Solitude - Brewery Vivant

Alextricity

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

16oz can bought for $2.79. When I got home, I noticed the top of the can was extremely dusty, so this may've been sitting awhile. No canning date. Poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint.

Appearance: A deep, clear mahogany color with a pretty huge, rocky, creamy and tan head... pour slowly. I went to finish pouring my can into my glass, and the head quickly spilled... whoops. Lacing's quite nice.

Smell: Like musky grape juice, or something along those lines. Quite a lot of apple as well. Not much else to speak of. I assume I get this aroma from the yeast, as this smells quite a lot like Triomphe, to me. Not at all what I was expecting from this beer... where are the super dark fruit and roasty sort of notes?

Taste: A surprising little bit of alcohol is the first thing I taste when sipping this beer. After that, dark fruits cut through with quite a bit of malt -- crystal, and then some roastier varieties. There's also a note of pear that I get, but that may just because I read the label saying it's what I should expect. Not bitter, slightly sweet, easy to drink.

Not a bad beer, but not what I was expecting. Being Belgian, I was expecting a funk. A tartness. Some sort of weird twist -- I didn't really get that. Solitude is definitely a solid beer, but not my favorite from Vivant. I'm not sure how long this can was sitting, since there's no canning date, but that may explain why I don't get many of those Belgian characteristics in this beer. I recommend it.

Serving type: can

05-27-2013 14:49:41 | More by Alextricity

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

3.59/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Thanx Shamrock071521:

In a chalice:

A: dark brown body with a one finger white foamy head that quickly dies and leaves just a tad of light clingy lacing

S: strong tart yeastiness up front, slightly woody with some dark malts

T: dry sweet somewhat stale yeastiness coming through in a woody sort of way, gets tart/sour the more it warms, dry finish

M: medium, somewhat sessionable, carbonation seems to be right on for the style and for me

O: well, its pretty tart just like the last one I had by this company, maybe its just their take on their beers. I say good for the style, but I'm still not 100% sold on this for me, just too tart

Serving type: can

05-03-2013 16:25:50 | More by kangarooAdam59

Thaddeus

Michigan

4.16/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance: Clear dark amber, with an average sized light brown head. Surprisingly clear for a dark .

Aroma & Taste: A very interesting beer. Contains chocolate and nutty notes mixed with dark fruits. The way the chocolate and nutty flavors mashed with the raisin and plum flavors was quite delightful.

Serving type: can

04-26-2013 16:18:36 | More by Thaddeus

finstadp

Michigan

1.96/5  rDev -46.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2

After tasting the Solitude from Brewery Vivant, I realized it did not fit my specific flavor profile or taste bud selection. The beer had a great dark color that resembled a coco or chocolate brown. The smell to me was very unpleasant and almost musty. The flavor was also musty and in my opinion sour. I think that many darker beer drinkers would appreciate this beer for it's full-bodied dark flavor but it unfortunately did not fit my specific pallet.

Serving type: can

04-24-2013 19:14:05 | More by finstadp

shand

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Solitude pours out a brown color with a massive head (even with a slow pour). The aroma is sweet, malty, and slightly sour with some dark fruits. The taste is very good, offering a bit of sugary (yet dark fruit based) sweetness over a slightly tart base. Yeast imparts just a bit of spiciness. Very well composed and tasty. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and gently carbonated, and the drinkability is good. Overall, one of the most enjoyable Belgian-style beers I've had from the States. It stays away from the pitfalls of either too much spicy yeast flavors, or too much Candi sugar that too many American brewers of Belgian styles fall into.

Serving type: can

04-11-2013 02:24:06 | More by shand

rhoadsrage

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

(Served in a chalice)
A- This beer had a dense glowing walnut brown body with a thin creamy light tan head that last for a short bit. There is a gentle fizz trailing up the glass.

S- The tart yeasty aroma has some faint woody malt hints and a dry caramel malt note that comes through as it opens but it is pretty clean aroma in general.

T- This beer has a dry stale malt flavor with a tart yeast character to follow. There is a woody malt hint and some well water flavors that finish with a lemony tartness that might be yeast or hops? The tartness becomes more astringent in the after taste.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with no alcohol heat and a fizzy finish scrubs the flavor and enhances the astringency.

