Malheur Brut Noir (Black Chocolate) - Brouwerij De Landtsheer NV

eric5bellies

Australia

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Drank from my St Bernardus Chalice

A - Pours a deep Mahogany colour with a two fingered off white head that reatins well and laces the glass.

S - Plenty of fig, burnt sugar, dark fruit malts. Big aromas

T - Up front some nice chocolatey malts, unlike the aroma. Bits of aniseed, caramel and stewed cherries complement the exquisite flavour. The finish is long and a tiny bit warming.

M - Medium to full body with full carbonation.

O - This beer is exquisite full stop, and is the only dark version of this style that I know of. The benchmark it sets and difficult to beat.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 15:30:44 | More by eric5bellies

impending

California

4.43/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A

750ml rested a year into a tulip. Pours a deep walnut cola, dark garnet when back lit, dense tan head, nice lacing.

The aroma is delicious. Heavy with dark fruits that have softened, a crate would have an ooze escaping the bottom. Significant grape bubblegum, chocolate and vanilla. A classic dense heavy bsda. wonderful

Flavor is strong, intense, exactly what the nose promised. Dark fruits now with a bitter sweet. Long lasting dark chocolate minor bitter aftertaste, lingers leisurely. A phenolic overtone stays in the background. Vanilla dark cherries. The alcohol, while obvious, compliments as a flavor ingredient. While the mouthfeel is lively it doesn't seem to be atypically carbonated.
warms wonderfully
quadish
delicious
Malheur is in command of their art
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 03:24:53 | More by impending

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by Thorpe429. Thanks Mike!

Served side by side with Malheur Bière Brut (Brut Reserve).

The beer is chestnut brown colored with a fizzy, beige head that leaves sparse lacing on the glass. The aroma is sweet, yeasty, fruity. The flavor is pretty tasty, with prominent yeast and spice notes. Earthy with some alcoholic warmth in the finish. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Overall, I enjoyed this. Good for splitting several ways at a tasting.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 22:53:12 | More by Huhzubendah

drabmuh

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Basically a side by side with the other one, thanks Mike. Beer is black with a tan off white head of small bublbes, lower retention, aggressive carbonation, some lacing, looks fine.

Aroma is sweet, estery, very yeasty, a little more spicy than the blonde version.

Beer is light in body and a little earthy / spicy on the palate, the yeast comes through nicely as well. Ultimately I didn't like this one as much as the blonde, if I were to have one again it would be the other Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut, a nice tasting though.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 17:42:05 | More by drabmuh

mdfb79

New York

3.48/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From 03/03/12 notes. Bottle shared by Thorep420, right after the normal Brut Reserve; thanks Mike. Poured into a tulip.

a - Pours a dark mahogany brown color with one finger of fluffy off white head and moderate carbonation evident. Not as carbonated as the normal version.

s - Smells of very light dark fruits, spices, and light roasted malts. Not bad but a bit bland/faint. Pretty average.

t - Tastes of dark fruits, roasted malts, spices, Belgian yeast, and some earthy notes. Stronger then the nose and more going on, a definite step up.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. A bit heavier then the normal Brut Reserve.

o - Overall a decent beer but the normal Brut Reserve was much better. This is a bit blander in the nose and a bit heavier for the same ABV. Probably wouldn't seek it out again and would choose the Brut Reserve over this one for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 21:02:12 | More by mdfb79

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from Whole Foods P Street in DC. Served in a SAVOR wine glass. Compared next to the regular Brut.

Pours a fairly-dark brown color with a thin off-white/light tan head and not too much retention or lacing. The nose carries a bit of dark fruit and a touch of roasted malt. Nice, but not too much going on.

The flavor follows a similar pattern; there really isn't too much going on, but it's well made and the fruit character is nice. Light-medium body with moderate carbonation and a semi-dry finish. Pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 01:46:55 | More by Thorpe429

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 750 ml bottle into Malheur chalice-like tulip. Dark tudor brown in color. Approaching black. Off-white head. Medium retention. The head had some unique champagne like activity happening I assume related to the high carbonation causing a percolation. Aroma seems sweet. Malty. Actually is smells exactly like milk duds. Taste is sweet, also milk duddy. Not as champagne like as expected. High carbonation and tongue cleaning but lower than expected for brut. Not a brut guy but this is actually pretty freaking awesome. 

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 00:53:17 | More by KickbacksSteve

BobZ

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

25.4oz. Bottle poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Dark brown with a nice tan 1/2” head.

Smell: Dark fruit and hints of sweetness.

Taste: Basically a more effervescent version of an excellent Belgian quad. All of the rich quad flavors are present, the dark fruit and the Belgian candy sugar especially. The champagne finish introduces some very light citrus flavor too. The flavors still do develop nicely even though they do not linger on the palate very long do the crisp finish generated by the champagne yeast. The alcohol is completely masked.

Mouthfeel: Light and crisp on the palate, smooth and packed with flavor.

Overall: Very good beer, only the high price ($36) is negative. Would definitely buy it again for a special occasion.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 17:55:58 | More by BobZ

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Loud bang on the cork. Large tannish head. Retains in a nice pillowy island of head.

Smell is some sourish malt. Not great.

