Blue Apron Ale - Brooklyn Brewery

M27

New Jersey

4/5  rDev 0%

02-17-2013 17:11:48 | More by M27

MasterSki

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle ordered at The French Laundry. Served in a wine goblet. I asked the server and apparently this is brewed a few times a year exclusively for them.

A - Large tan foam settles to a thin cap, slightly thicker collar, and a few splotches of lace. Very dark brown body with ruby transparency when held to the (candle)light.

S - Spicy and mildly phenolic Belgian yeast initially dominates, before yielding to a more complex bouquet of dark chocolate, anise, and candi sugar.

T - Dry and roasty, with light candi sugar, anise, and some bready malts. As it warms there's a bit more caramel flavor that comes out. Alcohol is pretty well-hidden here.

M - Dry, medium body, that is a bit light for the style but seems right for the listed 7.2%. Mildly chewy in the finish, with minimal alcohol presence.

D - A solid take on the style, but nothing really mind-blowing. At least it was reasonably priced at $20/750ml. If you're at a Thomas Keller restaurant give it a shot, but don't go nuts trying to track this down.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 01:57:57 | More by MasterSki

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks goes out to funkydelic for sharing this one at a recent tasting! This was one of his wales from a long time back and I am very thankful that he shared it with all of us! Thanks Cam! Served from bottle into a Boulevard tulip. Poured dark brown with a half finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, syrup, sugar, dark fruit, and fig. The flavor was of sweet malt, dark fruit, fig, wood, and subtle molasses. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. I went into this brew expecting quite a bit based on what all I had heard about it, so that might have killed my opinion slightly. However, this was an easy drinking brew that wasn’t overly powerful on the flavor. I could see this pairing really well with food as a lot of these flavors would pair great with certain things. Unfortunately we were not eating a paired meal with it. Really glad I got to try this one, thanks again Cameron!

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 10:59:31 | More by thagr81us

EzraAtom

3.75/5  rDev -6.3%

06-18-2012 04:22:43 | More by EzraAtom

craytonic

District of Columbia

2.55/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Served with Dinner at Ad Hoc in Yountville, CA

Appearance - toffee-brown pour, small head with a bit of lacing

Smell - a bit off, toffee, brown sugar, raisins and plums. Heavy oxidation

Taste - too much oxidation, touches of toffee, brown sugar, plums

Overall - Oxidized and not that enjoyable, I was looking forward to trying it and very disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 18:48:59 | More by craytonic

scottfrie

California

4.28/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks for sharing, Mike!

A: Pours a deep raisin brown with thick tan film that faded into a wispy collar that left a ton of stringy lace.
S: Rich notes of honey, chocolate, and dark fruits. I get a touch of caramel as well.
T: Sweet and very rich flavors of deep fruits, sweet honey, cocoa powder, prunes, bubble gum and toast. Very smooth and delicious flavors.
M: Medium body, creamy, soft and smooth mouthfeel with great carbonation made up of tiny bubbles.
O: I thought this was excellent! A smooth and very flavorful dark Belgian. Thanks again Mike!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 06:16:18 | More by scottfrie

emerge077

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks Ben for sharing this one, review from written notes.
Bottle stored in temperature-controlled, zero light conditions. Served in a goblet.

It pours a tawny dark brown, glowing copper in the meniscus of the glass. Lasting head of tobacco stained tan foam. Appears highly carbonated.

Plum, raisin, caramel aromas and flavors, some obvious oxidation creeping in from age. Papery and dry aftertaste, lightly bitter and charged with nearly excessive carbonation. Not much spice nuance left at this point. Pruney sweetness lingers, seems a bit long in the tooth at this point. Overall it was nice to try, but if you're sitting on any, it's time to drink it.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 02:15:10 | More by emerge077

jophish17

Georgia

3/5  rDev -25%

12-24-2011 07:15:47 | More by jophish17

kranker23

New Jersey

4/5  rDev 0%

12-09-2011 01:14:11 | More by kranker23

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev 0%

11-26-2011 14:04:09 | More by GRG1313

gwguest

Kansas

4.53/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a stubby, bowl shaped glass at Ad Hoc Restaurant in Yountville, CA. Nothing but water to drink in the preceding five hours.

