L'Ange Tombé - De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Bought some of these a while back at Julio's beerfest. Been cellaring since then.

A - Amber pour with a two finger head that quickly dissolved to almost nothing and held there with light lacing down the sides.

S - Light fruit and funk. Not getting any of the negative smells other reviewers have encountered.

T - Really doesnt taste much like a Saison. Needs to be more funk and fruit. Dont know what else to say...the carbonation is about the only thing this has going for it. I mean, I can definately taste melon on the backend!

M - With all the cabonation I'm expecting a lighter mouthfeel but instead I've got a syrupy wash.

D - Will I drink this again? I guess I have to as I have another bottle. Maybe I'll cellar this for a year and see what happens, but I will not buy another bottle. I'll bump the grade up a bit due to how you dont really get the 8%.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2010 01:48:31 | More by rudzud

SalMineo

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -20.3%

04-16-2012 17:03:16 | More by SalMineo

PEIhop

Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -27.5%

03-21-2012 00:19:40 | More by PEIhop

mltobin

Connecticut

1.98/5  rDev -42.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I picked up a bottle of this from Julio`s.

Appearance is murky brown water with a 1/2 finger head. Its` nose is old brown sugar, yeast, alcohol. The tase of this "dark saison" is malts, pepper, more stale brown sugar. Mouthfeel is low-medium, rather flat in the finish. Very much disappointed in this beer. It is bland overall...thankfully I believe this was a one-time beer release.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 03:05:29 | More by mltobin

alee42

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks Ben for sharing this beer

A dark beer that takes on a brownish amber color. Forms a foamy light brown coffee colored head, keeps a good retention with some lacing. Noticed a some carbonation, enough to believe this beer would be a little bubbly.

A few things to note about the smell. Not picking up a whole lot of hop aroma - maybe a subtle grain-y/husky character that's embodied in a sweetness similar to brown sugar and honey. Not sensing any citrus-y notes. Toasted bread is also noticeable.

Very similar scents are translated into flavors on the palate. I can definitely taste the bread notes and brown sugar most notably, the finish being more bread notes, a little blandness. I also get some simpler, table sugar as well. Medium light in body with moderate carbonation, a little crisp from the refrigeration. The addition of the yeast mellows out diacetyls and adds a yeasty character. Would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 01:32:58 | More by alee42

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +15.9%

12-02-2011 05:52:56 | More by rab53

ToasterChef

Maine

3.58/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A chilled bottle is split between two pint glasses. The bottle opened with a less-than-promising quiet pop, not what I expected from a caged and corked beer. Pouring it out did alleviate my fears, as a large foamy head rose up from the dark brown liquid.

The beer has a fruity aroma. I can smell green apples and raisins. Some crystal sugar is also present.

The beer has an interesting sweet taste. It is both sugary and bitter at the same time, and unlike other saisons I've had. I am tasting raisins and plums.

The beer is on the thicker side, with some large carbonation bubbles. It leaves a sticky film across my lips and throughout my mouth.

This beer is enjoyable, but I don't lie it as much as the other Julio's limited release I've had (Ry(e)an Ale by Smuttynose). I'm glad I've tried this one, but I won't be upset if it is never brewed again.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 00:40:06 | More by ToasterChef

Wadsey

Indiana

3.08/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

L'Ange Tombé

Served in New Belgium globe glass. 

A: Pours clear deep amber with two-finger head that has above-average retention and leaves very nice Brussels lacing on glass. Scant effervescence, which the faint pop of the cork foretold. 

S: Green apple jolly ranchers and spices, especially cinnamon, allspice and cloves, in that order. I will say a more natural apple aroma can be found, as well as caramel and pear.  I suspect this will be a relatively sweet but sour beer.  

T: Much more subdued and flatter than I expected. Not very sweet or sour.  Still, the elements that I described in smell are present. Additional flavors include white pepper and mild hop bitterness. 

M: Medium body and medium-light carbonation. A little thin. Fairly dry. 

O: L'Ange Tombé soars in appearance and smell categories but mouthfeel and especially taste drag it back down to earth. About the worst sort of disappointment when it comes to a beer. 

