Hertog Jan Grand Prestige - Arcense Stoombierbouwerij (Hertog Jan Brouwerij)

Arno

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Had this one after a Hertog Jan Karakter.
The similarities are quite clear. It has that same sweet caramel / brown sugar base with spices like clove, but all more subtle and more balanced. It's like a more aged Karakter somehow.

It has a higher ABV, although you don't get much of that. It's still easy to drink, although not as easy as Karakter. Also i'm unsure i like this more or not. People probably will call this one more balanced. It's not as sweet and less malts and yeast. This one comes with a mellow bitter hop kick to balance out the flavors better, but also making it somewhat more neutral.

Also a bit thicker. It's just the "sipping version" of Karakter. I like it, but it depends on the mood which one i prefer.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 20:33:28 | More by Arno

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My second bier at Café 't Arendsnest on 02OCT12 was the 2008 version of this, at €4.00 for a 0.25l glass.

It was a deep garnet/ruby color - lovely! It was clear, and had a 1/2" creamy layer of tan foam. The head lasted well and left nice lacing. Aroma was of dark fruit and some semi-sweetness. It was medium bodied and quite unoffensive on the tongue.

Flavor was fruity and leaned towards the dark side. Had some semi-sweetness but no tartness or sour notes. Had some cherry action and a bit of raisin/date stuff going on as well. A bit on the simplistic side but still quite refreshing. Prosit!!

4.03/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1515

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 17:55:29 | More by Bierman9

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.28/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

We pour a brew of the deepest root beer brown. It holds a medium brown head of fat bubbles that stands one and a half fingers high. Sticky bubble outlines are left as lacing all around the glass as it disappears at a medium pace. Carbonation is average, and no sediment is noted. The aroma opens with sweet candied figs and plums, light vanilla bean, and sweeter bubblegum esters. There is a balance of bitter citric peel, and some spiciness of the booze. The malt profile is equally as robust, with rich, deep caramels, and a hearty roast. Our first impression is that the flavoring is nice, but we wish it was a bit stronger. As we sip, light metals and paler malts start things of. There is brown sugar and caramel sweetness, with light banana esters and fresh citrus. The peak shows more coppery malts mixing with some deeper roasty flavors, and some faint, faint coffee malts. The finish is sweeter, with that brown sugar enhancing amongst a strong background of fusel alcohol. The esters make one final return, in the form of green banana freshness, for a cooling end. The aftertaste breathes predominantly of fusel booze, with some more copper, caramel, and citrus. The body is medium, and a bit syrupy due to all the residual sugars, while the carbonation is high, prickling the tongue. The mouth is left completely dried all down the tongue. Each sip gives nice slurp, cream, and smack. The abv is huge, and the beer drinks slower for this exact reason.

Overall, what we liked best about this beer was the complexity of the nose. There was nice fruit and clean esters, with an evenly solid background of caramel and roasty malts. The flavoring, however, fell short. After such a spicy, warming, and inviting nose, we were hoping for a more robust flavoring than what we were given. Additionally, the alcohol is hidden decently, but still rears its head at the end, which we can see as being a deterrent for some.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 20:45:51 | More by TheBrewo

Douberd

Netherlands

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle of 300 ml, poured into a tulip glass, at home.
Deep brown colour, with one finger beige head, of average retention (that may be because I had it in the fridge for quite some days). Once gone, light lacing forms around the glass, although the foam never disappears completely.
Aroma is of roasted malts, some caramel notes too.
Taste follows the smell, being sweet and of roasted malts too. Some bitterness in betwe and on the aftertaste.The gigh alcohol is very masterfully hidden.
On the body is full, with light carbonation.
Overall a great beer, cheap I would say and widely available.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 20:16:29 | More by Douberd

Flogiston

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice round taste, a bit sweet. Tough because of the 10% alcohol, but acceptable. No deposit in bottle, so if you buy it in a supermarket, don't worry if they shake to scan it. If cooled sufficiently, foam will not collapse as soon as pored. Easy accessible for first time drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 16:37:02 | More by Flogiston

sfprint

Germany

2.98/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Explosive on the pour. The whole cone gushed out. Soda like. Only when held up to the light is it dark red. Cant see the rising carbonation but I know it's there
S: Relatively intense, sweet but dark strawberries, fruit leather
T: Pretty intense. Tons of flavor, but in this case I'm not sure that's a good thing. Actually, it might be better if it was watered down. But given that, the alcohol isn't so apparent. Sort of like an intense dark strawberry beer. Hmm. Interesting for sure.
M: Both wet and drying.
O: Too intense. It has a cough syrup vibe, though tastes not much like cough syrup. I'm not in love.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 01:54:56 | More by sfprint

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pour is deep, deep brown with a tall beige compact, creamy head that slowly sets into rich lacings.