O- This beer is pretty light in flavor with the tartness of their house yeast that I just care for. There is not much malt flavor or yeasty esters that make a good dubble, but more than that it just has a lot of off flavors regardless of what style you want to label it.

Serving type: can

02-07-2013 22:24:20 | More by rhoadsrage

barnzy78

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16oz can, pours brown with lots of carbonation and a thin foamy off-white head. Aromas are malty and sweet with brown sugar, fruity (pear, apple), spice, bready yeast, raisin. Tastes are complex and can be overly sweet at times with notes of dark fruit, raisin, caramel, pear, apple, spice, rum, yeast, brown sugar, tea. Moderate carbonation gives fuller feel to the medium body. Sweet and spicy on the finish. Overall, good but by the end of the 16oz I was sick of it.

Serving type: can

01-30-2013 04:30:19 | More by barnzy78

yamar68

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice murky copper/ruby body with a milky off-white head that sticks to every piece of the glass... spectacular lacing ta boot.

Nutmeg, caramel, inviting malty goodness... a touch of vanilla, very smooth stuff.

Great traditional Abbey type flavors... root beer, figs and dates, light fruity sweetness, a touch of sourness which is a bit distracting but inventive at the same time. Interesting stuff. Pretty damn good.

Big thanks to shamrock for hooking it up!

Serving type: can

12-30-2012 01:50:21 | More by yamar68

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in an Ohio State shaker pint glass.

Damn you, Spelunky, for your addictiveness and pain! Anyway, this stuff pours a slightly murky amber-sienna topped by a finger of sandy khaki foam. The nose comprises maple syrup, light soy sauce, clove, lightly-toasted caramel, and mild Belgian yeast. The taste brings in more of the same, minus the soy sauce (thankfully), plus some light bread, and plus some light cocoa. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda dry finish. Overall, a nice little Belgian deal, nothing spectacular, but a welcome sight in a can 'round here.

Serving type: can

12-19-2012 00:20:24 | More by TMoney2591

lstokes

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark amber with a thin off-white head and some translucence--this smelled fairly light, all things considered, but the taste is dark malt, plums, raisins, tart, a touch of caramel. The mouthfeel is pleasant but the finish is a bit too sweet. It's a solid beer but there are better in its class.

Serving type: can

12-01-2012 04:30:48 | More by lstokes

sweemzander

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16oz. can poured into a tulip.

(A)- Pours a dark purple-like mahogany with reddish highlights. Some good tan froth and lace.

(S)- A slightly musty and dry dark fruit components. Subtle yeast and biscuit too.

(T)- Just a slightly tart start with dry dark fruits and subtle yeasty bread/biscuit bits.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. I like the subtle tartness in-between the dry yeast and dark fruits. All well integrated together.

(O)- So far, I am really liking what I am seeing from Vivant. A nice and easy drinking belgian dark ale. Looking forward to trying out their other beers for sure.

Serving type: can

11-10-2012 20:02:11 | More by sweemzander

Treebs

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tall boy can served in a mini snifter.

A: Pours a clear mohagony color with a foamy tan head forming on the pour. Recedes a thin ring that leaves some splotchy sticks of lace.

S: Caramel with some mild fig and raisin. Unripe pears with heavy bready malt flavors.

T: Grainy, cracker malts with some light stale bread. Light toffee with a pale malt finish and mild background raisin.

M: Medium to light bodied with a medium carbonation level and semi-sweet finish.

O: The nose was nice, but the taste was a slight let down. I was expecting a fully body and more dark fruit flavors.

Serving type: can

08-27-2012 18:41:41 | More by Treebs

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice dark brown color to it with some amber hues shining through. It has a nice thick off-white head that dies down moderately and leaves some lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of dark fruit (mostly raisins), Belgian yeast, spices and sweet malts.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has some Belgian yeast with some spiciness, dark fruit and roasted malts (almost chocolaty).

Mouthfeel: It has a medium/high carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas. It's not overly complex for a Belgian dark but still solid.

