St. Feuillien Brune - Brasserie St. Feuillien

LiquidAmber

Washington

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

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a dark chestnut amber with a fine one finger light tan head with excellent retention and lacing. Unusual spicy aroma of bready malt, brown bread, Belgian yeast, clove and an earthy sharp component similar to cinnamon. Flavor is a complex, but well integrated combination of caramel and bready malt, dark dried fruit, brown bread, faint cloves; somewhat earthy. Flavor is subdued but rich. Medium bodied with a hint of creaminess. Very nicely balanced dubbel that seems almost attenuated at first, but offers up quite a variety of flavor as it opens up. Very enjoyable, but not as intense as some other dubbels.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 02:43:11 | More by LiquidAmber

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle into signature chalice, no bottle dating. Cork was a battle to remove on this one. Pours hazy and cloudy dark ruby red color with a 1-2 finger dense and fluffy light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big raisin, apple, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, toffee, toast, fig, brown bread, floral, pepper, light clove, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark malt and fruity/spicy ester notes. Taste of raisin, apple, caramel, toast, toffee, brown sugar, molasses, fig, brown bread, floral, pepper, clove, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of dark fruit, caramel, toast, toffee, molasses, brown bread, floral, pepper, clove, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of dark malt and fruity notes; with a good sweet/peppery ester balance; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy, fairly slick, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice Dubbel. Nice balance and complexity of fruity and malt flavors; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 04:15:59 | More by superspak

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.06/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a signature St Feuillien chalice.

Appearance: Comes off a very dark brown with slight orange tint to it. I'm going to tell you right now it cloudy, with an tan-white head maybe third of an inch.

Smell: Rich yeast scent, I wish it stayed with you a little longer.

Taste: Like the smell but much more amplified. Feels a touch sour but it also feels a bit sweet. Malts are in full effect.

Mouth: Easily medium to full carbonation, nice stickiness to the beer that i just can't stop sipping.

Overall: Good brew, I think this is my first from St. Fuellien and beyond tasty enough that it won't be my last. Hope you enjoy as much as i do and will not hesitate to pick up again when I see this at my local beer spot. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 05:26:56 | More by BlurryVisi0n

SmashPants

Australia

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

Bottle: interesting stumpy llittle brown bottle, with a stylish old-school Belgian label. Reaks of quality.

Appearance: deep brown in colour with light haze and a thick beige head.

Aroma: traditional Belgian brune on the nose - toffee, caramel and brown sugars, with backing from sweet spices - cinnamon and nutmeg in particular.

Taste: follows from the nose fairly closely - those sweet malts with just enough spice to make for a good quality Belgian brune. Again, not much hint of the high ABV.

Aftertaste: a little sickly on the aftertaste for me, but still good quality.

Mouth feel: medium in body with a moderate amount of carbonation, which took me a bit by surprise considering brunes would normally have minimal carbonation.

Overall: quite a good brune, but I would still prefer a Kwak on balance. And Kwak is a bit more affordable too.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 01:23:54 | More by SmashPants

trekbiker3000

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Deep brown color, some cloudiness and a very thin tan head. Sweet light esters in the nose. Rich malt flavor, but some slight alcohol burn. Some decent bitterness on the back end. There was a little too much carbonation but as the beer sat it seemed to settle down. Full bodied flavor, the beer coats the palate and leaves a lasting flavor. Again, there is some alcohol burn, but it does not take away from the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 21:43:15 | More by trekbiker3000

bskrtz

Illinois

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

11.2 ounce bottle served cold in glass beer challis

A) Classic Belgian brune -- root beer with puffy off white head that melts away slowly. Cloudy with fine suspended carbonation.

S) Wonderfully sweet with hint of mild clove. Fruity and complex. Mild esthers

T) Cooked dark fruits, banana, toffee. Tastey, yummy!

M) Sticky and full bodied. Ample fine, bottle conditioned carbonation lasts and lasts

O) A very good example of the Belgian Dubbel.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 01:55:11 | More by bskrtz

champ103

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Crisp in Houston, TX

A: Pours a ruby red/dark brown color. A one finger light beige head forms and sticks around throughout. Light lace is left behind.
S: Belgian yeast up front. That banana, clove, spicy aroma with candied sugar. Toasted and caramel malts Bread and biscuit aromas along with some chocolate covered raisins. An near perfect aroma for the style.
T: Like the nose bread, biscuit, and some sweetness. Toasted and caramel malt along with candied sugars and raisins. Light chocolate. Very nice, but not near as complex as the nose.
M/D: A medium body and carbonation. Crisp, but smooth at the same time. So easy to drink. I can sip on this all day.

