St. Feuillien Brune - Brasserie St. Feuillien

77ships

Belgium

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Very dark amber/brown colour, decent head.

S: Raisins, malt and sweetness.

T: Sweet brown sugar plus raisins, some noticeable alcohol. Sweet malts dominate but there is some complexity.

M: Plenty of carbonation, rather full body.

D: Feels rather strong for a double but still it is surprisingly drinkable. Complex with a nice sweetness to it. Nice double.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 20:35:23 | More by 77ships

Jono0284

Maryland

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

Beer poured a dark brown with a nice full slightly tan head (straight down the center into a tulip glass). As I drank the beer you could see the head remain on the side of the glass.

First hit the nose with a nutty aroma that went to a sour cherries.

When first poured and sipped the beer did not show many flavor characteristics, in fact it was quite disappointing, however, as the beer sat for no more than 3 minutes it really opened up and gave way to the taste that were noticed in the bouquet. The strongest flavor was the nuttiness with some sour notes but no fruit like it smelled. The finish was short and tart - I would have preferred a stronger longer finish. By the last sips the beer had completely opened up and gave way to that "Belgianny"farm quality.

Overall this was a good beer but not a great one. I paid roughly $4-$6 and do not think that I would spend that much on this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 22:43:12 | More by Jono0284

clayrock81

Virginia

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

Pours a perfect brown with a slowly dying tan head that left a lace ring around glass. A tart cherry smell, along with possible other dark fruits permeates most in nose as there is a touch of sweet malt. A light-to-medium body with a bready/yeastiness so the beer has a dryish edge. Some minor caramel and something like vanilla gives off a touch of sweetness and there are also some dark fruit flavors. A dry, crisp finish thanks to lively carbonation. I enjoyed this beer but it seems a tad less sweet and fruity for my liking; more of a dry beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2010 23:14:04 | More by clayrock81

david18

New York

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

I had a twelve ounce draft of this at Manhattan's Amsterdam Ale House, where it was available both on tap and in bottles.

It poured a dark, somewhat cloudy dark brown color with plenty of carbonation and lots of belgian lacing. Aroma was that of dark fruit, maybe a little bit of candy.

The flavor was malty and the alcohol was well hidden. There's a certain quality to the flavor of a dubbel, I can't describe it, that was not present here. Maybe the hops were not as present as they should be.

In any case, if you like Dubbel's this is a nice one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2010 15:01:11 | More by david18

impending

California

4.38/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml into a tulip. Pours a somewhat muddy deep mahogany. Minor medium bubbled tan head.

Aroma is strong spiced rum cake, figgy. Superb nose.

Medium bodied, starts lively on the tongue, creamy. The rum cake is joined by molasses and caramel with minor phenols on the good side of delicious. Wonderful aftertaste doesn't linger as long as I'd prefer, so nice.

It would be nice if they brewed a quad, just double this dubbel and you have a top tier quad.
Excellent
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 03:56:03 | More by impending

metter98

New York

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is cloudy brown in color and poured into a goblet with a finger high beige head that quickly faded away but transitioned into consistent patterns of bubbles covering the surface. A light to moderate amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: The nose is relatively sweet and has aromas of caramel and dark fruits.
T: Like the smell, the taste has a slight amount of sweetness and has flavors of caramel malts along with notes of dark fruits and hints of yeast. There is a very mild amount of bitterness and woody flavors in the finish. The flavors become a little stronger as the beer warms up.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, very smooth and a bit thin on the palate with a medium to high amount of carbonation. There is a hint of dryness in the finish.
D: The beer isn't very difficult to drink because the alcohol is well masked. The beer is best sipped so the alcohol won't quickly catch up to you.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 03:46:01 | More by metter98

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A delicious Dubble that hits the style dead on- just slightly misses a few marks on becomming a world class Dubbel.

Rich and bready-sweet aromas of fruit cake, rum-soaked cherries, apples, and raisons; almonds, light chocolates, berries and toast. Compex indeed!

While the aroma delivers a plethera of aromas, the appearance gives a deep russet, burgundy-hazy brown color and moderate haze. A creamy off-white head forms on the beer, retains fairly enough, and with lacing that proves formitable enough. A good look-but not great.

All of those brown sugars, rum-soaked fruits, and sweet bread aromas manifest well in taste. Throw in a spicy-yeasty taste of nutmeg, cinamon, and ginger and we have a lot of character in this sweet-oriented beer. Fruity through and through, the berries, dehydrated cherries, raisons, figs, plumbs/prunes, dried appricots and apples all do their duty to provide a very complex flavor that starts with the first sip and doesn't end until the last-- a very complex and consistent beer.

Creamy and moderately full early, this Dubbel holds onto the rich textures until very late. In fact, the beer begins to lighten because of fleeting carbonation, increasing alcohol, and sharpening hop bitterness until the deep finish that stops shy of complete dryness or lightness.