Serving type: can

08-16-2012 20:15:10 | More by SebD

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Can from the brewery, 16oz into a tulip.

Dark brown, almost purplish with a tan/beige head. Fluffy retention, and some pretty thick lacing. Nose has a whole load of Belgian yeast, a bit of dark fruit, an herbal note. A bit earthy, perhaps a bit of chalk. Tastes of dark fruit (a bit date-y/prune-y), grape juice, dry, earthy, some metal and again a bit chalky. Yeast in the finish. Medium body, but a bit on the thinner side. Medium low carb. An OK beer, but I probably wouldn't seek this one out again.

Serving type: can

07-18-2012 01:13:42 | More by liamt07

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

tallboy can poured into a goblet.

Appearance: dark brown to a light black bodied beer; reddish hue when held up to light. Very large head 3 fingers of biege colored head.

Smell: mildly malty and sweet. dark fruits and yeast. Thin lacing on the side of the glass.

Taste: starts with a mild caramel malt and some mild dark fruits. Little bit of yeast; more dark fruits and a white grape note in the finish. Just a hint of bitterness at the end from the hops that dries out the finish of the beer. Could use a little bit more robust flavors, but it has some complexity.

Mouthfeel: light end of a medium bodied beer and moderate carbonation. I give this beer a generous score because its really drinkable. Clean, crisp, and even refreshing. Semidry finish.

Overall: This beer is a good candidate for when you want a beer on a hot day, but your not in the mood for a hoppy beer. Its meant to be a session ale no doubt.

Serving type: can

04-09-2012 03:03:25 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

oline73

Maryland

2.78/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from the can into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark mahogany color with a finger and a half of off white head that fades to a ring around the edge of the glass with just a touch of lacing. 4

Smell: Mild and malty with some caramel and fruity notes. Mild raisins and cherry. 3

Taste: Just alright. The taste isn't very bold at all. Mild caramel malt and some dark fruit. Very mild cherry flavor in the background. The finish is a bit bland and boring. 2.5

Mouthfeel: Medium body with strong, tingly carbonation and a dry finish. 3.5

Overall: This is a pretty boring beer. Not bad for what it is trying to be, but I definitely didn't find anything that would make me come back for more.

Serving type: can

02-12-2012 23:32:02 | More by oline73

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

$2.69 for a 16oz can from Siciliano's. Thanks Maddog for providing the beer.

A: clear, copper color, poured with a nice head that dissipated quickly
S: milder nose, deep roasted, chewy malt, hints of yeast
T: deep roasted, almost burnt malt that is very intriguing with well-balanced hops that were not overpowering, needs a bit more body
M: very nice mouthfeel with good roasted malt up front and well-balanced hop finish, a bit on thinner side of an abbey ale but too off, creamy texture

Serving type: can

01-29-2012 17:27:46 | More by wisrarebeer

MasterSki

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A canned Belgian-style beer - how strange. Thanks Jason! Served in a tulip.

A - A finger-plus of tan foam settles to a thick collar, wisps, and splotchy lace. Transparent ruby-brown color.

S - Tons of candi sugar, spicy Belgian yeast, fresh bread, vanilla, powdered cocoa, some phenolic and medicinal notes, and a bit of alcohol that seems out of place for a 6% beer.

T - Taste is very sweet, with tons of spicy esters - Vivant claims there are no spices added, but you could have fooled me. There's a strange oxidated note as well as some chalkiness and minerality in the finish that kind of spoils things for me.

M - Texture is initially medium bodied and creamy and but gets progressively dryer as it cross the palate and ends up finishing powdery and chalky. Low carbonation, minimal warming alcohol.

D - A passable US-made Belgian Dark Ale, but suffers from some problems in the finish. Hopefully they can tweak the recipe a bit so that the taste matches the smell better. Again, very weird drinking a Belgian-style beer from a tallboy.

Serving type: can

01-02-2012 04:42:43 | More by MasterSki

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the can a dark mahogany color with thin beige cap.

Aroma is muted with molasses and tropical fruit.

Tasted of molasses, sweet malts, candy sugar and tropical fruit.

Medium bodied and sticky with a lighter carbonation.