Basically a spot on example of the style. Something I really enjoy. Well done and highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2012 02:54:28 | More by champ103

doktorhops

Australia

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Fast becoming a huge fan of Belgian Trappist Ales. I love their no-holds-barred, throw-the-rule-book-out-the-window approach to brewing. Unless it's actually a many-holds-barred, we-wrote-the-rule-book approach they take, which makes more sense because they have been doing this for quite a while. In any case these monk guys know how to make a tongue-smashingly good brew, and adding vitamin C to the mix - I'm not sure if it is to improve the taste or some ancient monastic secret to prevent a hangover the next day, but let's just say "Bravo St Feuillien, bravo".

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a St Feuillien chalice.

A: Cloudy chestnut body with a patchy beige head on top. Looks like many Dubbels I've come to know (and love).

S: Aroma is a heady banana/bubble-gum affair, laced with candi sugar and a hint of Ethyl Acetate and a very clean finish. There is a musty yeast note in the background but the aroma really drives home banana and bubble-gum fragrance which is typical of a Weizen (and to a lesser extent Trappist brews).

T: There is a hit of Diacetyl upfront (which is a bit disconcerting actually), but other than that the ale takes on a yeasty character with subdued banana/bubble-gum notes, the Ethyl Acetate turns into a solvent-like flavour and really clashes with the candi sugar finish. It's probably the most Frankensteinian of Trappist brews I've tried and I'm having a difficult time deciding if I love it or hate it (though I'm leaning slightly towards hate). Note: Gets better as it gets warmer.

M: Classic Belgian Trappist territory here; tight carbonation with a mid to heavy body that borders on sticky.

D: Had to think long and hard about this (not a euphemism). On the one hand it offers some unique Trappist characters, but on the other hand those characters may be too unique. It's interesting to say the least. Could get used to it, or could drink a Grimbergen Dubbel instead... yeah I'll take the Grimbergen. Note: I may have had an off-sample here as other reviewers have noted distinctly different flavours to what I have experienced.

Food match: Difficult match as I'm afraid my sample may have been spoiled (will know when I've reviewed the other two St Feuillien brews I have). That being said I normally approach a Dubbel as complimentary of desserts (in this case possibly banoffee pie) or contrasting to a sharp matured cheese.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 09:17:39 | More by doktorhops

Tilley4

Tennessee

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Out of a boxed set with the glass and 2 other brews... I'm not a huge fan of dubbels but I'm giving this a go...

Aromas of caramel and yeast with some Belgian sugars present... Hints of raisins perhaps as well... Fairly standard...

Not nearly as sweet or smooth as I was hoping it would be... The sweetness is there but it doesn't last and this sort of finishes with a sharp phenolic note that I don't particularly care for. Booze is fairly evident as well...

An ok dubbel I guess...

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 22:53:06 | More by Tilley4

n2185

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours brown with four fingers of khaki head that fades into a dense cap with good lacing.

S: Belgian spices up front followed by notes of candy sugar and stronger aromas of caramel and dark fruits. Floral notes follow along with a sweet, bready finish.

T: Spices up front followed by a lot of hearty bread flavors. There are some caramelized sugar flavors, but this beer is pretty bold and almost roasted tasting (like strong tea) for a dubbel, which I tend to think of as being sweeter. It's almost a little funky. The finish is dry, only slightly sweet, and somewhat bitter as well.

M: Medium body with mid-high carbonation, this beer is a little thick for the style, but not too much so.

O: An interesting take on the style. It's not bad, but it doesn't quite work for me. I like my dubbels a little sweeter with more depth of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 19:35:29 | More by n2185

rangerred

Tennessee

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle poured into a goblet.

Appearance is a hazy dark brown with a huge rocky off-white head. The head lasts forever and clings to the sides of the glass.

