Leffe Vieille Cuvée - Abbaye de Leffe S.A.

AlexLMS

Portugal

4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: bright, ruby colour. Very clear. The head is creamy, medium tan and quite substantial. It may persist for a long time but presents nice lacings.
Aroma: sweet malts, caramel, spices and alcoholic vinous.
Taste: again sweet malts, port wine, caramel, herbal hops and spices.
Mouthfeel: silky and creamy, average carbonation, high but reasonably disguised alcoholic strength and a full body.
Finish: starts with a sweet alcohol feeling that turns rapidly to more bitter nice long lasting aftertaste.

Overall: I think Vieille Cuvée is the best Leffe in the market. It is very well balanced, the bitter aftertaste is delightful and it is quite spiced. A must have.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2009 13:03:59 | More by AlexLMS

pin

Australia

3/5  rDev -20.2%

05-21-2013 18:05:01 | More by pin

Sunnanek

Sweden

4/5  rDev +6.4%

04-19-2013 18:14:57 | More by Sunnanek

Poupae

Thailand

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

03-24-2013 14:11:43 | More by Poupae

ForcaLodi

Italy

3.59/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

In the glass produces a creamy, persistent and fine foamy with light brown color. The color is a deep amber, is possible detects reddish mahogany reflections. The aroma has intense: notes of cereal and dried fruit, but you can also feel yeast and ethereal smeel. In the mouth is immediately alcoholic (8.2%) and immediately feel the sensation is like being wrapped in a warm blanket) that is readily balanced fruity taste. The mouth is invaded by ripe red fruit, raisins and caramel liqueur. The finish is very long with a bitter not annoying. Although no longer produced and if they can find the best, the experience that you try drinking the "Vielle Cuvee" is overwhelmingly positive.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 12:56:15 | More by ForcaLodi

BILF

Israel

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

01-14-2013 18:17:47 | More by BILF

PCfirefox

4/5  rDev +6.4%

11-19-2012 14:20:37 | More by PCfirefox

doktorhops

Australia

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

Abbaye de Leffe will always be in my thoughts as being the first Belgian Abbey beer I ever tried, in Europe 2001, before my taste buds were attuned to anything other than Guinness or Corona (my two favourite beers at the time). I remember trying the Brune and thinking "This is disgustingly overpowering my senses", now I practically snort Quadrupels like they were sherbet powder... not really but you get the point.

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a St Feuillien chalice.

A: Deep burgundy clear body with a minimal white lacing for a head.

S: Heavy candi sugar on the nose. Hint of dark fruit aromas mix with medicinal Phenols, bit of a apricot/plum preserve over the top with a hint of Belgian yeast, and a malt base is hiding in there somewhere, but who knows where?

T: Sweet like "the sugar is hiding the alcohol" type of sweetness, cloys a little. Profile is the sort of thing you would expect grandma to hide in jars to make a delicious jam with; plum, apricot, and medicinal cherry flavours abound... along with things you wouldn't expect grandma to hide in jars to make a delicious jam with; a mild malt base, some yeast, and light herbal hops. Overall the flavour is a mess. It's too driven by saccharine to be enjoyable, and this is coming from someone who loves sugary treats.

M: Mouthfeel ticks the Belgian Strong Dark Ale boxes - mid to heavy, slight oily body with a mid to light carbonation.

D: Maybe one could grow to love this brew? Perhaps it is an acquired taste? What was Leffe thinking? All valid questions. The only answers can come from you (except the last one, that has to come from Leffe). In any case this beer has none of the awesomeness of Gulden Draak, and once again I'm wondering why I bought a Leffe to review, my younger 2001 self was right in thinking "This is disgustingly overpowering my senses"... only not in a good way like a Belgian Strong Ale should.

Food match: Pour this beer into a jar, add pectin. and wait for it to become a delicious jam as grandma always wanted... then bake some scones and whip some cream.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 10:50:35 | More by doktorhops

TeamUgly

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

11-05-2012 11:23:47 | More by TeamUgly

bladdamasta

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

07-16-2012 10:50:20 | More by bladdamasta

SmashPants

Australia

4.65/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: a traditional, classically-styled label. Nice as an entire package - has me looking forward to the beer inside.

Appearance: Deep reddish-brown colour with ruby highlights. Two-finger dark tan, think head. Great retention, and wonderful lacing. Such a nice proposition!

Aroma: Rich dark fruits and spices, very full and hearty. No hint of the 8.2% ABV, very nicely rounded.

Taste: spices (mainly cloves) and herbal hops. Warming alcohol as well, with a decent amount of wheat and dark fruits - plums and light raspberries.

Aftertaste: the spices longer nicely, but become a touch cloying after a while.

Mouthfeel: not over the top - minimal carbonation per the style - goes down nicely.

Overall: I'm such a big fan of the Leffe ales - well presented, brilliant flavours and sessional beauties. Only problem is the price - it's worth it, but for a peasant like myself, only for an occasional treat :)

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 01:30:08 | More by SmashPants

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle at Beer Deluxe. From notes.

A - Poured ruby with decent carbonation. Bright. One finger of off white head. Spotty lace and a half finger of retention.

S - Sugared plums, dark fruit, very sweet, sweet dark fruit.

T - Sugar, dark fruit. One dimensional but nice.

M - Good carbonation, full body and a sweet finish.