Not very complex but not too bad.

Serving type: can

12-31-2011 21:58:15 | More by Monkeyknife

MarcatGSB

Michigan

3.15/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 16 oz. can into Duvel tulip. Purchased from Fitzgerald's in Eagle River, MI.

A: Pours a deep amber color, with some copper notes. Almost no light getting through. Big fluffy off white head stays around for about 20 seconds, and begins to dissipate. Hardly any lacing left behind.

N: A bit of spice is coming through nicely, with some sweet Belgian yeast, and candied sugar. Bread or estery notes come through, with a bit of caramel.

T: Good malty quality, with some bread like character, and a bit of peppery spice. Some caramel notes, but not all that present. Very little alcohol sensation, nice and mild with good round flavor. Some ripe, dried fruit, provide a bit of a drying effect...

M: Big carbonation, fills the mouth nicely. No biting sensation, or prickly.

D and O: Not a whole lot of complexity going on here. It has some good malt sweetness, but kind of lacks depth. Easy drinking, and another quality Michigan brew, yet just falls short.

Serving type: can

12-26-2011 23:47:13 | More by MarcatGSB

THECPJ

Delaware

3.23/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. Thanks to Decadance for the can.

appearance: dark brown with orangish hue and a 1 finger off white head

smell: dark fruits, malts, belgian yeast,

taste: dark fruits, caramel, malts,

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, medium body,

overall: ok beer. nothing to make this beer stand out. chalk this up to trying a new brewery.

cheers,
The CPJ

Serving type: can

12-17-2011 21:28:59 | More by THECPJ

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16 ounce tallboy can into tulip glass, no canning date. Pours crystal clear reddish brown color with a nice 2 finger dense caramel colored head with good retention that reduces to a cap. A fair amount of lacing clinging to the glass as well. Aromas of caramel, pepper, brown sugar, roasted malt, cracker, raisin, candi sugar, and big yeast spiciness. Nice and balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of big caramel, bread, molasses, roasted malts, light dark fruits, pepper, and herbal spiciness. No bitterness as expected; with lingering notes of caramel, roasted malt, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and very smooth mouthfeel that drinks easily. No alcohol noticed other than a slight warming after the finish. Overall this is a very nice and drinkable Belgian style ale. Great balance and nice flavors.

Serving type: can

12-04-2011 04:29:34 | More by superspak

brentk56

North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a mahogany color, but lacks the foamy head one would expect from a Belgian; the inch of foam does a decent job spotting the tulip with lace, however

Smell: Bit-O-Honey candy, Mexican chocolate and a hint of raisins; a little different, I must say

Taste: Opens with Bit-O-Honey candy and adds the Mexican chocolate and raisin flavors by mid-palate; rather cloying, after the swallow, with a hint of tobacco in the finish

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate to high carbonation; a little thin for a Belgian style

Overall: I am not a big fan of Bit-O-Honey candy and I feel this recipe needs some work; Belgian beers are tough to brew and this one has the sweetness but lacks the yeasty complexity

Thanks, surlytheduff, for the opportunity

Serving type: can

11-20-2011 21:18:39 | More by brentk56

Dirtbag2011

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a very good brew. As this beer is from the nearby metropolis of Grand Rapids, MI I had to give it a try. I tasted lots of malty sweetness and raisins. Neither of these flavors was overbearing and there is a good balance among all the different elements. Head was foamy and quickly dissipated, leaving behind some decent lacing on the glass. I will definitely be purchasing this again.

Serving type: can

11-16-2011 17:50:33 | More by Dirtbag2011

match1112

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

poured from the can into a tulip. a full finger of tan bubbly head quickly settles onto a burnt brown body with hints of red around the edges. the nose consists of bready malts, spice, maybe clove, raisins and a little roasted smokieness. taste is very sweet with lots of dark fruit and spice. the smoke really comes out on the backend as it warms. mouthfeel is rather thin and watery, lacks carbonation but goes down easy. overall this is a decent beer better as it warms, brings out tobacco and smoke, and probably just as good from the can as it is in a glass.

Serving type: can

11-06-2011 20:15:11 | More by match1112