This is a marvelous Dubble that I have no problem grouping in with Chimay Red and Ommegang Abbey Ale. Paired with a veggie wrap (Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella and schrosphire blue cheeses, black olives and pickled black peppercorn), this beer had great interplay with the pepper, blue cheese, and olives. A later snack with sugar cookies bakes with cranberries, raisons, and Macadamia nuts were also a pleasant pairing. But this beer is also a great desert and delicacy all on its own.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2010 07:05:08 | More by BEERchitect

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the 25 fl. oz. corked bottle. Sampled on July 19, 2010. It pours a well-carbonated mahogany brown with ruby red tints and about a half inch of silky tan head that stays around. Not a lot of lacing but it does not matter to me. The aroma emits a fine balance of roasted malts, clove, and sweetness that is not unlike brown sugar. Overall this is a mellow and very drinkable beer in the tradition of Belgian Abbey ales with its malty flavor and noted hop finish. Likeable all around.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 23:22:19 | More by puboflyons

dstc

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy brown with an amazing frothy tan head. Head falls very slow, decent lace.

Nose is all sweet malt back by an alcohol aroma.

Nice malt taste. Sweet candied sugars. Finishes a bit tinny, metallic. Very sweet beer.

Medium to full bodied and rather smooth.

Decent, easy drinking brew. Only negative is the metal finish but overall a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2010 15:02:17 | More by dstc

CampusCrew

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

appearance: dark brown in color with lots of holding head, nice and sticky

smell: typical belgian yeast aroma, sweet, caramel and biscuity

taste: some subtle toffee candy aromas, sublte sweetness with some nice dark fruits notes.

mouthfeel: medium bodied,

drinkability: a nice dubbel. I would drink again if available

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2010 22:11:09 | More by CampusCrew

eric5bellies

Australia

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Drank from my Chimay Chalice

A - Pours a hazey brown with a large off white head.

S - Raisins and dark fruit.

T - Nice chocolate flavours tha are followed by heavy dark fruits and finishes with a nice alcohol kick.

M - Medium body and well balanced carbonation.

D - Heaps of flavour and recommended

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2010 16:33:55 | More by eric5bellies

argock

Virginia

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

Poured from 11.2oz brown bottle into a Chimay goblet. No freshness date. From a gift pack purchased in August 2009.

A: Chestnut brown with wispy beige short head with little retention or lacing.

S: Sweet dark malt with caramel and slightly buttery flavors mixed with herbal hops. Light phenols. Yeast is nutty.

T: Flavors are, like the aromas, a bit sweet for the style, but they are enjoyable all the same. Dark fruits like prunes, raisins, and candied figs come through followed by light phenolic character and finished with herbal hops. There is a mild leathery, nutty quality as well. Enjoyable but sweet for a dubbel.

M: Smooth and creamy with active carbonation and lightly leathery, sweet fig aftertaste.

D: A very drinkable dubbel but not so typical for the style. Has some features that reminds of an old ale with lower ABV. Delicious and similar to Corsendonk Dark Abbey Ale or St. Feuillien's Cuvee de Noel for the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2010 03:02:05 | More by argock

jwhawkins81

Ohio

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

Aroma - Dark fruity sweetness

Appearance - Dark red with a tan head and tons of residual carbonation in the beer.

Taste - Sweet and balanced, a decent abbey ale. Slightly cloying but still refreshing.

Notes - Tons of carbonation that you would associate with a Belgian. Not worth the price but still good.

No 8394 on the cork

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2010 19:08:39 | More by jwhawkins81

Mora2000

Texas

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

Thanks to Fratto for sharing this beer.

The beer pours a murky dark amber color. The aroma is dark fruit with some caramel and toffee malts. The flavor is dark fruits with a lot of caramel malts. The beer is very dry. Medium mouthfeel and high carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2010 22:19:58 | More by Mora2000

jwc215

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml cork-strapped down bottled, poured into a tulip glass:

Pours orange-tinted brown with a large foamy white head that falls to a lasting one-finger cover. Some trailing lace sticks.

The smell is of carmelized brown sugar, minty/menthol spicing, caramel, soft cotton candy and a touch of hay/grass. Interesting, complex and inviting. Seems more like a Dubbel/Tripel mix.

The taste is herbal - slightly tinny - with grassy and minty/menthol spicing and light cotton candy and caramel. Begins spicy, becomes malty sweet, then finishes with an herbal dryness. A tart touch comes through as it nears the end. Mild alcohol warmth shows, though integrated well.

It has an effervescent light-to-medium body. Very smooth.

In a way, it reminds me of this brewery's tripel, but with a caramelish character. Seems a cross of dubbel and tripel. Anyway, it is a lovely sipper. Malty and spicy with that classic "Belgian" flair. Very interesting and enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 14:47:36 | More by jwc215

Rayek

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a St. Feuillien chalice.

A: Slightly hazy chestnut brown. A dense cream cap is slow to form and quickly retreats to a thin film. Leaves spots of lace.

S: Sweet chocolate really stuck out at first. As the beer warmed, raisins and prunes crept it with a very vinous aroma. Alcohol adds balance and a light tingle to the nose.

T: Very wine like out front, with lots of dried fruit flavors. The heavy chocolate from the nose retreats to the background. Bitterness is mild and brings a pleasant pepper bite. Alcohol adds an extra source of balance and a nice warmth going down.

M: The slick body has a very fine tingling carbonation.