Cola brown with a quick 1/2 inch of foam that is gone in a flash.
Sweet fruits and dried fruis with a deep raisin character in the aroma. Spice notes, mainly of black pepper with hints of chocolate.

Flavor is well layered of sweet malts, raisin, orange peel, black pepper, candi sugar and plum. This is very well crafted. The entree tonight was braised short ribs in a sort of southern style barbecue according to the menu. This beer was perfect with the entree. Perfect. It didn't match the cheese quite as well, and the coconut tapioca portion of desert was a terrible match. However, the cinnamon binget and chocolate sauce went quite well.

The mouthfeel was spot on with huge carbonation and a dry body that cut through the fatty food and scrubbed the palate clean. Just what a true representation of a Belgian style ale should be.

Overall, a great example of what a Belgian dubbel can be.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 04:41:09 | More by gwguest

Beernf

California

4.65/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bottle at The French Laundry in Yountville, CA.

By the time i got to drink this beer at FL, i was already several bottle of wine in, so it pains me that i cannot remember the details of the beer with great clarity. However, it was paired with our cheese course that evening, and it was surprising how well a dark belgian like this could match to a cheddar course. It had a great off white head, dark appearance and smelled wonderful. Paired with the cheese, the maltiness of the beer brought out some of the sharper characteristics of the cheddar and was sublime. I asked if i could bring bottles home and was politely refused. Maybe some day i will make it back up to have some more...

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 03:15:19 | More by Beernf

PBoegel

New York

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewing as a Belgian Dubbel, that is the style of this beer.

No best by or bottled on date from a 750 ml bottle into a Chimay goblet. The color is extremely dark, cola like or doppelbock, rich amber tones to near reddish brown mud/clay colors. Very effervescent with a dense light biege to malt husk tone foamy head, tight beads of carbonation and good signs of lacing at it drinks. The second pour as the beer warms up presents an even denser two inch head with rocky mousse like character.

Aroma presents a big concord grape character, suspect a fair amount of Munich malt in the grist. A good peppery yeast tone in the back, tangerine and clementine also come through. Very fruity character. A faint dry chalkiness as it warms.

Flavor profile is dominated by the concord grape upfront and towards the back of the tongue before giving way to a orange and peach then a spicy cracked pepper and thai basil character from the yeast. Very complex palate tons of fresh and dried fruit notes and a very juicy character before a semi-dry finish and a good palate cleansing bitterness and carbonation combo.

The body is medium, juicy, at times aqueous before a the finish which sets in well with a high effervescence and solid bittering character to balance the malt profile. Could be a touch drier but that is personal nitpicking.

A minor ding on drinkability, not something you'd pull up to simply share a glass of beer, this ale is something to be paired with a nice slow roasted beef, pork or lamb dish. The malt and yeast tones and high effervescence play well with a moist juicy meat and vegetables stewing in the juices. Can also match a nice fresh artisan bread lightly toasted and very sharp aged cheddar or asiago cheese.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 14:45:30 | More by PBoegel

billshmeinke

California

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The gf got me a bottle from Bouchon in BH.

Opaque brown body with a three finger light beige head. Good retention and lacing.

Smells of rustic bread, brown sugar, and a faint hit of orange rind... surprising and awesome.

The palate is of light chocolate, rye bread, orange rind, and a touch of caramel. One of the better American made Dark Belgian strong ales I have ever had.

Mouthfeel is full bodied dry and slightly sweet

This beer would be awesome with food. Complex, but not overpowering. Really tasty. If you are at Bouchon, get a bottle. It's worth it.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 07:29:20 | More by billshmeinke

glid02

Georgia

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

Bottle shared by kp - thanks!

Pours a hazy dark ruby color with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of smooth dark malts and dark candi sugar with good amounts of fruits - plums and figs. A very nice balance between the malt and fruit aromas.

