Corsendonk Pater / Abbey Brown Ale - Brouwerij Corsendonk

Minkybut

Virginia

3.09/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

I poured this beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. This is my third attempt at this beer in several years. Beautiful beer, pours a wonderful dark mahogany color and has an awesome dark tan head. Fine bubbles great lacing . Roasted nutty smell richly bleeds out of the glass. And then I tasted it. Same as all the other times. Sour Sour Sour. Yuk. Last time I ever buy this. I guess some people like sour beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 16:12:23 | More by Minkybut

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.14/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle was poured into a goblet.

Appearance: This beer poured a one finger head that reduced to a puffy off brown layer. It is a dark brown color with no clarity or bubbles coming up through the glass. Looks very traditional for a dubbel.

Smell: Spicy, caramel, toffee, raisins, bananas, chocolate, and toasted malts.

Taste: Same as above. Extremely delicious and balanced.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, full bodied, medium carbonation, a little chewy, and a little dry.

Overall: Goto love those Belgian dubbels. Will look for more of this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 00:13:51 | More by Flounder57

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Such a delicious, smooth, well balanced beer. Can't tell it's a 7.5% at all. Goes down way too easily. Nice hints of fig, grape, but not too sweet. Just a hint of breadiness. Lots of complex flavors, but the basic point is this beer is so well balanced, smooth, tasty, not too heavy in alcohol. Very strong offerring in an extremely competitive field.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 22:45:45 | More by Beer-A-Lot

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.46/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Corsendonk Pater Dubbel has a medium, cream colored head and a dark brown (ruby under light) appearance, with some light lacing left behind. The aroma is of spicy, sweet, bread, and the flavor is of peppery, spicy, sweet bread, coriander, a hint of banana, raisin, dark fruit, a touch of chocolate, and a mild bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium to heavy, and Corsendonk finishes semi-dry, sweet, and carbonated. Overall, this is another great Belgian ale, and I score it most excellent.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 14:03:35 | More by RonaldTheriot

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.99/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From corked bottle 22/05/15 A 11:02 - cork says lot 3911 and at the bottom D1213.
Big cork pop.
Medium dark brown with small amber head.
Aroma of light roasted dark malts, amber malts, slight caramel, vanilla and nuts.
Significant carbonation and mouthfeel.
A nice balance on the taste buds with nothing overly influential. Flavors of roasted malts, brown malts, caramel, cola...there's a peat like flavor, weak coffee, black pepper, minerals and nuts. Overall I prefer a bit more body and a touch less carbonation and dryness...their Christmas beer fills that beer, but this is a fine dubbel.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:20:13 | More by DenverLogan

Hoppsbabo

United Kingdom (England)

3.91/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Black with an off-white quickly dissipating head, which eventually settles to a few millimetres in thickness. Leaves nice lacing.

S: Pungent Coca Cola and coriander seeds.

T: Strewth, freshly roasted coriander seeds at the forefront. It's lacking a sturdy malt base and it's initially a bit watery or cola-like, with the cola flavour being assumed more than anything. It's sweet enough without actually being sweet. As for the fruit I'd say cooked rhubarb was the closest thing to it.

O: I'm pretty sure the coriander is meant to be the centrepiece here. It's well crafted but I'd prefer a sturdier malt base. A bit of an oddball and not my cup of tea but I can see other people liking it.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 03:31:05 | More by Hoppsbabo

ckollias

Maryland

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

Enjoyed this 11.2oz bottle out of a Corsendonk Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours a dark brown hue with amber highlights, and a thin, white, frothy head that quickly dissipates leaving no trail and ending in a semi-solid persistent lace.

S: Dark fruit and plum aroma with hints of sweet molasses and Belgian yeast.