Smells of banana, caramel and toffee along with a certain yeastiness that is hard to describe. Smells Belgian

Flavors of banana nut bread along with some light caramel. There is some breadiness along with dark fruits such as raisin and fig. Also a slight metallic note. Mouthfeel is full-bodied and sticky with alcohol being barely detectable.

Overall a decent beer although I have to admit that this is not one of my favorite styles. I feel this is a respectable representation, though.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 00:33:28 | More by rangerred

muskiesman

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml poured to a tulip glass

Pours a nice amber brown with two finger tan head that lingers to fine lacework

Aroma of warm fruits and bread

Taste very caramel again dark fruit and bread
wonderful palate of malts and medium body

Specialty malts are the showcase in this beer

Overall a very good brune

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 21:04:43 | More by muskiesman

sespourteille

Maine

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Red hue with a nice 1 to 2 finger head.

Caramel malt crisp and fruity with a sweetness that is not overbearing. The taste is full bodied and smooth making this abbey brewed ale a great drink.

This was only the second time i had tried this beer, but it does not lose any of its flare the second time around. A good buy, highly recommended for any situation.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 23:57:05 | More by sespourteille

ADZA

Australia

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Same bottle but mine says 8.5% and it pours a clear kola beer hue which leaves a frothy two finger head and lacing everywhere,the smell is raisins soaked in brandy,xmas pudding and nutmeg,the mouthfeel is a tad creamy,well carbonated and sweet and has tastes of chocolate coated cherries,raisins,ginger,bananna bread and finished with a sweet belgian yeasty bread flavour and basically like liquid food and after you get past the look of this it really isnt that bad but theres better out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 13:42:35 | More by ADZA

bobhits

Kentucky

2.3/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Hints of light pass through the body, leaving a reddish murky colored body. A lot of nice lacing from a good 2 finger head.

Caramel, figs, dried rinses, hints of rum, and spices. Oddly not as good as this sounds.

Hints of toffee and chocolate mix with a spicy dark fruit dominate beer. Mix in some caramel malt and I think you get the picture. Very complex, but overt in each flavor without the blending that makes a master piece.

Hot! 7.5%? This drinks like 12% easily without the body or thickness that goes with a 12% beer.

Each element of this beer is interesting and maybe good. The problem is this at best good in places beer doesn't work together. Completely don't recommend this one beyond a 2-4 oz sample (and what beer isn't worth doing that with?)

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 00:47:49 | More by bobhits

projectflam86

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle.

A- Pours a hazy copper color with a white foam head that leaves some scattered lace.

S- Huge caramel toffee aroma with some spicy character coming from the Belgian yeast.

T- Buttered toffee initially with some sweet malt and spice in the finish. Slightly metallic as it warms.

M- Light bodied with good carbonation.

O- Overall a decent dubbel but nothing mind blowing.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 22:57:23 | More by projectflam86

atlason

New York

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 750ml bottle into tulip glass.

A: Good head but low retention and almost no lacing. Dark copper color.

S: Dark toasted malt, brown sugar and dough. Allspice. Pretty faint.

T: Hoppy for the style but in a pleasant way, similar to Ommegang's version. Plenty of Belgian candi syrup with good dark malts and Belgian yeast character. Everything is there that is needed for a correct version of the style and in good balance, too.

M: Velvety mouthfeel. Medium carbonation and fairly high attenuation make this crisp and easy to enjoy.

O: Not too complex but a highly enjoyable brew nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 04:09:44 | More by atlason

gfreed

Massachusetts

2.7/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

As dubbels go, this one ranks among the sweetest I've had. There's enough brown sugar in both the aroma and the taste to satisfy any sugar addict; in fact, one might be able to substitute this for the requisite brown sugar one likes to plop onto one's morning oatmeal (if one were so inclined, of course). Signs of other sweet Things are everywhere, such as sugar and sugar; some mushroom oddness makes a brief appearance but mercifully is pounded back by the sugar. Worth a try for the pretty label and the attractive price but otherwise this is not something to brag about.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 15:50:53 | More by gfreed

grittybrews

Washington

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a nutty reddish-brown into a pint glass with a finger of light khaki head. Nice bready caramel cookie aroma with a hint of pepper and clove.

Moderate carbonation and a light, slightly thin mouthfeel. Bread and caramel up front with a hint of dark fruit sweetness and a touch of anise on the finish.

