Bière Du Boucanier Dark - Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.

AccidentalKate

Washington

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: A dark red-ish brown. Sort of a dark iron-rust color. Immediate head that dissapated into nothing.

Smell: Sweet and buttery. Lots of deep sugar here. Very little grain or hops apparent. Too sweet of a aroma for what is delivered.

Taste: Deep rich taste, with a burst of hops at first, then gives way to a near molasses type of sweetness. Long finish, but light. A bit too light really. For a beer that wants to make itself known a minute or two after the drink, there should be more to go on. Good overall, not great. Lots of potential here, which makes them falling short all the more disappointing.

Mouthfeel: Light and playful, but gives up its liveliness way too quickly. This is the weakest part of the beer.

Drinkability: I like this beer, all evidence above to the contrary. But part of me thinks it could have...no, should have...been so much more.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2009 01:00:26 | More by AccidentalKate

Stugotzo

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

05-07-2013 21:41:01 | More by Stugotzo

harpus

Alabama

4/5  rDev +5%

03-18-2013 19:45:50 | More by harpus

shick1

Ohio

5/5  rDev +31.2%

03-11-2013 16:01:05 | More by shick1

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Single bottle from the Boucanier mixed pack, served at slightly cooler than room temperature.

Poured into a Chimay goblet. Dark hazy Chestnut ruby, decent cap of typical Belgian spotted foam. Some lacing.

Nose is mild plum, raisins, typical Belgian phenols and yeast. Not exactly impressive, but decent.

Decent tasting dark ale, with some nice plum and spice notes. I can't say I was blown away by this brew, however, as the flavor lacked any real depth. Finishes dry, a bit of phenol/medicinal flavours.

Carbonation is somewhat higher than usual, but decent feel.

Not bad, might benefit from some aging. Not as enjoyable as the Red, but enjoyable to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 23:02:29 | More by JohnnyBarman

Vyronian

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +24.7%

12-13-2012 13:30:32 | More by Vyronian

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

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

Appearance: It has a nice dark copper/amber color to it. It has a nice thick beige head that dies down moderately slow and leaves some lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of dark fruit (raisins, cherries), sweet malts, Belgian yeast and some breadiness.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a some sweet dark fruit, sweet malts, a touch of yeast, some breadiness and a slight hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: It has a med/high carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 21:11:19 | More by SebD

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

1/5  rDev -73.8%

11-11-2012 00:19:32 | More by cfalovo97

bigox420

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

11-10-2012 01:39:33 | More by bigox420

500MLperWeek

3/5  rDev -21.3%

11-09-2012 01:51:53 | More by 500MLperWeek

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a cloudy dark orange amber with a fine very light tan head with good retention and massive lacing. Aroma of dark sweet malt, molasses, dark dried fruit, Belgian spicing. Flavor starts with dark fruit, brown sugar, Belgian yeast and sweet malt, developing more estery fruit flavors then finishing slightly dryer with lightly sour fruit flavors. Very nice flavor progression and modestly complex. Body is light to medium, but pleasant carbonation keeps it interesting. Quite sweet, like a lot of van Steenberge beers, but has plenty of flavor to keep the balance. I really enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 02:30:44 | More by LiquidAmber

TrickkyGangsta

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

09-26-2012 20:49:23 | More by TrickkyGangsta

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from tap into a Trappe Door tulip. Poured a deep ruby red brown with a two finger off-white head that subsided to a half finger slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, banana, spices, dark fruit, and bread. The flavor was of sweet malt, dark fruit, banana, fruit, bread, and alcohol. It had a light feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. There were a lot of things going on in this one that I enjoy about this style. This made it easy to drink despite the kick of alcohol going on. This was very welcoming as if the alcohol on this one would not have had a balance I could have found it to be a complete flop. I just wish that the aroma would have been a little more robust upon inspection. Worth trying if you see it on tap in your area.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2012 11:55:04 | More by thagr81us

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste Pub & Cafe in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a murky dark brown with a foamy dark 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, grain, dark fruit, brown sugar, and spices. Taste is much the same with a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a solid set of aromas and flavors that make it tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 01:09:55 | More by UCLABrewN84

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Biere du Boucanier Dark

Appearance : Poured from a cool looking white stubby bottle with a label depicting a pirate at night . The beer pours a dark brown with no sediment and with decent clarity. Off white head forms, lasting the duration.