T: Sweet tart flavor with a decent alcoholic middle with hints of raisins and finishes on the dry side.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Excellent dubbel – a classic worth savoring.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 17:39:34 | More by ckollias

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into chalice, best before 2/24/2015. Pours crystal clear very dark reddish brown color wit ha 1-2 finger foamy light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with plenty of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big raisin, pear, apple, fig, brown sugar, molasses, toast, floral, pepper, light clove, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice balance and complexity of dark malt and yeast ester notes. Taste of raisin, pear, apple, date, brown sugar, molasses, caramel, light chocolate, toast, brown bread, pepper, light clove, floral, and earthy yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of dark and light fruits, light chocolate, brown sugar, molasses, caramel, toast, brown bread, pepper, light clove, and earthy yeast spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic balance and complexity of malty flavors with fruity/spicy esters; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a fairly slick, earthy, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Belgian Dubbel style! Great balance and complexity of malt and fruity.spicy ester flavors; and extremely smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 03:53:44 | More by superspak

argock

Virginia

4.16/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 750ml brown corked bottle into a St. Feuillien goblet. 24/2/13 best-by date on neck label and lot 626 on cork. Purchased at World Market (Charlottesville, VA) for $6.99.

A: Muddy dark brown with 1-2 fingers of ecru off-white head with good retention and ample scraps of lacing down the glass.

S: Bubble gum and banana lead off but are quickly pushed to the back by raisin and prune aromas. There is some spicy, musty clove and nutmeg aromas as well. Whatever hoppiness is there is more or less herbal and earthy as it is in the background. There are some metallic overtones at first that thankfully fade with some "opening up" of this fine brew.

T: The flavor overachieves with dampening of the yeast character, which is still plenty spicy, especially in the finish, with clove, white pepper, and nutmeg flavors accenting the sweeter raisin and fig/date flavors. The white pepper lingers all the way through the finish and lends a hint of sharpness in the finish. The sweet banana and bubble gum of the aroma is much softer and seems to amp the sweetness oh so slightly. A really enjoyable, relatively low ABV dubbel (6.5% per the neck label).

M: The mouthfeel is luxurious with a light-medium body combining with solid medium-high Belgian carbonation to provide a very creamy brew overall. The pepper flavor continues all the way through to provide a little more edge to the finish.

O: I really enjoyed this beer, and I was surprised I had not reviewed this beer before. It is just like I remembered -- softly sweet with a prominent but not overbearing yeast character and superb mouthfeel. As far as Belgian's go, this is a great deal $$$-wise as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 03:44:58 | More by argock

ranger60

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had it on tap at Isaac Newton's in Newtown, PA.

Appearance: nice coper brown color, very clear, small very light brown head.

Smell: very fruity and spicy, picking up the raisins.

Taste: very complex mix of fruits and spices, picking up the alcohol though.

Mouthfeel: a little creamy even! moderate carbonation.

Overall: an excellent Belgian brown ale. One of the best, but a bit heavy for lunch. May have to have a couple tonight!

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2013 18:16:53 | More by ranger60

Jetulio

Spain

4.01/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33 cl bottle poured into a Chalice glass (Affligem glass)

aroma...fruits, raisins. Not a strong smell but very very clear aroma of raisins appearance...dark beer with a big head (2 fingers) colour white-beige with some persistence taste...not too much sweety, very nice in mouth with notes of cocoa. Long aftertaste
palate... medium /full body and medium carbonation
overall.... very nice ale. Not enolic notes and without excess of sweet notes you have a very well balanced dubbel . Elegant and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 19:40:32 | More by Jetulio

MIBeerRanger4

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It's been a long time since having this beer. What a treat. I had a bottle over the recent holiday season and loved it. Drinking so many American craft beers has kept me from some of these truly world classics...

A= The beer poured a real nice deep brown color with just hints of dark red tones around the edges. The head on this beer lasted and it was a creamy white with a bit of carmel lace color. I really enjoyed having a beer with that lasting head retention.

S= This was my favorite part of the experience. The aromas in this beer seemed endless from nutty, roasty smells to some bright acidic, yeasty aromas. In the middle there were earthy grain aromas I loved. The beer went beyond room temp. to almost warm because I was savoring the aromas so much.