D: I started out with this beer way too cold. After giving it some quality time to warm up, I came away quite impressed. The flavor is up there with some of the better dubbels I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2010 05:49:03 | More by Rayek

Travlr

District of Columbia

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Murky and muddy brown, smallish tan head that disappears slowly and leaves decent lacing.
S: Aroma of caramel, butterscotch and cinnamon.
T: Malty flavor with light spice and some earthiness toward the end. Fair complexity.
M: Good body.
D: Very nice example of the style, worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 22:55:47 | More by Travlr

snaotheus

Washington

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

750ml bottle into large goblets

Pours a very cloudy dingy brown, medium pale head. Smells sweet and musty, a little fruity.

Taste is sweet with a slightly bitter aftertaste, very mild. Definite maltyness and Belgian yeast.

Mouthfeel is very carbonated, very bubbly, although fairly thick.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2009 01:35:25 | More by snaotheus

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Opaque, deep chestnut brown body with two full inches of airy, beige-colored foam.

Smell: Sweetish aroma of brown sugar and toasted caramel transitions to notes of green raisins and apricots and finally a spiciness smelling of coriander and cinnamon.

Taste: The taste presents bold hits of very sweet caramel cubes, brown sugar, tart fruitiness, and cutting spices. Slight earthy bitterness. Touch of warming alcohol on the tail end. Malty, bittersweet finish with a lingering spiciness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Medium, though airy carbonation.

Drinkability: Surprisingly good. A fine, enjoyable dubbel that served as a pleasant aperitif at Leon's Full Service in Decatur.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2009 16:53:08 | More by ChainGangGuy

TLove

District of Columbia

4.35/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Small bottle at Granville Moore's in D.C.

Nice light brown color typical of the style. Thin head, but holds together very well.

Smells of dark fruits, apricots and raisins.

Soft on the mouth and well-balanced. Coffee and plum on the tongue with dark malts and barely noticeable 7.5% ABV.

Very drinkable, soft finish and toffee aftertaste. Barely any bitterness on the back end, but the carbonation holds to the very end.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2009 02:45:24 | More by TLove

Nickls

District of Columbia

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

(From notes)

A - Rich coppery, reddish brown color. Slightly tan head that didn't hang around too long.

S - Raisiny, sweet, rich, pruney, and maybe a bit of passion fruit

T - Sweet dark fruit flavors, bit of candy-like sugar, light breadiness

M - Thinner to medium MF, carbonation is pretty lively. Coats well, and carries the richness of the brew

D - Good drinkability given the range of the tastes, and I thought this was a pretty rich brew which made it nice, but slower working

Overall, really representative of the style and I can't find anything off about it. Very nice brew, but not the most complex I've had in the style. Definitely worth a try, though.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2009 18:05:27 | More by Nickls

jujubeast6000

Texas

3.4/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed 3/26/2009 (bottle ~50degF):

Pours a very fizzy off-white head, quickly diminishing. Body is ruby brown in color, very cloudy, can't see through. Very fruity aroma, some dark fruit like plum and fig, and some raisin. Aroma of seedy fruits, like berries. A little effervescence and dustiness. Fruity taste, floral. Light floral aftertaste. Soft carbonated mouthfeel, a little sourness. Letting warm up a bit...More fruit present, thick and creamy mouthfeel. Okay tasting, some spices, but a little bland.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2009 02:35:23 | More by jujubeast6000

AdmiralDiaz

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle to goblet.

A: Pours a opaque brown with a small yellowish head with decent retention sticking around for the entire drink, however leaves no lacing.

S: Smells very malty with strong fruit and hints of chocolate and toffee.

T: Malts hit upfront turning into a mix of dark fruit with some apple hints going into a chocolate/toffee finish. Pretty complex flavors that work together well and overall create a nice mellow dubbel.

Overall: Mouthfeel is alright, only decent carbonated and a light-medium in body. Drinkability is amazing, I could easily drink a few bottles of this, I kept sipping this one down and before I realized it I had finished the glass.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2009 23:11:48 | More by AdmiralDiaz

glid02

Georgia

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

Had this on-tap at the Brick Store in Atlanta.

Pours a not quite clear reddish-brown color with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of sweet malt with lots of dark fruits - raisins mostly but with hints of figs. As it warms there's also a bit of toffee.

Tastes good. Sweet malt up front followed shortly by dark fruit flavors. Hints of toffee in the back are joined by a light spiciness.

Mouthfeel is good. It's a bit thinner than I was expecting with soft carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished one with no problem, but I'm not terribly excited about drinking another.

Overall this was a solid beer but it's nothing special. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2009 00:16:19 | More by glid02

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a Chimay goblet.

A: relatively clear brown/amber color capped with a frothy tan head that has nice retention and light streaks of lacing
S: strong spice and yeast aroma but i'm having trouble picking up on much more from this.
T: sweet malt and yeast body, with light spicy background, both peppery and cinnamon. dry, slightly nutty finish
M: very creamy and soft on the tongue, high carbonation, little alcohol presence.
D: not the best dubbel or most complex (or fits the style the best), but a very nice beer, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2009 01:21:29 | More by yourefragile