La Rullés Cuvée Meilleurs Voeux (Bière De Gaume) - Brasserie Artisanale De Rullés SPRL

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Reddish-black with a finger of frothy khaki-ten head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Dark caramel malts, Belgian yeast, clove, coriander, pepper, other spices, raisins, plums, other dark fruits.

T - Sweet dark caramel malts, raisins, plums, and other dark fruits, Belgian yeast, clove, coriander, pepper, other spices, a touch of banana.

M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet and spicy finish.

D - Great BDA. Good balance.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 05:46:05 | More by ngeunit1

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Mad props to joemcgrath27 for yet another stellar hook-up.

A - Pours a slightly hazy ruby red with a solid thumb of head, solid retention and some sporadic lacing.

S - Classic dark Belgian with dark fruit notes, sweet yeast esthers, hints of figs and dried fruit, with a touch of cloves on the finish.

T - A surprising dark malt flavour comes through on the palette, hits of cocoa and leather alongside muddled dark fruits and hints of cloves. Dark cocoa an hints of espresso linger alongside some grassy hops and buttered bread.

M - Lighter bodied with loads of carbonation and finishes surprisingly wet.

O - I thoroughly enjoyed this brew, less heavy on the fruity flavours and a solid dark malt profile. Easily sessioned and well worth seeking out. I'm grateful for the opportunity to take this brew for a spin.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:58:49 | More by andrenaline

UCLABrewN84

California

3.65/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy dark orange-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, toast, dark fruit, and some spice aromas. Taste is much the same with dark fruit and char-like flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of roasty and spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some nice aromas but the flavors are a bit burnt tasting.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 01:22:00 | More by UCLABrewN84

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

from notes
A - Swampy purple with light at the bottom, 2 fingers of head, half finger retention
S - Plumb and pear, light clove and spice, mild caramel
T - Big minerally note, leafiness and slightly grainy, strangely the belgian phenol flavours are outnumbered
M - creamy carbonation with a smooth feel, alcohol is well integrated here with not real bite
O - generally a pleasant enough Belgian Dark, however the label and timing left me hoping it would have more of an winter/xmas quality to it which it fails to deliver on, but still well worth a try

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 22:25:12 | More by joemcgrath27

Pencible

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: This poured a cloudy mahogany with fluffy light tan head.
S: It smelled like earthy caramel and sour Belgian yeast, with some dark fruit and sourdough and candi sugar.
T: It tasted like toasted sourdough and earthy caramel, with some sour Belgian yeast and sweet candi sugar. It had a clean and sweet and sour aftertaste.
M: It was oily with smooth natural carbonation. Great body.
D: This was a nice BSDA, but nothing special. It would probably age really well, but it was also ok fresh. Decent.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 00:58:20 | More by Pencible

thierrynantes

France

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (75 cl.) purchased from Biéres & Chopes, and tasted in 2013.

Appearance : brown red color, with tan foramy head.
Smell : roasted malt and spicy aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : roasted malty ans spices flavors, with solid bitterness.
Drinkability : a good beer in the Belgian style Strong dark ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 19:52:31 | More by thierrynantes

impending

California

3.04/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

C+

750ml into a tulip. Pours an opaque deep walnut, minor coffee colored head receded rapidly, minor lacing.

Aroma is of lightly charred malts, unsweetened rum cake ingredients sans the rum.

Watered down raisins and plums. Flavor has a nice subtle molasses note plus a hint of char, more would be nice. Thin bodied, feels lowly carbed. Far from bad but nothing stands out, lacks personality.
jd

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 06:12:47 | More by impending

seand

California

3.84/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark cloudy red with a fair amount of light tan hops. A solid blanket retains, leaving walls of lacing.

S: Lightly sweet and yeasty. Mild spices. Nothing overbearing, but overall it's a reasonably nice effect.

T: Thick but not overpowering sweetness, especially through the finish. There are very minor notes of spice. It's nice, if a bit one-dimensional.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation, pretty nicely matched to the flavor profile.

Overall, good, but just good. Nothing outstanding or really new. It's well done though, and I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:15:46 | More by seand

Beerenauslese

California

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass, body is a semi-transparent dark brown. Big foamy head and good retention, with sticky lacing and a cap of foam to the last drop.

Nose is sweet with toffee. Lots of seasonally appropriate notes of cherries, cola, coffee, plums, cinnamon and clove spices.

Tastes pretty smooth with notes of charred malt, and all of the above flavors. Maybe a little roasted pepper too.

Ample round carbonation with a creamy mouthfeel and some spiciness on the tongue.