T= Just a hint of sour with lots of really great fresh nut and biscuit flavors. Tastes changed very nicely as the beer warmed in the glass without showing any "off" flavors.

M= A little lighter than the aroma would have suggested. But nice as it made the beer very drinkable.

O= I loved this beer years ago when I first tried it. I will not wait as long in between again! If you like brown beers this classic example should be on your list.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 18:08:54 | More by MIBeerRanger4

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: poured from a 750mL bottle into a chalice, pours a rich dark brown with a fluffy tan head that lingers leaving some lacing that lingers and sinks with the beer, hazy

S: yeasty smell up front, banana, caramel malt, quite sweet

T: yeast induced banana and clove flavors, very sweet malt profile in the middle, bubbly quality lightens the flavors towards the end, notes of toffee and chocolate, fig

M: lively carbonation with a nice mouth coating, aftertaste is great

O: you have to like yeasty Belgian beers with all their strange hidden flavors to enjoy this beer, good buy for $8 at Kroger to see if you like the style, not as good as Chimay Blue but close and taste is similar

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 01:50:21 | More by M_C_Hampton

Braz

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle pours a very dark brown with 2 finger rocky tan head. Fairly lively and bubbly. Pretty to look at. Smell of sour tart apples. Taste is highly carbonated tart fruit. This is almost champagne like, but being much less pronounced with the fruit. Slight sourness on the end. Short finish that does not linger. Really enjoyable, maybe just a bit too bubbly. About only complaint I have.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 15:47:39 | More by Braz

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from an 11.2 oz. bottle into a Corsendonk tulip glass.

A - Very nice looking beer. Dark brown, fig color with a heavy head. The head melts down to an impressive half finger head that sticks around.

S - Malty, figs, nuts, alcohol. Nothing amazing but not bad either.

T - Very complex flavor with hints of figs, raisins, nuts, and a bit of chocolate. Malty and a tad boozy, but still pretty mellow. Couldn't ask for much more here.

M - Medium body with a decent amount of carbonation.

O - This is a fantastic, complex beer that goes down a little too easily. Very mellow and a bit sweet, but the alcohol is definitely present. A great dubbel.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 01:22:50 | More by RoninTK3

KajII

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

[Suggested Glassware: Trappist Glass]

The pour was a muddy dark brown with a nice reddish hue around the edges and an average (1-2 finger) tan creamy head that had great retention pretty much lasting throughout, thus creating some excellent sheets of sticky lacing.

The aroma starts with a roasted sweet bread malt and moves on with an earthy somewhat leathery yeast. In the back ground I sensed notes of milk chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, some dark fruit (raisons and figs), a hint of smoke and a mild winey alcohol presence.

The taste started with a nice malty sweetness and had hints of chocolate and brown sugar, progressing with a good bit of dark fruit and a slight alcohol finish. The flavor had a decent duration following the swallow with a sweet fruity taste fading as a mild creamy chocolate alcohol flavor settled on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was a strong medium in body with an extremely smooth and creamy texture and an almost flat carbonation.

Overall this was an exquisite tasting brew, one that possessed a nice sweet malty taste with a really intense creamy feel. This hid the moderately high ABV extremely well and made a pleasure to consume...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 16:20:30 | More by KajII

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a Trappe Door tulip. Poured a deep dark ruby red brown with a three finger very light tan head that subsided to one finger slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, bread, dark fruit, fruit, earth, and spice. The flavor was of sweet malt, fruit, bread, butter, earth, spice, and subtle alcohol. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly decent brew. The aroma was pretty weak on this one if I am honest as I really had to work to get anything off of it. Almost to the point of having to put my nose physically in the beer. This was a little upsetting when I went to investigate it at first. The rest of the brew wasn’t too bad though with a good bit of complexity going on. The buttery aspect was interesting to say the least, but seemed to fit in well with everything else going on. Glad I got to try this one and I suggest you do the same at least once if you get the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 10:55:44 | More by thagr81us