Tastes good. As with the smell there's a nice balance between the malt and the fruit flavors - neither one manages to outshine the other. Sweet malt up front is joined quickly by plums and figs along with hints of spiciness. As the beer warms I also get hints of orange peel. The ending is crisp and leaves a bit of dark fruit flavors lingering on the palate.

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

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass quickly and could have a few more.

Overall this was a very well-balanced BSDA and one that I recommend if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 03:01:42 | More by glid02

clvand0

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I hear this beer is kinda hard to get, so thanks to the guy who helped with this one. Pours a cloudy brown color with a nice head that falls quickly and leaves some lacing on the glass. The aroma is comprised of a lot of Belgian yeast character (spice, etc) with some dark fruits and a touch of sweetness. Lots of dark fruits in the flavors as well as a nice spice from the yeast make this one a keeper. The mouthfeel is medium and the drinkability is very good and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2009 02:56:36 | More by clvand0

popery

California

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

This beer pours an opaque (at least in relatively low light), dark brown with a fine beige head that puffs up well and leaves good lacing. The color is darker than I was expecting. The nose is refined brown sugar, malt and good fruitiness of the plum/nectarine variety. I prefer the aroma to the flavor, which adds in a relatively strong phenol note. The flavor come together a bit like Ommegang's flagship Abbey Ale, for my tastebuds. I'm not a big fan of the Abbey Ale (for some reason, I think it tastes like soy sauce), but Brooklyn pulls off the flavor profile well in this beer. It's a hard beer to judge against its style because it's a bit stronger than the Belgian versions that I've tried. At any rate, the mouthfeel is smooth and fairly creamy. The drinkability is high because it's really an excellent beer to pair with food. It's a strong, relatively unique flavor that doesn't dominate the palate. I can understand why the French Laundry would want to add this beer to their menu. Anyway, it's all fun to find a Brooklyn Brewery beer in California.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2009 04:57:42 | More by popery

GClarkage

California

4.47/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

06/07/09- Shared at a group tasting.

Presentation- 750ml bottle. 2009 edition, poured into my Orval chalice.

Appearance- Carbonated grape soda looking pour. Kind of a purple cola color. Head is about 3/4 inch and evaporates quickly. Leaves some light spots and a few streaks of lace.

Smell- Nice aroma of belgian yeast, confectioniers sugar, some minor dark fruits as well as a touch of funk.

Taste- Quenching. Mixed bag of wonderful flavors. Dates and figs combined with the perfect amount of belgian sugar as well as some clove and cinnimon type flavors.

Mouthfeel- Great crisp and sharp carbonation level with a light dry and pleasant aftertaste.

Drinkability- Heard that this is one of the few beers that they serve at French Laundry in Yountville, CA...in fact it might have ben brewed for them originally. Great beer and quite refreshing. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 15:44:58 | More by GClarkage

goatxpower

California

4.47/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

reviewing from notes. Drank this on 5/28/09. Part of the excitement was the fact that I was even able to get this in California.

A- Opaque, spritzy, little to no head to speak of

S-Spicy, Belgian-esque.... awesome

T- Smooth but very complex. Bread, milk chocolate, toffee, plums and oranges, some coffee on the tail end. Hints of nutmeg and clove. A tiny bit of rum. Belgiany without really feeling like a "Belgian-style". A delicious and unique beer

M- Light and fizzy. Creamy.

D- I could drink one of these a day, for the rest of my life. The was a delicious beer that made me look forward to every sip.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 18:26:47 | More by goatxpower

prsguitarsr4me

New York

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml. Dark brown with a small beige head that looks just like a glass of Coke. Aroma is somewhat mild, with some roasted malts, light chocolate and bread. Flavor was not muted at all. Really nice pumpernickel bread flavor, brown sugar, touch of coriander and a hint of chocolate. Very dry, crisp and delicious. I hope they make this part of their regular lineup and it went great with food and goes down so easy.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2009 22:47:19 | More by prsguitarsr4me