Smell: The nose suggests figs and brandy, heavily malty, sweet smelling and inviting all in all. As it warms, caramels and floral notes come out.

Taste: Strong presence of estery Belgian yeast with dark fruit notes of plum, date and raisin. There are some leafy, herbal noble hop notes with a balancing bitterness. Really highlights the yeast with the sugary over ripe dark fruit notes. The finish is malty sweet with alcohol making a small presence.

Mouthfeel: full bodied, rich and flavorful. Carbonation is spot on at a medium high level and the finish is strong and quite drying. Every sip beckons for another.

Overall: Another fine offering from one of the world's greatest breweries. Great flavor, feel and overall drinking experience. Finding a few of these in the fridge would be like discovering buried treasure. Would pair excellent with mild fruited cheeses.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 17:33:19 | More by Stinkypuss

BeerDocT

Georgia

4.68/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a chilled tulip glass. The last of my Du Boucaniers. Tot kijk, maties.

-Appearance 4.5: Poured out a bea-u-tiful opaque mahogany. Creamy head frothed up to a half-inch and stayed there the entire session. Striking looking beer.

-Smell 4.5: Oh, yeah. More of that lovely spicy Belgian yeast, but this brew also has a refined wood resin bouquet. I'm also smelling deep, dark caramel sugars and lightly toasted grains.

-Taste 5.0: Front is an amazing hit of many different flavors: caramel, grains, light maple syrup. Middle is slightly sour and lightly sweet. Finish is a swirl of the darkest sugar, spicy yeast, toasted grains and more of that pleasant tartness. Finish is short and the pleasant sourness returns, with a taste reminiscent of the finest champagne. Everything is light, balanced and perfectly executed. Excellent.

-Mouthfeel 4.0: Well above average. I was afraid that the carbonation in this beer would detract from my enjoyment, but that was not the case. Excellent balance.

-Overall 4.5: Excellent dark Belgian ale, and the best of the Boucanier bunch. This beer claims to be 9% ABV, but this is completely undetectable. I would recommend this beer to anyone wanting to get into Belgian ales as a "Gateway Beer." Just fantastic and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 04:15:42 | More by BeerDocT

gk4984

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%

06-09-2012 02:23:29 | More by gk4984

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%

04-22-2012 01:22:24 | More by liamt07

guillemiro

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%

04-18-2012 23:46:24 | More by guillemiro

leinie13

Ohio

3/5  rDev -21.3%

04-14-2012 00:48:40 | More by leinie13

Paincane

Georgia

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

A: Mahogany and opaque with yeast sediment in the body when poured into tulip glass. It has a persistent thick khaki creamy head that lingers forever and leaves moderate lace.
S: Dark fruits, figs, caramel, bread, and sweet malt aromas all strike the nose with equal intensity.
T: Flavors are a wonderful blend of the aromas along with a yeasty presence and slight booziness that intensifies as it warms.
M: Medium body with excellent carbonation.
O: Most enjoyable dark ale that is worth having again. Ahoy!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 02:20:53 | More by Paincane

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

03-16-2012 01:49:52 | More by JeffreyJDavis

oberon

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Sessions in Greensboro.Poured into a goblet a hazed russett color with a blooming off white head atop.Aromas of spiced cake and brown sugar stand out most with underlying funk wich doesn't play a big role but is there.Somewhat boozy and sweet on the palate with Belgian yeasty spiciness,again it has that spiced cake element to it,not overly complex.I have had worse of the style but this isnt one of the top end of the style for me either.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2012 17:26:14 | More by oberon

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

02-15-2012 20:17:46 | More by JAHMUR

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%

02-07-2012 12:00:24 | More by beerhunter13