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 02:47:46 | More by Wadsey

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.8/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a three finger cream head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Hazy amber color, ton of yeast left in bottle. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Nose is unpasteurized apple cider, but flavor is not a saison more bready and hints of caramel. Higher ABV is hidden. $8.99 for a caged & corked 750ml bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 22:46:16 | More by jdhilt

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.73/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up last February at Julio's Liquor (the only place I assume one can find this beer).

The beer pours a brownish amber color with something of a red highlight to it. The beer also has pretty good head retention and lacing. The beer smells pretty nice, as I pick up considerable brown sugar, tootsie roll and cherry vanilla. The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely in this moderatel sweet beer, though the finish is a bit watery, with a significant dropoff in flavor at the end. Mouthfeel is fairly light, and as noted above, the finish is a bit watery. The alcohol is integrated into the flavor profile very well, and the beer is not the least bit heavy or tiring on the palate. So drinkability is in fact pretty good.

Shrug. While nothing special, I thought this a pretty nice beer. It sort of reminds me of a lighter style of dubbel (rather than a saison noir as the label indicates).

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 20:45:58 | More by johnmichaelsen

NCSUdo

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle

A: Amber hued brown under a small slightly off white head. Little lace and retention.

S: Hints of dark fruit, maybe some apple as well, little bit of the expected Saison yeast character.

T: Fruity and a bit tart in the middle, mild bitterness in the finish but mostly dry, hints of spices.

M/D: Medium bodied, carbonation is high, even a slight creaminess. Good drinkability. A good beer, but overall a bit all over the place, maybe could be classified as a dubbel just as easily as a Saison. If I were to rate strictly on style, I'd probably give slightly lower marks.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2010 00:46:49 | More by NCSUdo

glid02

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by a generous soul.

Pours a hazy dark amber color with a one-finger slightly off-white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of muted and fairly dry caramel malts with hints of toastiness. Also present are earthy hops and indistinct dark fruits.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Equal parts toasted malt and caramel malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by moderately sweet dark fruit flavors - raisins mostly with hints of prunes. Midway through the sip slight yeasty spiciness works its way into things before quickly fading. Right before a moderately bitter ending hints of earthy hops come into play.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with active carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass however I'm not sure about another.

Overall nothing about this beer stood out and everything seemed as though it could be ratcheted up a bit. Certainly not worth seeking out but not worth avoiding either.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 01:06:16 | More by glid02

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750 ml corked and caged bottle, MasterSki left us this one.

Pours a hazy dark orange/almost bronze, thick off white head forms and settles down to a medium ring and thin layer around the glass, lots of lacing sticks to the glass.

Smell is weird, very fruity, some wood, nuts, caramel sweetness, mango, lightly funky, a bit of vanilla, some biscuit, a touch of tartness, orange, weird.

Taste is weird too, cherries up front, some dry biscuit, weird fruitiness going on, wood, nuts, lightly funky, really strange stuff, not quite sure whats going on.

Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium carbonation. A bit of an anomaly, this is an odd duck. Not entirely unenjoyable. Thanks Alex!

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2010 14:07:09 | More by Viggo

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.03/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep reddish brown color, with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a very thick on the glass.

S: The aroma contains brown sugar, Belgian yeast, spices, caramelized malts, some fruit and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of caramel, brown sugar and fruit. Then some breadiness comes in from a hearty malt character and a strong Belgian yeast backbone. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet and slightly bready.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, slightly filling, good kick, different representation of style, overall this is a good beer that is worth drinking when you want something a little bit different.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 02:57:03 | More by TheManiacalOne

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Sloeber tulip glass.

Big thanks to connecticutpoet for this bottle!

I'll echo previous sentiments: A black saison? All right. It pours a translucent russet ruby topped by a bit over a finger of cream-colored foam. The nose comprises figs, raisins, rye bread, nutmeg, cinnamon, red grape skin, and a hint of what seems to be watermelon. The taste very similar, but with the addition of ruby red grapefruit, orange rind, and saison-style earthiness. These new flavors drag things down considerably, not meshing very well with the more BSDA-style elements. The body is a nice medium, with a light carbonation and a pretty smooth, fuzzy feel. Overall, a pretty good brew, but I think the attempt at darkening a saison went a bit awry. Had the target been a straightforward BSDA, it seems like this would have been a strong success. Still, I'd definitely say this is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2010 03:14:57 | More by TMoney2591

grub

Ontario (Canada)

2.45/5  rDev -29%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

MasterSki hooked us up with this one. thanks alex!