S: Dark dried fruits, sweet but also sour (like sour cherries). Sweet malt, spices and yeast. There's also some ripe bananas (from wheat) and oranges.

T: Sour and sweet; cherries and light roasted malts. Syrupy, dark dried fruits. Fresh oranges. Yeast and spices.

M: Long sour aftertaste, very dry. Body is full and carbonation mild.

O: A very interesting beer, the first from this brewery for me - Me like!!!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 17:25:47 | More by Sunnanek

Filosoof

Netherlands

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The smart thing about Hertog Jan beers is also mentionable in this beer: Hertog Jan wants to be bought by a big public and they have chosen to succeed by deleting elements that could frighten the regular drinker.

This is a real winter beer. Heavy, but very accesible.

L: dark brown, very good, nice lasting, thick top;
S: interesting, ripe banana, raspberry;
T: round, malts, caramel, maybe a bitbit too sweet, but with a nice tartness though,
M: could be feeling a bit stronger;
O: another very good beer of the only big Dutch brewery I like.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 12:17:08 | More by Filosoof

joannavandenhaag

Netherlands

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving type: bottle poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Opaque pecan brown with fluffy tan head which collapses after a couple minutes leaving a very thin lace cap. Not excessively carbonated.

Smell: Sweet boozy blackberry and sour cherry top notes on a cashew and pecan core with a spiced caramel vanilla finish. The alcohol scent is immediate.

Taste and mouthfeel: Crisp, fresh caramel sweetness followed by a complex spiced, peppery vanilla and a nicely balanced bitter and toasty malt finish. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and crinkly at start and finish with very sharp alcohol.

Drinkability: I like this beer quite well. Its complex flavours are very nicely balanced, but the high ABV cuts very quickly to your head through this sieve.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 21:12:36 | More by joannavandenhaag

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours an amber color with a tan head. The aroma is very nice. I get a lot of toffee and cherries, as well as some alcohol. The beer smells pretty sweet and fairly boozy, but still very nice. The flavor is almost exactly the same. There is a great toffee malt backbone that is complimented with a lot of dark fruit. I also get some grass notes in the flavor which meld very well with the dark fruit and toffee malt. The alcohol is also very present in the flavor, but the beer is still drinkable. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice Belgian Strong Ale. Would love to try this one again.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 06:07:32 | More by Mora2000

Dentist666

Russian Federation

3.8/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

0.5 l ceramic swing top bottle.
Pours clear dark brown/reddish beer with 2-finger amber head.
Aroma of caramel, nuts, strong alcohol and roasted malts. Sweet malty taste, caramel & spicy hints, warming alcohol. Very good for winter drinking. Carbonation is low.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2010 14:58:28 | More by Dentist666

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

yeasty concoction, no head. Alcohol in the nose and some of the taste. Average mouthfeel. Passable drinkable taste, but nothing complex or special, and alcohol is right there.Bottle from the Netherlands, Bierkoning. Malt more than anything, some bitterness to offset sweetness. A little flat.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 02:45:44 | More by northyorksammy

PapaEugene

Netherlands

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A Dutch classic.

A: Darkbrown/red color with a lightbrown head.

S: Roasted malts, caramel and dark fruits.

T: Roasted malts, roasted bread, caramel, dark fruits. Warming alcohol.

M: Medium carbonation and a pleasant full body.

D: Very good. Stocking this one for further taste improvement.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2009 20:15:03 | More by PapaEugene

ccrida

Oregon

3.8/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear dark amber with a tight tan head leaving very little lace.

Smell is sweet, metallic and phenolic, nutty, focused.

Taste is malty, sweet and smooth, with light phenols and dry finish

Mouthfeel is a bit sticky, pretty low carbonation, medium to medium-light body.

Drinkability is pretty good, a very nice quad I'd never heard before this visit to Amsterdam. Still, the sweet, dry maltiness is hard to drink too quickly.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2009 22:05:55 | More by ccrida

rvdoorn

Netherlands

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Westmalle glass. The beer pours a dark-brown-ruby color, with a thick light-brown head that lasted very short.

Smell: Mainly sweet candy, caramel, malts and quite some spicy (sharp) alcohol

Taste: Sweet-bitter overall. Mostly caramel, sweet malts, brown sugar, clear hints of dark fruits and a malty, sharp spicy alcoholic aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation, medium-bodied, smooth and sweet

Overall: Although the alcohol is quite present, it is not too disturbing. By far the best Hertog Jan brew. Last year I had a 1991 vintage, and that one was fantastic. So I can only recommend all BAs, keep this one in the cellar for some years!

