Grottenbier - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

emerge077

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Grotten Brown pours a reddish light chestnut, with a huge billowing head. Streams of carbonation are visible, and a sticky lace develops as the foam recedes. Aroma is pretty subdued. Initial taste is of mild fruity esters, a slight plum essence. Malty backbone dominates, and a measured hop presence closes it out. Suggestion of clove also in the finish. Very smooth and velvety, goes down easy.

Bottle was served cool, seems to be best at a constant cool temp.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2006 00:23:15 | More by emerge077

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-20-2013 22:32:02 | More by Slatetank

GRUUMSH

Belgium

4/5  rDev +5.5%

05-10-2013 09:52:30 | More by GRUUMSH

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.86/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

330 mL bottle with freshness date, poured into a tulip glass produced a large creamy tannish head, retention is decent, but it leaves a nice frothy film and good lacing. The beer is a dark ruby brown, slightly muted, some visible carbonation. 4

S- strong notes of caramel malt, spicy with slight booze kick, a strong yeast note. Subtle clove, plum, woodshop smell, some malty sweetness, notes of cinnamon, christmas cake. After it mellows it becomes really nice and soft, not a lot of bitterness but some pepper and aged chili spice. Quite complex and balanced. 4.25

T- a pretty big malty body with spice and chili notes initially, lemon zest, hazelnut, then more astringent yeast. Aged caramel, wool blankets. It has an initially lightness then more of a tartness, lemon meringue, transitions quite smoothly. Ends very dry, with a bittersweet caramel, and a bit of alcohol. Warming all the way down, lingering smooth spice. Pretty good, balance is alright but falls short in complexity. 3.75

M- Moderate maltiness with a smooth consistency, moderate carbonation, a coating prickle of yeast lingers with a dry malty finish. Some slight alcohol presence but this mostly enhances the malty and dry yeasty aspects of this beer. 3.75

Pretty enjoyable beer, there are a few aspects it could improve. A bit much carbonation, it is quite well balanced, though a bit tart/spicy on finish. Together it isn't the most memorable beer, nice Dark Ale with a fair bit of yeasty presence that has some issues incorporating into the beer, sometimes feel thin. I wouldn't rush to get this again, but its nice nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 16:58:15 | More by mick303

BierMeJohn

Germany

4/5  rDev +5.5%

04-21-2013 12:00:13 | More by BierMeJohn

Elbrownbag

Netherlands

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

04-01-2013 19:48:44 | More by Elbrownbag

innominat

Ireland

2.5/5  rDev -34%

02-17-2013 11:59:07 | More by innominat

Ciocanelu

Romania

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

02-06-2013 21:00:02 | More by Ciocanelu

uturn

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

01-16-2013 02:10:53 | More by uturn

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

12-17-2012 16:00:04 | More by stereosforgeeks

safaricook

Netherlands

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

12-14-2012 17:02:40 | More by safaricook

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

1.5/5  rDev -60.4%

11-16-2012 23:24:45 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

mtbdonn

United Kingdom (England)

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

11-02-2012 12:28:53 | More by mtbdonn

peagasus

Belgium

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%

11-02-2012 11:58:50 | More by peagasus

pin

Australia

3/5  rDev -20.8%

10-09-2012 02:57:24 | More by pin

Filosoof

Netherlands

4.28/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Grottenbier is a special one. But in a very delicate way.

A: If someone says the top disappears quickly, he has to take a clean glass. The top is great. Brandy colour, with a touch of red in it. The top is vanilla coloured.

S: there's something special in the smell (oak or wine) , tiny liquorice , old wood, vanilla, cherry, tart apple, light malts;

T: the taste has it's own style; reminds me a bit of Gulden Draak Quadruple 4000. (The colour also); the beer uses your mouth completely, starting a bit thin, but than coming through with a round creamy bite, ending with a very nice balancede bitterishness, cleaning the mouth;

M: alcohol is perfect, wel carbonated, good drinkability;

O: amber beers won't be my number one, but in it's style it's maybe one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 14:11:41 | More by Filosoof

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%

09-11-2012 00:26:10 | More by Molson2000

rarbring

Sweden

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A clouded reddish brown beer, an off-white head with little lacing and small curtains.

Smelling of yeast, vinegar and spices. Clove.

Starts with sweet bread, raisins, bitter oranges and some yeast.

Medium low carbonation, soft texture, medium body.

A nice sourish brew. Should be good with cave matured cheese.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 14:44:54 | More by rarbring

Jose9e

Netherlands

3.25/5  rDev -14.2%

07-30-2012 12:14:55 | More by Jose9e

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -40.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Thanks to Jim at Sherbrooke for the sample. From a 330 ml brown bottle. Pours out a dark hazed amber hue, bright cherry wood highlights when held to light. Tight creamy light beige head that settles to a thin cap.

Dry mild toasty grains on the nose, punctuated with a curious sourness. Mild sweet caramel pokes through from time to time, along with some yeasty spice.

Dry husky grains up front in the flavour, cereal-like character to it, followed by very mild esters, and finishing with a dry vegetal astringency and some rounded grainy tartness. Some dry wafery caramel is drawn out the more it warms, however does not really add anything to the overall profile. Flavour is disjointed for the most part, no cohesion.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, texture is dry and somewhat astringent, papery even, with moderate carbonation.

This is an odd one indeed, the best before states it's good until Jan. of 2013, however there are already oxidization issues creeping into it, amongst other issues. Seems to me this is not aging well, especially given the ingredients list on the back label--not living up to its potential. Happy at the chance to try such a rare beer, however based on my sample I wouldn't recommend bending over backwards to procure one. Disappointing indeed from St. Bernardus, who tend to be exemplar with whatever they produce.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 06:51:31 | More by IronDjinn

samEBC

Belgium

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

06-09-2012 21:29:42 | More by samEBC

PhillyStyle

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

06-02-2012 19:29:42 | More by PhillyStyle

theminutemen

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

05-20-2012 02:48:17 | More by theminutemen

Harkrank

Sweden

3/5  rDev -20.8%

05-13-2012 07:46:13 | More by Harkrank

hays99

Kansas

4/5  rDev +5.5%

03-08-2012 16:16:09 | More by hays99