750ml bottle, corked and caged. sampled aug 10/2010.

pours hazy pale red, more orange at the edges with a very thin fine off white head. the head drops fast and leaves spotty lace.

aroma is ok. sweet cherry syrup. belgian yeasty spice. caramel. white bread. light alcohol.

taste is not that good. starts off as cherry syrup, but almost instantly goes super thin and watery. so dry it seems to suck all the moisture from your mouth and you're quickly reaching for a glass of water. bit of white bread. low bitterness level. no alcohol, and very little of anything else.

mouthfeel is odd. very low carbonation. ultra dry and thin.

drinkability is not good. thin, unbalanced, watery... none of us managed to get even half way through our glass. pass on this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2010 17:45:04 | More by grub

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

2.1/5  rDev -39.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

750ml corked bottle courtesy of viggo, thanks man! Listed on the bottle as a "black saison".

Pours a caramel amber color with a hint of cherry, a light haze, thin head which quickly recedes to wisps.

What this is I do not know but it is no saison and certainly not very good. A bit of mustiness and spice in the nose, some caramel malt and a hint of cherry. Once it enters the mouth the party begins and this one turns south fast. Cherry cough syrup, anise, medicinal astringent bitterness, a light non-descript sweetness. Sharp medicinal drying in the end, much like chomping on a mouthful of Tylenol and the flavor just disappears into thin air - all Tylenol, all the time. Thin and watery mouthfeel.

In the end we all ended up pouring it, it just wasn't pleasant to drink. De Proef does some good stuff but this is not one of them.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 12:41:14 | More by ritzkiss

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.43/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Got this from jyoungsbcp, cheers Josh!

Pours an effervescent & slightly hazed caramel with a finger of tan colored head. Never really clears all the way, but has great head retention & lacing

S: Orchard fruit, a bit of figgyness & brown bread

T: Caramel, faint apple peel flavor & faint herbal hops up front. Dryness, breadyness, cocoa & a touch of licorice comes through as this warms, some pears & persimmons too. Dryness & fruittyness in the finish plus leafy hops & green apple. This isn't really screaming saison to me, half point deduction for drifting too far off style

MF: Medium bodied with low carbonation, becomes pretty warming over time

Drinks easy, but not really a "must buy" IMO

Always happy to try De Proef's offerings, but this one is of style by a bit, I think I've had a "black saison or 2 so far not warming the cockles of my heart...

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2010 01:49:19 | More by russpowell

SFLpunk

Vermont

2.83/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750mL plastic cork and cage finish. No date. Cork says "BS0109."

Pours dark amber with some sudsy off-white head. Calling it a "black saison" is a little bit of a stretch...

Nose: Some tropical notes but also something medicinal. Melon and skin lotion. Not a great start.

Palate: Crisp with some toasted notes right off the bat. Toasted sesame comes to mind. Some hop bitterness in there but the malt flavor feels tired and almost oxidized a little. Finish is creamy with carbonation and alcohol is nowhere to be found.

Notes: Not an overly complex brew. Seems a little tired too, to be honest. Black saison is misleading (hurts appearance score). More like a dubbel than anything. And when I saw de Proef, I was hoping for some funk. No funk here. Not going to seek out another one.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2010 01:51:26 | More by SFLpunk

deltatauhobbit

Maine

2.7/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

An exclusive beer brewed by De Proef for Julio's Liquor's.

Pours an amber/orange color with the perfect sized head, fades at a slightly fast rate, some patchy lacing.

The aroma is rather weak for a saison, not much funk or spice, pretty much only a mild caramel malt aroma and even that was difficult to pick up on.

Taste is rather muted, not much spice or funk or much of note, even the yeast presence isn't very inspiring, the mouthfeel is also rather thin, carbonation is lively and crisp though but isn't enough to save this dull beer.

Other than the awesome (obvious Unibroue-like) label, I'm actually quite disappointed in this beer, it seemed like it would be so good, a "black" saison.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 22:28:40 | More by deltatauhobbit

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A bottle, courtesy of Foofaa or Ffejherb, at the Brass Rail. I've wanted to try this for some time.

