of puff pastry, and port-like on the palate. It's not the best quad I've ever had, but it is awfully good. It's like munching on spiced holiday cookies that have been soaked in mulled wine. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 01:56:44 | More by deadonhisfeet

zeff80

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 bottle consumed on Thanksgiving 2012.

A - Poured out a clear, dark burgundy color with a one-finger tan head of bubbly foam. It receded to leave sticky trails of lace on the glass.

S - Aroma is dried dark fruits. A good bit of maltiness and bread crust.

T - Lots of dried fruit - plum, fig and raisin. Sweet caramel and maltiness with a touch of toastiness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium to full bodied quad with a dry finish.

O - This is a good beer and a big beer. Went well with Thanksgiving dinner.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 01:20:09 | More by zeff80

SaintBenedict

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on July, 14, 2010. Tasted on November 28, 2012 from a 330 ml bottle.

Cuvée Du Chateau pours a warm and murky plum-tinged chocolate brown with an inch-tall frothy beige head. The foam, however, is soon reduced to a thin yet solid cap of fine soapy bubbles across the surface of the beer. As the contents of the glass are emptied, the head creates a lovely dot matrix pattern of lacing on the walls of the Duvel tulip.

Not surprisingly, the nose is sweet and bready highlighting bracing citrusy notes, a spicy alcohol tincture of clove and anise, and dark juicy stone fruit. There is also significant vinous maltiness, which reminds me of bubblegum at times, as well as a notable Belgian yeast character and rock candi sweetness. Not sure how Kasteel did it, but the brewers managed to shoehorn some plump raisins, sugar-coated dates and fresh figs in there, too.

The palate follows through on the aroma, as sweet bready malt —with highlights of molasses, caramel and cacao bean— makes way for tangy citrus, faintly sour dark berries and crisp orchard fruit. Mild spicing and a hint of alcohol warmth is thrown in for good measure. The finish is tart with only the slightest bit of dryness, along with a modest suggestion of bitterness.

The body is full, although the smooth and silky velvet-like texture makes it drink quite easily. This quad goes down a heckuva lot more smoothly than the double-digit alcohol percentage might have you believe.

The sharp, bright and zesty citrus-like qualities of Cuvée Du Chateau make this a memorable quadrupel in my book. Just when I thought I had this style figured out, I get thrown a curveball…and a uniquely delicious one at that.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 07:36:31 | More by SaintBenedict

Douberd

Netherlands

4.3/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Small bottle of 330 ml, at home. Poured into a snifter.
Light brown colour, with a small beige head, fainting too quickly.Aroma of red grapes/port wine, alcohol, molasses.
Flavours of caramel and chocolate at first, with a porto wine flavour on the finish.
Nice creamy body with the right carbonation. Gives a nice alcohol warmth,without the high ABV being much notable.
Really great beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 21:26:25 | More by Douberd

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

300 ml from 2010

Pours a cloudy nutty brown with a yellowish white lacing.

Smells of brown sugar, cloves, red wine and cinnamon.

Tastes of cinnamon and caramel with some figs and molasses sweetness. Also, mild toasted buttered bread malts and some nutty bitterness.

Thick body with prickly carbonation and some booze numbness and warmth in the back of the throat.

Delicious dark Belgian ale, good balance of flavors. The strength makes it a sipper. Very enjoyable, though, and I could have this again and again.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 22:27:23 | More by Cylinsier

chinchill

South Carolina

4.31/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Foil and cork capped bottle served in a Unibroue snifter. 2010 vintage on label; 4/2010 stamped on cork.

A: Hazy, cola-colored brown body; a bit murky but not opaque. Tan foamy head quickly settles to a thick ring and some thin 'islands', leaving splotchy lace on the glass.

S: An appealing and sweet mix of brown sugar, dark bread, raisins, prunes and other dark fruits, caramel, and some spicy Belgian yeast. Some alcohol tones and a hint of molasses or sorghum syrup.

T: Taste is also quite rich and complex, and has a similar character, although not nearly as sweet as the aroma suggests. An exceptionally well-integrated mix of flavors featuring dark fruits, and dark bread. Hints of brandy and yeast. It has a moderately spicy finish with hints of nutmeg and anise. Alcohol is even more hidden than in the nose.

M: Full-bodied, with low+ carbonation; smooth. Only a very slight harshness from the high ABV but, of course, warming when swallowed. [3.75]

Overall: An outstanding quad. Sold 'pre-aged' but may well also have benefited from some further aging in my cellar. Mellow and easy to drink for the style, despite the 11% ABV, yet plenty rich and complex. Highly recommended.

{revised with March 2013 tasting of 2011 bottle}

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 23:04:49 | More by chinchill