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 21:22:57 | More by rvdoorn

RuudJH

Netherlands

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hertog Jan is a mainstream brewery, but over the years it has created several specialty brews.
This is the strongest they made so far. 'Maltwine', according to the label.

A: very dark red and brown. Holding it against the light, it shows very good carbonation. It has a thin head, light beige colour, but no real lacing.
S: First whiff from the bottle (in a secundairy tasting) is, like with so many other beers in this style group: banana.
Then caramel, roasted grains, a little bit of both fresh citrus and dark fruit, and slight alcohol. Not bad.
T: Bittersweet, with a spicy bite. This beer has a good hop taste to it. Very sweet by caramel too. The aftertaste is slightly funky though.
M: Decently smooth.
D: The alcohol in this beer is there, but it's not too offensive.

This Duke has it's own range of flavours. It's maybe not as complex as it could be, but it's very well balanced, and stays true to itself.
It's great for cooking.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2009 16:37:51 | More by RuudJH

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Got this at De Boni supermarket down the road. I know, the missus and I also call it The Boner.

Into a chalice.

Note: The bottle also calls this a barleywine and suggest aging it for an indefinate period of time. After having it, I imagine it would age pretty well.

APPEARANCE: A small off-white head quickly fades to a thin wisp. Colour is a dark sangria or burgundy red and is very clear. Some carbonation evident. A ring remains with a bit of wisp, but leaves minimal lacing. Average at best.

SMELL: Caramel malt, toffee, some wood notes and nuts in the background as well. Dark fruits, like raisins and grapes mostly, are more pronounced, however. A bit of brown sugar there as well. Mild in strength and relatively pleasant.

TASTE: A little weak on the initial taste, but the middle includes some caramel malt, sweet malt, and much more spiciness than the nose had suggested. Cloves are noticeable alongside some spicy Belgian yeast. A touch of hop bitterness at the end is a nice touch. The aftertaste is long lasting, spicy, and includes a bit of spicy alcohol as well, though it is well hidden. A nice profile, though needs to be more bold initially.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Creamy smooth, somewhat silky and velvety as well, goes down smooth with a bit of an alcohol scratch at the end. Finishes slightly sticky on the palate. Pretty good for the style.

OVERALL: Probably my favourite year-round offering from Hertog Jan. This brewery makes some good stuff, though nothing is out of this world. This one is the same, nothing amazing, but certainly a solid effort all around. If you get the chance and enjoy the style, you won't be disappointed with this. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2009 15:32:45 | More by Jeffo

redmagik99

California

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

picked this up in a supermarket in amsterdam last march, so its been in my cellar for about a year. dark brown, amber tint, small head. smells great - prominent brown sugar with some honey and dates or general dark fruit. definite brown sugar in the taste - very similar to some dubbels - with a bit of toffee and cherries. a touch of harsh fusels at the end. low carbonation + medium-light bodies = great drinkability. this beer reminds me of what I imagine a chimay red and blue blend would taste like, although a bit less refined considering the elevated perceivable booziness. Glad I aged it a year - I would be interested to taste it at 2 years. Solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2009 02:38:58 | More by redmagik99

Regenpak

Netherlands

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was lucky to have my local supermarket (Vomar) start selling sixpacks of this nice beer. The label on the (criminal - only 30 cl!) euro bottle has changed and is now black with a golden lower half. Version 2008, I guess.

This beer wants to be cold. When poured, only a thin head forms that quickly disappears, leaving a very dark brown/red color with no yeast. With its 10% alcohol it's a "zwaar" (heavy) beer or barley wine (gerstewijn), so the label proclaims. The alcohol isn't prominently present, though. It is sweet, with a pronounced chocolate and has low carbonation. A bitter aftertaste lingers for awhile.

All in all a pleasant beer for when the closest specialist liquor store is not within cycling distance.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2009 15:40:54 | More by Regenpak

lllarzzz

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Great appearance, with a subdued head and a dark, reddish-hue that bring about thought of sherry.

Wonderful smell of semi-sweet fruit with a woody edge. Full-bodied with strong hints of cherry and dark chocolate... giving a moderately complex taste with a great blend of sweet and bitter without conveying any spicy undertones.

Flavors are refined and consistent across the palate from start to end. The mouthfeel is very good... just enough bubbles to give a great texture without spoiling the mildly-creamy viscosity. The finish is quite easy and dry... exceptionally smooth and drinkable to have 10% ABV.