O/D - OK. Pretty straight forward but not too shabby. Could use more complexity.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 03:50:48 | More by tbeckett

ThirstyTorpy

Malta

4/5  rDev +6.4%

03-03-2012 23:00:58 | More by ThirstyTorpy

likeemdark

California

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

01-27-2012 13:55:40 | More by likeemdark

sd123

California

4/5  rDev +6.4%

01-17-2012 07:55:21 | More by sd123

educorgan

Portugal

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

12-27-2011 01:55:28 | More by educorgan

sprucetip

Alaska

4/5  rDev +6.4%

12-19-2011 10:33:57 | More by sprucetip

fugitive

Greece

3.7/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Bottle 330ml. Color deep dark red with medium lasting white head. Aroma malt, sweet, cherries, plum, spicy, alcohol. Taste sweet, malt, alcohol, cherries, plum, orange, sugar, some bitterness. Very lasting taste. I must say that is my favorite Leffe.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 00:49:15 | More by fugitive

bpfrush

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -20.2%

11-16-2011 03:26:26 | More by bpfrush

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours copper with a small fading head.
Nose shows doughy yeast, spicy phenols, sultanas and rich golden syrup. somewhat faint though.
Sweet flavours, more sultanas and brown sugar, not much else though. Very moreish however.
Carbonation is suitably high.
Leffe's most impressive?

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 23:21:20 | More by CrazyDavros

Faune

New York

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Extremely dark amber, a nice two finger head. Left a nice amount of lacing in the cup

S- malt, roasted tones, sweetness and fruit.

T- Sweet at first and a nice dry finish. Maltyness, cloves, some spice, roasted notes, some fruit notes.

M- Smooth and creamy with a nice gentle amount of carbonation.

D- A darn good quaffer.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 20:28:55 | More by Faune

Cozzatoad

Italy

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle

A- Ruby brown, maybe a little darker than ruby. Head is big at first but it fades quickly still leaving a decent covering. Good locking but there's close to no lacing

S- Very sweet but good. Prunes are right there along with the sweetness from the malt. I also feel grapes and maybe some more dark fruits hints. Then there are some spicy alcoholic notes (esters?) to bring life

T- Not as sweet as the smell suggests. Of course there's sweetness from the malts but they also have some roasted underlined tones to bring balance. Then dark fruits as the smell suggested, with a spicy alcholic feel to bring some complexity

M- Not a big but still rich body with a lively alcoholic character. A bit too carbonated in my opinion, good on tongue but too fizzy and aggressive on the palate

D. A pleasant sweetness in a not overly complex drink. But of course there that common flaw with Leffe beers (alcohol is highly detectable while swallowing)

This is actually very similar to Leffe Radieuse (the Radieuse being a little better). I can't see the point with making two beers instead of one

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 15:34:02 | More by Cozzatoad

Everydayoff

Thailand

3.78/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle poured into a Leffe chalice by freshness date.

A:
Clear ruby brown color, thick off-white head with average retention, it sinks into some perpetual foamy film covering atop while clinging patches of lace appear on the glass side sip by sip. Carbonation seems to be medium to high.

S:
Very interesting; cherries predominate along with other dark fruits in kind of plum and dark berries. There is also sugarcane poking to a nose.

T:
Scorched fruits pronounce fruitiness, sweetness and bitterness through the taste buds where dark malt lays as base. Caramel, molasses, phenol and some spice of alcohol come in late addition which also help to yield long lasting sweet finish together with ester from yeast.

M:
The body is medium to bold, rather rich in texture. The palate contacts with good crispness and fine carbonation, dry finish.

O:
Solid beer with robust fruity character, it would be a long kiss good night to have this before bed.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 09:18:25 | More by Everydayoff

anakar

Israel

3.78/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Nice, but just nice - Not fitting for such an expensive beer.

App - Dark gold, very small head (maybe I poured it wrong, but still). Lots of carb

Smell - Fruity, but not strong or very rich

Taste - Goes like the smell, trying to be luxorious, but coming very short

Mouthfeel - Just like any other leffe; Goes down smooth, a bit heavy

* Very important comment, I had it again after a couple of months aging, and it's much better.
So I redid the numbers, but I also must note that it does get luxorious if you give it a chance to age
And the ABV is higher

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 13:12:02 | More by anakar

laituegonflable

Australia

3.35/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a mediciney copper colour, quite metallic really. Head is generous, nice and fluffy, sinks slowly but leaves nice webs of lace. Clear body showing lots of light carbonation. Great head and lace; pretty decent overall.

Smell is very fruity, with apricot and plum edges, a hint of apple and that classic musty Belgian yeast overlain. Actually very jammy. Seems a bit saccharine, fruit-wise but otherwise nice.

Taste is a bit lacking really. Lots of fruity sweetness at first, with that apricot and deep rich plum but degenerates into weak sweetness late-mid after quite an earthy malt note mid-palate, with a touch of brown sugar. Feels a bit overly sweet, like it's a bit old and the non-malt characters are diminished. They're still there; just underplayed. Spice comes through on the back, quite piquant with a touch of tobacco and some spicy alcohol on the very back. Yeah, it's alright, just lacking and a bit oversweet in the critical places.

Mouthfeel is decent. Very full but a touch of carbonation texture - just a whisper, it just adds texture to an otherwise flat palate and it's thick enough to pad the tongue.

Not bad overall but I feel it could be better, could have been better, even, once, but it's not its former glorious self.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 05:07:02 | More by laituegonflable