pkalix

California

4.53/5  rDev +13%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

deep, dark brown, with ruby peering through and around the lighter edges. incredible frothy head, medium and larger bubbles mixing with tight, smaller ones, diminishing to just a thin layer on the top.
the smell is . . . peat? smells like a peat-y dark brown i've had in the rare british or scottish ultra-darks and renegades....
the taste is of malts, some alcohol, and (maybe?) some dark fruit. i really like this taste compared to the dubble from La Trappe yesterday. the bottle lists raisins and 'black chocolate'.
mouthfeel- it is a nicely weighted brew, nice medium body, easy on the tongue. BA says it's a 7.5%, but my bottle says it's 6.5%.
overall- i really like this one. i've had the tripel, and i've had some varied experiences with the dubbels, but this one is a great one to come back to. so easy, so flavorful (even with the slight alcohol), i'd love to try this one on tap....?

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 00:39:48 | More by pkalix

CHADMC3

Connecticut

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

Pours a dark murky brown body beneath the frothy tan head which dissolves to leave a thin lacing.

Aromas of Belgian yeasts and brown sugar float from the glass with hints of caramel malt and toffee.

The flavor also features brown sugar, malt, and toffee but also has just a hint of spice and perhaps some sweet nuttiness.

Lighter to medium in body with fair carbonation.

A very nice example of the style with plenty to offer the senses.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 01:48:26 | More by CHADMC3

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 11.2oz bottle into NB globe.
Pours a crazy amount of head! Really had to wait to finish the pour on this...
Deep brown with amber hue under a thick thick tan foamy head.
Sweet malt and apple aromas, but very mild and lack luster.
Taste is very mild malty chocolate, dried fruit and fresh apple. Alcohol is upfront and at first, harsh, but mellows out.
Overall, its less than expected, but still good.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 22:32:16 | More by DrinkSlurm

bubseymour

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a - dark brown almost black with 1 finger head and good retention

s - kinda malty and dark fruits (raisins or figs?)

t - good complex flavors of dark fruits with some chocolaty and smoky flavors. Yeasty notes as well.

m - very nice body

o - a very nicely made dubel style ale from belgium

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 22:16:12 | More by bubseymour

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach, CA.

Pours a clear dark brown with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form everywhere around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, fruit, and some herbal/spice/perfume aromas. Taste is much the same with a flavor on the finish that is very perfume-like. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with some very interesting aromas and flavors with the herbal/spice/perfume quality I am getting from this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2012 02:58:09 | More by UCLABrewN84

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Very dark brown with tantamount head of overcreamed coffee color. Sticky foam laces in coats. Looks like a beer float. 5.0

Dark fruits and coffee in the nose. Vanilla, prune, fig, and apple. Estery awesomeness. 4.0

Mocha, berries, apple, grape, and clove. Dusty cocoa and light cinnamon stick. Hint of booze and iron. 4.0

Low carbonation, wet body. Slight metallic feel. 3.5

One of my favorite dubbels. A fully-realized beer. 4.5

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2012 02:12:16 | More by thecheapies

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.65/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a stemmed pilsner, the beer is a vibrant, rich, ruby coloring that is dark and deep, with a frothy, light, low profile, off-white head of about a half an inch. Aromas are light, with a semisweet candied sugar and toffee backbone with some light, earthy highlights. Flavors are darkly sweet, with a brown sugar and dark roasted caramel sweetness, as well as some nutty and old world fruit sweetness. Dates and figs layer throughout the flavors. The aftertaste is light and roasted sweet, with an effervescence that keeps everything light. Smooth, clean finish with a slightly sweet linger. Easy enough to drink, but the sweetness would get overpowering after a few.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 01:04:42 | More by GarthDanielson

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap 4/25/2012 at Julian’s, in Providence, RI served in a tulip glass.

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

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

T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of caramel and maple. Then bready flavors come in from Belgian yeast and a hearty malt character. The hops presence is mild but complementary and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

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

O: Tasty, goes down dangerously easily, not too filling, good kick, very good representation of style, this is a nice beer to drink for a while if you’re in the mood for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2012 00:25:59 | More by TheManiacalOne