This is truly one of the best glasses of beer I've enjoyed in a long time... this is a must-try for anyone who can access a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2008 20:20:40 | More by lllarzzz

hawksfan82

Kansas

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

33cl bottle poured into a la trappe chalice.

Pours a very dark ruby color. Got about a finger head right away then the head goes away quickly. A ring remains throughout the session.

Smell is very sweet, almost sour at first. Get your nose in closer and you can pick up the 10% abv.

Taste isn't overly sweet at first. You get a little bit of the sour that you smell as well as some bitterness. The carbonation seems to be more noticeable in this brew than most dark belgians. The alcohol is a little warm at the end, but not as noticeable as the smell would lead you to believe. I personally like it like this. I always feel a little alcohol in the finish helps with the balance. Also, as this guy warms up, the sweetness (almost syrupy at times as it reaches room temperature) kicks in. Cherries and other berries are very evident....not all that sour, but definitely the smallest bit of a pucker to it. I like that.

Mouthfeel is where it loses points. When I'm drinking a big belgian like this, I like a nice smooth feel on the tongue. This guy has a little too much of a carbonated bite on the tongue for my taste. This keeps is from being a "very good beer" as opposed to a "good beer".

Drinkability though is rather high still,....for it being 10%. It's best to have a 750ml of this guy as it's fun to see it get sweeter and sweeter as it warms up. You don't get that much out of the standard 330ml bottle.

All in all a brew I still really enjoy. It's not completely up there with some of the big boys, but I would say it holds its own.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2008 23:46:55 | More by hawksfan82

Onslow

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on a 2 degree day at the Beiaard in wonderful Amsterdam..!

its like a dark park ruby brandy dynamite beer...strong and bold...raisins and brandy...complex and warming in cold amsterdam..nice smell..sweet smooth berries and port..

this stuff could age wonderfully!!

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2008 14:43:10 | More by Onslow

BarryNL

Netherlands

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a deep ruby/brown colour with a tight, long lasting head. The smell is malty with hints of leather. The taste is towards the sweeter end but well balanced by bitterness; flavours are malty sweetness with dark cherries and dark candi sugar. The beer is dangerously drinkable for its strength - the body being lightened by the use of sugar in the ingredients probably accounts for this.

Overall, this is a well balanced beer - described on the label as a gerstewijn (barley wine) rather than a Belgin strong dark ale. The alcohol is present and warming but sufficiently balanced by the flavour of the beer unlike some other examples of this style (e.g. Kasteel). Duke John has clearly produced a very well balanced (I just have to keep using that word) and tasty example of the style with this brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2007 20:17:22 | More by BarryNL

pons

New York

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I aquired this through my cousin who was in Utrecht for a few months and drank in during new years eve.

The color was a beautiful dark brown with some crimson hues, more transparent than I was expecting. A light, creamy head formed at the top of the snifter glass as it was poured in. A sight for sore eyes. The smell was sweet yet not too overpowering. Some fruitiness is definitely present, yet I felt it could have been slightly more aromatic for such a fine looking beer.

The taste was exquisite. Very sweet yet not overpowering, reminiscent of nice caramel and fruit. the sweetness somewhat overpowers familiar malt characteristics. the alcohol is felt only after about 3/4 of the way through a glass, which is a warming like others have said. The beer feels thick in the mouth, yet is smooth. after 1 1/2 glasses, the sweetness is so prominent nothing will diminish it. yet it is not overpowering! i enjoyed this with smoked salmon (a great compliment to the sweet maltiness in my opinion) and would love to try this again.

One of the best dark belgians i've had. seek and drink!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2007 21:01:19 | More by pons

dogfooddog

Panama

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this bottle from a trade with Absumaster in NL, thanks again for the first batch of dutch beers!

pours very dark copper/orange with a very small (3mm) light tan head. nose is very malty, a bit dry,slightly sweet, and a bit bready. overall very attractive on the nose, if my description doesn't convey that. Curiously, ingredients include E150c, which single malt scotch drinkers might recognize as an artificial colorant(?).

taste is sweeter than the nose, a bit dry, with some hint of a very dark sugary or sweet taste. This is quite distinct from a belgian brune or dubbel, and works quite well.

Overall a very pleasant beer. Until I scrolled up to make a comment on the alcohol I had assumed this was a 5-6% beer based on taste. I had absolutely NO idea this was a ten-percent ABV beer! You cannot tell at all.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2006 01:02:12 | More by dogfooddog