A: The saison is far darker than I'm used to, pouring a caramel amber color that is just dark enough to be opaque. Nothing memorable on the head, although decent lace is left behind.

S: The nose is is syrupy and malty, maybe just enough sugars to hint at a Belgian style but even the yeast leaves it high and dry.

T: The body doesn't strike me as a saison, more malty and syrupy, emphasizing a caramel flavor. Spices, anise especially, seems to fit with the darker caramel. Belgian yeast flavors need a little prodding to come out, adding fruitiness. Nothing really stands out, no hook to make me want more.

M: The mouthfeel has Belgian elements but it never really gets going. Some fruits and anise do linger though.

D: It's strength is never really an issue. That may be the only redeeming quality. I never really got into this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2010 01:08:19 | More by akorsak

hwwty4

Missouri

2.63/5  rDev -23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to jtrockhalk for this one.

Huh? A "Black Saison" made by de Proef for Julio's liquors. Wouldn't an 8% black saison be more of Belgian Strong Ale? Poured a corked and caged 750 into my New Belgium globe glass. This beer pours a cherry copper with a small 2 inch head that leaves just a little bit of lacing as it recedes from my glass. The aroma is odd. Big malty notes that include toffee and caramel, a bit of toast, and bitter chocolate. Almost nothing in the aroma that would tell me it's a Saison. The flavor is very similar. This is a malt centric beer that lends its flavor to those flavors. On the front of the palate comes sweet caramel, overly toasted bread, and just a hint of sweet chocolate. In the middle develops just a slight over ripe apple mixed with figs. The tail is probably the worst aspect of the beer. A medicinal bitterness mixed with its 8% ABV. Boozy and bitter on the tail. It really doesn't make me want to continue drinking it. The mouthfeel is one of worst I've ever had with a Saison. It's sweet and medium bodied, no dryness. Definitely missed the mark with this one. To me this is a average BSA and a really crappy Saison.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2010 00:51:03 | More by hwwty4

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

2.93/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A "black saison" specially brewed for Juliio's. Dark, muddy caramel color. Clumpy off-white head that leaves some lace. Consistent skim retention.

Jolly Rancher aroma at first sniff. That fades away into caramel, tree bark, clean, grassy hop with a mild mildew and farm undertone.

Tastes...weird. A farmy vs. sweet vs. fruit war in my glass. No flavor wins nor is a truce reached as it leaves a taste similiar to OK Soda (remember that stuff?). Notes of anis, peaches and pears with a steely caramel finish.

Overall it's messy and all over the place like an experiment. Seems like they were trying to brew a "black saison" just to be different rather than because they had a good beer in mind. I'm usually not stickler for style conformity, in fact most times I flagrantly disgregard them. That said, it's not black and it's not dry or farmy enough for a saison. Perhaps "black saison" should be re-thought.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2010 00:51:43 | More by donkeyrunner

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle purchased as a single from Julio's, Westboro, MA. Corked & caged.

Poured into a Harpoon tulip, formed a 3/4" tan head over the cloudy ruddy copper brew. Head lasts well, with sticky slow-falling lace. Aroma is fruity, lightly spiced. Taste begins fruity, lightly tart, spices in the middle, lightly earthy close with a revisit of fruitiness lingering. Flavors seem very distinct and separate. Mouthfeel is soft and smooth, and drinkability is pretty good. Not quite what I was expecting, but a serviceable brew, for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 02:31:16 | More by ppoitras

jjayjaye

New York

4.3/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

"Black Saison" Fallen Angel...scoring points for creativity!! I'm not sure that I'm drinking the same beverage because I'm pretty impressed with this one. The rich amber color is impressive and the thick foamy off white head resists fading and leaves sheets of Belgian lacing in its wake (4.25). The smell is captivating and complex; earthy semi-sweet harvest fruity yeast, but deeper with touch of cocoa and leather. Visibly effervescent, the mouth feel is perfect...classic rich micro bubbles lend a smooth creamy texture. A tad on the dry side, the flavors are mild in proportion yet mirror the nose nicely. Hugely drinkable...I mean I could drink these all day long; highly recommended. Thanks tons Andrew!!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2010 23:54:12 | More by jjayjaye