Kludde Strong Ale - Brewery Vivant

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Can from the brewery, 16oz can into a tulip.

Dark purple/black with a light brown head. GOod retention and nice lacing. Nose has some herbal, earthy notes, chocolate, black licorice/anise. Taste has some sweet malt character before becoming bitter and herbal. Quite a bit more anise, with a tart fruity finish. Slightly metallic on the back end. Bittersweet, with a medium light body and medium carbonation. Never really been a fan of anything black licorice flavoured, and this beer does nothing to change that.

Serving type: can

09-03-2012 02:17:41 | More by liamt07

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

2.5/5  rDev -26%

02-23-2013 00:43:08 | More by JohnnieNepal

shamrock071521

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +10.9%

01-25-2013 05:44:29 | More by shamrock071521

Lukafer

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -3.8%

12-10-2012 05:28:38 | More by Lukafer

DrIPA

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%

11-30-2012 02:25:17 | More by DrIPA

rolandboy

Michigan

4/5  rDev +18.3%

11-13-2012 05:05:19 | More by rolandboy

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +10.9%

11-11-2012 19:02:43 | More by leprechaunandfatman

ltltony

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -3.8%

10-24-2012 20:14:36 | More by ltltony

jereb33

Michigan

3/5  rDev -11.2%

09-09-2012 02:38:54 | More by jereb33

Gigantis

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The Kludde. Some people seem to find this beer a bit unbalanced. I guess that this means I will be rating it far higher than average but I think this is the best thing Vivant has made. It's a weird beer, no doubt, but it tastes like nothing else you will try.
I first had this on tap at the brewery. I didn't think all that much of it at the time but once I saw that they had it in cans later on I bought a four-pack. I don't know why I like this beer so much more now than I did when I first had it on draft but I have only had it in cans since and it has proven to be a great, if slightly high octane, standby throughout the past year.

Now, as most seem to agree, it 's a great looking beer. It's dark and viscous and leaves ample lacing upon your glass... drinking from a chalice is the way to go with this one I think. The aroma is actually a bit much for me since I do not much care for the black licorice... but I tell you once you taste it there is something to be said for the combination of black licorince (something I usually detest) and raisin. Now I must be forthright, I like any beer that incorporates the raisin. I also felt that Dogfish Head's Raisin D'Etre was underrated. So, I guess if you don't much care for that brew you should take this review as a lark. However, I stand by the Kludde as one of the best-tasting beers I have had in a while.

For me, it combines the malt goodness of a strong Belgian Dark with all the things I love about the American Strong Ale. It has the right balance of sweetness, fruit and hoppiness. The mouthfeel is actually not as heavy or syrupy as you would imagine. It has sort of a playful froth to it that makes it go down shockingly easily.... and yet you can taste that touch of burn where you know you're drinking a high gravity brew.

I guess I feel like there isn't much else to say. I love Belgians and I love American Strong Ales and this is a great example of where those two meet paradise. Don't be dissuaded by the remarks of others. Try this shit for yourself.... because it is pretty unique, I think.

*** if you feel this has been an awful experience for you I apologize.

Serving type: can

09-07-2012 02:15:21 | More by Gigantis

tophers

Michigan

3.05/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

The nose gives off a strong smell of licorice with a bit of raisin in the background. Bit of an alcohol smell to.

The taste has a bit of tartness from what tastes like grapes. Little bit of licorice but mild compared to the smell. No hop bitterness recognized. Somewhat of a metallic taste towards the end of the finish.

Very light mouthfeel with hardly any carbonation. Not much going on here. Almost feels watery even though this is quite a strong beer.

The grape taste was quite a surprise and not something that is typically tasted in a beer - which I found pleasant. But overall this beer was ho-hum for me. Lacks complexity in the taste and mouthfeel for a Belgian strong dark for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 22:33:23 | More by tophers

jeremy13586

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Can poured into Duvel glass. No canning date.

Looks almost black, with some dark amber around the edges when held up to the light. Left behind three fingers of light brown head and some decent lacing. The head settled out into a half-finger layer of foam.

Sweet with a little bit of a boozy twang at the end. Dark fruits come and go in the nose.