This is a very nice winter warmer. While it has a Belgian dark strong ale profile, it also has some dry stout qualities. Packs a lot of dark wintery and spicy flavor into a beer that is just 7.3% and is not too sweet. Gladly will I drink more of this.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 02:59:58 | More by Beerenauslese

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a reddish amber color with hints of light visible around the edges. There is a two finger slightly beige head which leaves decent lace. The aroma is of bubblegum, banana, and some dark fruits. The taste follows suit the beginning has a dark fruit flavor profile, this gives way to banana's along with nutmeg and cinnomon. The backend brings a big bubblegum flavor. The mouthfeel is moderatley carbonated and a little creamy. Overall it was a slightly above average beer. Everything was good but not great.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 02:14:34 | More by goblue3509

pixieskid

France

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Piked this up while in Belgium last year, didn't pay attention to the bottle date as it was November or so: turns out this thing was brewed in 09 and past off as if it were fresh (sitting next to the other xmas beers). Keep you're eyes peeled in Brussels people, the bottleshops in the city center seem to pray on the tourists (price gouging, etc.)

Pours a deep brown with a tint of red, 2 finger creamy head that lingers for quite some time.

Nose: toffee, some allspice, a bit of cocoa.

Taste: bittersweet chocolate upfront, balanced bitterness throughout, lingering cocoa notes with a touch of spices.

Mouthfeel: extra creamy with a frothy carbonation.

Overall: turned out to be pretty damn enjoyable, curious to try it fresh at some point.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 21:10:29 | More by pixieskid

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle. Same elven, shifty-eyed, besotted Belgian dude on the label, this time decked out as a beardless Santa, proffering us the best of wishes via this particular incarnation.

This beer pours a hazy, dark reddish-amber hue, with two fingers of tightly foamy, slightly puffy pale beige head, which leaves a wall of rarely-broken fuzzy lace around the glass as it slowly ebbs away.

It smells of lightly bready pale malt, a well-restrained earthy yeastiness, some ethereal banana notes, a bit of muddled black fruit, some clove, ginger, and cinnamon spices, and a dank, musty hoppiness. The taste is sharp, somewhat acidic dark fruit, nutty bready malt, softly lilting bitter cocoa, mildly zingy yeast, and some citrusy, leafy hops.

The carbonation is a tad frizzante, a testament to the ongoing frothy pours, the body a sturdy medium weight, and generally quite smooth. It finishes fairly off-dry, the bready malt, temperate fruit, and lingering yeast doing well to work together.

A decent winter indulgence, the savoury spices on the down-low, alongside a nicely multi-toned maltiness, and some equally tame alcohol warming. All in all, the preceding was a mawkish way of describing a simply well-integrated, tasty accompaniment to the various sugary offerings so prevalent at this time of year.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 05:38:31 | More by biboergosum

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into tulip 5/12/12

A very dark brown with a massive dense dark tan head that sits around for ages and leaves a few pencil thin rings

S the nose is impressive, reminds me of farmhouse yeast with some bubblegum, spice and faint banana, there's some brewers candy and spicy earthy hops with some faint coco and dark fruit, plenty happening in this department

T more coco but still not much, the yeast fades a little and some faint citrus I didn't smell, some plum and just a little hazelnut

M very creamy and a smooth beverage, very long nutty, earthy finish and no booze at all, perhaps one of the creamiest brews I've had the bubbles are working well

O solid stuff start to finish, complex and very easy to drink and great for a chilly evening. Smells and feels awesome and no room for complaints elsewhere

I'd drink this again and its reasonably at around 12$ it might happen sooner then later. Alberta shelves are getting jam packed with gems both hidden and sought after, keep'em coming

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 06:34:38 | More by wordemupg

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from 6/2011 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a dark red brown amber, heavy medium tan head and massive lacing. Aroma of dark and sweet malt, dark fruits, somewhat subdued. Flavor follows with sweet malt, dark and light fruit, Belgian spicing, brown sugar. A bit of dryness in the finish, but overall sweet. Moderate body and moderately complex. A pleasant, but not outstanding dark Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 22:15:12 | More by LiquidAmber

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured at Rustico's in a sampler glass. Pours a dark reddish amber along with an average tan head that left nice lacing throughout. The aroma was moderate to heavy caramel and dark candy sugar; moderate to heavy yeast, with some slight Christmas-like spices in the yeast at the end; grape, apple, cherry, brown sugar, lots of slightly sour fruit; and slight alcohol heat. The initial flavor was moderately to rather sweet, slightly acidic and ever so slightly bitter; while the finish was somewhat to moderately sweet, slightly bitter and slightly sour. There was caramel, brown sugar, dark candy sugar, dusty yeast, slightly sour fruit that grows in intensity as it warms, cherry, apple, grape, hints of cocoa, and a little spicy yeast at the end. The light to medium body was sort of creamy, but sticky on the lips and then a little dry with fizzy carbonation and a slightly astringent and a lightly dry finish. Overall an interesting beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2012 19:37:49 | More by CuriousMonk

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

La Rullés Cuvée Meilleurs Voeux (Bière De Gaume)

Pours a clear dark brown color. Aromas of candi sugar, spices, strong malt and mild cocoa. In the taste, a nice roasted malt note, with light cinnamon like spice. The roasted malt caught me a bit off guard, but works well here. Notes of caramelized sugar and dark breads. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, smooth, with ample carbonation. Overall, a nice Belgian Dark ale, dig the roasted malt in a Belgian.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2012 13:29:03 | More by Stinkypuss

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Rustico. Served in what would best be descried as a stange.