On the lighter side for a dubbel, the ABV is completely concealed. About as sessionable as they come for a Belgian.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2011 13:59:43 | More by grittybrews

ThaCreep

Belgium

3.43/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown. The nose is malty flavor and spices. The palate is heady, offers roasted malt but blackberries and grapes. These flavors are propagated in the palate with light touches of clove. We find the bitterness in the aftertaste. A classic Dubbel but fantasy.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2011 20:57:00 | More by ThaCreep

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

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

A - Ruby brown and dark, nice creamy head.

S - Candy caramel squares, brown sugar, light syrup.

T - Tastes of toffee and caramel, a nice sweet beer. Light malt, and soft licorice notes. Some bitter fruit skin and a slight warmth.

M - Soft, slick mouth with a sticky sweetness and light carbonation.

O - Nice blend of sweet flavors here, a certain complexity about it. Not overwhelming in any way but a solid brune.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2011 23:16:07 | More by BeerForMuscle

Macca

Australia

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours a dark ruby colour with one of those huge Belgian heads.

Sour dark fruits first up on the nose. I'm getting a deep charred note. Not smoky, something darker, if that makes any sense. A touch chocolate. Where's the booze hiding? Intriguing smelling beer.

The booze is there in the mouth but not overpowering, just lurking around the edges. Quite sweet.Dark fruits are there.

Fairly big bodied.

Another nice beer from these guys

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 12:32:32 | More by Macca

smakawhat

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured on tap at Pizza Paradiso into a tulip glass.

A one finger creamy light brown head is produced with lots of carbonation. Tightly packed head bubbles, and a real nice red caramel/brown colored body that is opaque.

Bouquet on this is a classic dubbel but too small and kind of hard to find. Small dry malty powder sensation, slight bit of cream too.

Taste is also small, a faint light raisin quality and mild maltyness.

This is pretty pedestrian for this style, boring, bland kind of simple but doesn't make me desire to drink it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2011 03:01:20 | More by smakawhat

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap @ Monk's Café (Philadelphia, PA) on 4/2/11. Served in a tulip glass.

Pours a deep clear ruby, with a thin covering of off-white/light mocha head. Swirling this fires up a near finger of foam, leaving back a rich and frothy cascade of lacing. The aroma has a pronounced dark fruitiness to it, which mixes in with some bitter citric character, a light spiciness, and notes of sugary cocoa and fresh baked biscuits.

The taste is primarily a mix of sugars and dark fruit, with a touch of more roasty chocolate malt thrown in as well. A good bit of citric bitterness is present, which combines with the yeast to really dry the finish out on this with some lingering notes of spice and earty pith. The mouthfeel is medium to fuller bodied, with a lively prickliness on the tongue that then segues into more of a creamy and smooth feel across the back. The alcohol content here is nicely held in check.

This was a solid enough Dubbel I suppose, with a decent complexity and a good drinkibility to it. I just wish that the flavors had a bit more richness to them to help make this a little more memorable. This was a tasty sipper but there are better out there for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2011 16:46:32 | More by Kegatron

laituegonflable

Australia

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep mahogany with a ruby tinge and a very generous Belgian head. Beige in colour and 4-5 fingers thick but sinks quickly, nice puffy craters on the top. Minimal trails of lace, but still a good-lookin' beer.

Smell is quite dark with a sour edge. Plenty of dark fruits, primarily plum with touches of cherry/kirsch and currants. A mild mouldy, dirty smell from the yeast, quite bitter with a touch of green pepper in there. Some chocolatey malt underlying it all to make the whole thing seem more sweet than anything. Everything else just adds nice complexities around the outside.

Quite sweet at first, with chocolatey notes to the malt. Develops a slight tartness towards the mid-palate with some plum fruit, kirsch and a slight vanilla flavour but without much sweetness. Mild black pepper comes through late, heading towards the finish which has a slight gravelly espresso flavour that lingers. Not overly exciting; a fairly flat, but nicely balanced, profile. Decent Belgian dubbel.

Fairly full body can't quite pad the vibrant carbonation which provides a bit of sizzle on the back that, together with boozey warmth touch, is mildly harsh. Nice enough though.

Yeah, decent and balanced palate with good characters. Enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 23:40:25 | More by laituegonflable