A sour twang hits the palate first. It is followed by a sweetness and black licorice. Some herbs, raisin and prune are predominant through the middle, but it finishes with a metallic taste.

Medium bodied, smooth, and lightly carbonated, but the beer as a whole was pretty muddy. The metallic finish didn't help too much.

An awesome looking beer, but it was another one where the looks were deceiving. Each sip started out very promising, but then it just got muddled up. The metallic taste was very off-putting and became more prevalent as it warmed up.

Serving type: can

07-02-2012 06:46:42 | More by jeremy13586

chugalug06

Colorado

1.35/5  rDev -60.1%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Think, three-fingered, toffee colored, foamy head. Brew is black.

Heavy licorice and sour malts. Sweaty socks and rubber. Foul.

BLAH! Sour licorice! The raisin is sweet and the anise is bitter; bad mix. Heavy carbonation. Is a zero possible?

This brew is a total loss... An extra and much appreciated, but it's just not my speed... Too much sweetness for the bitter licorice. Sadly a drain pour.

Serving type: can

06-21-2012 03:00:01 | More by chugalug06

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Trying the Vivant Kludde and it is a complex beer. This beer should be reated for what the brewer intended and not for what the person's taste buds. The Anise and Dark Fruit will be too much for the layman drinker. The beer is dark and rich but not quite opaque. There is no head or lacing. The taste and smell are powered by black licorice and raisins. The body is medium to full with decent carbonation. Overall it is a tasty beer.

Serving type: can

06-16-2012 21:20:39 | More by WoodBrew

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +10.9%

06-08-2012 18:10:54 | More by sholland119

beergorrilla

Michigan

2/5  rDev -40.8%

06-07-2012 04:51:39 | More by beergorrilla

Zaphog

Michigan

2.25/5  rDev -33.4%

06-07-2012 01:37:30 | More by Zaphog

adamdd

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +10.9%

06-04-2012 20:20:59 | More by adamdd

sgoro

Illinois

4/5  rDev +18.3%

06-02-2012 00:58:35 | More by sgoro

RollBounce

New York

3.88/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thick tan colored head, ebony black, roasted notes, pepper, dark chocolate mint,and green grapes on the nose.

Peppermint start, with pepper, coffee, chocolate, grape like sweet finish.

Overall; Very different then expected. More Porter like then a dark Belgian.Great with dark chocolate mint.

Serving type: can

05-31-2012 21:14:37 | More by RollBounce

adamant1912

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%

05-19-2012 03:53:22 | More by adamant1912

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 ounce can into tulip glass, no canning date. Pours very dark hazy reddish brown color with a good 2 finger fairly dense tan head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Some slight spotty lacing on the glass, with a decent amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of molasses, anise, caramel, raisin, plum, grape, roasted malt, nuttiness, candi sugar, biscuit, pepper, and yeast spices. Some pretty nice aromas. A little much on the anise, but has some good balance and complexity. Taste of molasses, plum, raisin, roasted malt, grape, anise, chocolate, candi sugar, biscuit, pepper, clove, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of molasses, grape, caramel, candi sugar, anise, roasted malt, chocolate, and yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. The anise definitely is more toned down in the taste, and gives a slight tartness to the brew; which is quite nice. Nice balance and complexity with flavors. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is very well hidden, with only a small warming after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice Belgian dark ale! Nice flavor balance, with a good amount of roasted chocolate character. Really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: can

04-26-2012 03:51:35 | More by superspak

TwoPieceOB166

Michigan

4/5  rDev +18.3%

04-25-2012 01:36:23 | More by TwoPieceOB166

alrhodesjr

Michigan

2.75/5  rDev -18.6%

04-21-2012 18:37:21 | More by alrhodesjr

UpToMeBeer

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Dark with ruby red hints and tannish finger head.

S - I'm smelling mostly the anise; Belgium yeast and some raisin/grape.

T - The anise blends really nicely with the grape. A sour hint that emerges more as it warms.

M - Medium to full body, a bit of stickiness.

Very interesting beer....So grateful my Michigan buddy was eager to share this. I'm not even a huge anise fan, but it sure works here.

Serving type: can

04-17-2012 02:38:37 | More by UpToMeBeer