Pours a moderate amber-brown color with a moderate light tan head and good lacing. The nose had some dark fruit and malts plus some grapes and a light bit of spice. Flavor was dark fruits and semi-sweet malt. Medium body with good carbonation and a semi-dry finish. Good brew.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2012 02:25:11 | More by Thorpe429

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy orange-ish to brown in color with a light tan head. In the aroma, cinnamon, mild peppermint, almost candy cane like. In the taste, spicy, minty, and candy cane sweetness, all inside of a nice dark ale. A spice like bite and medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry spice of cinnamon in the aftertaste. Like a cinnamon candy cane in a nice very fine Belgian dark ale.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2012 13:57:44 | More by OWSLEY069

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This 0.75 Cork and caged bottle was taken at the lovely D’elices Et Caprices in Brussels.

Murky brown body with an off-white crown of huge proportions, which left good solid lacing.

Mix bag in the nose, raisins, plums, dark berries, hoppy citrus hints, yeast and some caramel maltiness.

The taste was also of mixed flavours, mostly following the smells mentioned above: however you can add some mini hop bitterness along with ground coffee and flakes of dark chocolate, strange how the coffee and chocolate didn’t feature in the aroma.

This was the third beer we tasted here, it wasn’t the strongest, but it certainly had the most flavour and body depth, we definitely reviewed in the right order. Pleasant and easy to sip, a Christmas brew without to many wintery ways to it, nothing really special though.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 13:22:15 | More by BlackHaddock

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours with a short off-white head over a deep amber to brown body. Touch of lacing.

Aromas contain lots of rich, whole wheat bread crust, followed by fruity esters (plum) and a touch of spices.

Juicy, fruity qualities - red grape skins. Caramel sweetness. Nice roasted malt base. Touch of bitter English-style hops in the finish.

Mouthfeel is really nice for the style. Starts off with plenty of carbonation fizz, but settles nicely to a smooth, and rich mouthfeel.

Considering that this is categorized as a BDA, instead of BSDA, this one gets high marks. Easy drinking, full of flavor, somewhat complex, and perfect for the Holidays. (and a festive label, too!)

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 20:51:18 | More by BeerImmediately

clayrock81

Virginia

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a dark brown with everlasting one-finger tan head (or so it seemed). A hearty aroma as I pick up caramel and sugary sweetness, touches of spice and yeast and I swear I'm getting a hint of citric notes like orange peel. Fuller body than expected, a good chewiness along w/ the smoothness, and I get a balance of dry and sweet malts with minor hopiness and traces of dark fruit. Finishes crips with a touch of sweetness. A great ale to relax with.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2011 22:46:36 | More by clayrock81

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very good beer and recommended by the bartender. Poured with a light tan, foamy, frothy head that lasted a while and good lacing. Color was a hazy, almost cloudy brown with red highlights. Aroma was perfumey, malt, roast, caramel, yeast, a little dark ripe fruit. Flavor was very similar to nose, plus some toffee and just enough tang. Body was good and carbonation fine. Finished with average length, smooth, and drinkable. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 21:21:26 | More by drpimento

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Poured into a tulip glass, a dark coppery brown, hazy and almost muddy, with a foamy beige head that receded to a ringlet, leaving a bit of soapy lace on the glass. Subdued aroma, sweet malts, honey, grassy hops, and some dried fruits. Taste was very nice: toasted malts, honey and caramel, prunes, dried cherries, and mild, grassy hops and hay. Medium body, kind of bitter, but in a good way, and nicely drinkable overall.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2011 01:24:31 | More by Rifugium

51mmz0rz

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a St. Bernardus glass.

A: Cloudy dark brown body with a slight off white head, which fades quickly.

S: Tremendously fruity, filled with yeast derived goodness. Slightly boozy, with a dark caramel malt sweetness in the nose.

T: Delicious and maybe overly sweet up front, but surprisingly a delayed bitterness helps clean up the sweetness. A dark malt flavor on the finish puts this one just over the top.

M: Mouthfeel is very thick, but somehow not cloying.

O: Overall a very good Belgian dark. Not the best I've had overall, but the addition of some dark malt gives it a more unique flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 03:28:57 | More by 51mmz0rz

merc7186

New York

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this served to me in a 12oz glass from on tap.

The beer has a nice reddish brown tint to it, decent carbonation, and a very nice lacing to the glass. The smell is very mild, somewhat fruity and malty. The taste was decent with a nice blend of mild fruit notes, a good maltiness and a little sweet on the back end, a good combination. The mouthfeel leaves with a great malty taste, somewhat fruity and a little dry. Overall, a good beer to have, has a nice combination of malt and fruit to it. I would seek this out in bottle and sit on for several years to see how complex it gets.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 00:22:13 | More by merc7186