Impressive taste- crisp, sweetish malt. Malt champagne, I guess.

Bright and sparkly.

Different take on a biere champagne and definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 04:34:59 | More by zaphodchak

hoser

Alberta (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Apparently this bottle is two years past it prime January, First, Two Thousand and Nine. Forgot about this baby and should have chocolate on hand as this is supposed to best beer in the world to have chocolate with. Seems like a big boozy quad with out the depth of the great quadruples. Enjoyable will have to revisit this beer when I come across it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 02:09:34 | More by hoser

smakawhat

Maryland

4.47/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a flute, and then also a wine goblet.

In the flute lots of carbonation with a real foamy solid light tan head, lots of retention, almost whipped up topping. Body is a dark brown with red hues.

Nose is a mix of soda like spritzy orange Italian soda, but a huge malt rush and Belgian candi sweetness. There is even some good dark fruit behind this such as fig. Dry and arid.

Taste is crisp, malty, with some chewy fruit, but also a real nice distinct tangy juicy citrus like a kumquat. Dark fruits seemed to be buried from the nose on the palate and not showing up. but there is a nice malt chew to this also. This to me is almost the perfect Dubbel taking away all the powdery, and heavy dark fruit goodness that I don't normally care for.

Overall I think I prefer the Blonde version, but this is a neat mix and real impressive sense of flavors, smells and textures for a beer. Real nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 19:48:42 | More by smakawhat

Mar02x

Netherlands

4.83/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I bought this bottle at the Hopduvel Belgium. It's my first champagne beer and I shared with my wife because she wanted to drink something special.

A - A very dark red brown beer with a very nice beige head. The withdrawal of the foam is slow, beautiful to watch. There is a reasonable layer of foam remaining, nearly a finger thick.

S - An inviting aroma of champagne yeast comes towards you as are the scents of pear and apple.

T - What a great taste, sweet and very slightly bitter. They love each other and are nicely balanced resulting in a nice cool beer. A little nutty and fruity like pear, apple. Not really bitter but it fits very nicely with this type of beer. I think because of the yeast type they used. But where did they hide the alcohol? Absolutely brilliantly done!

M - Much carbonation but what a rich flavor! At the end there will be some alcohol heat, but not enough to believe in a 12% ABV beer.

O - A beautiful and quite complex beer with great taste and very drinkable. The 750ml bottle was empty in no time. Even my wife drank it and she doesn't like beer.
A beer you should buy and try. I am going to have this beer standard in my stock.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 07:05:38 | More by Mar02x

Naugros

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The cork let off a nice pop, the gasses cleared and the foam rose to the mouth with a tan tinge to it. This beer was active so I poured carefully and was happy I did so as the head to the top of the thin tulip glass almost immediately. I had barely poured a third of the glass. The beige head stood proudly atop a brown beer with active carbonation and copper highlights at the edges. As the head collapsed awkwardly, I poured in more beer and was rewarded with a stable head about an inch thick. It looked as if it were there to stay as it trailed lace all the way down the glass as I drank.

It looked really nice and smelled really nice too. I sucked in some nice sour, fruity notes riding along with that smell you get from champagne yeast. I've heard some of these use actual champagne yest while others use Brettanomyces. I thought that this must be the former. Dark fruits rose up with each inhale and a sense of raspberries or cherries. I worked hard to find the malts in the nose, but they emerged eventually as cracked, lightly roasted grains.

I was surprised that the alcohol dominated the taste, but quickly found some dark, dry fruit, like unsweetened prunes. Bitterness was the next impression that I got as I tasted for the malts. They seemed roastier than in the nose and bitter chocolate wouldn't be out the question in describing them. There seemed to be a touch of phenols lending acrid spice notes and I couldn't discern any hop signatures, no matter how hard I tried.

The heat of the booze almost masked a light dusting of minerals within the mouth and the fleeting stickiness on the lips. The carbonation was active but not excessive. The body was pretty light and I had to admit that it did seem like a mix of champagne and beer. It was different and could take some getting used to, but I was liking this first venture into one of the newest Belgian styles.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 01:13:09 | More by Naugros

kojevergas

California

3.75/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

.75cl bottle poured into stemware goblet in Gent, Belgium, at me dear friend's gaff.

A: Three fingers of lovely cream, good thickness, and excellent retention for the ABV. Dark ruby colour. Very appealing.

Sm: Chocolate, toffee, some nuts.

T: Chocolate, crystal hops, carbonation but not too much. Very complex. Toffee. Well layered and very well balanced. Some fringe nuts. Wonderful. Some vanilla. Well hopped.

Mf: Just coarse enough to bring out the flavours, and quite wet. Complements the flavours of the body.

Dr: Pairs well with chocolate. Very drinkable. Conceals its ABV quite well. I don't know the price point as it was a gift from a friend, but I suspect it's quite expensive.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 16:26:47 | More by kojevergas

stephens101

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Wisps of carbonation smoke float out of the bottle after a big pop of the cork. Pours a hazy brown and topped with a smallish, but lingering tan head. No lace to speak of on the first glass, but jagged fingers of lace existed upon a second pour.*

Subtle but complex aromas of dark chocolate, ripe cherries, sour fruits, currants, figs, beer bread and burnt sugar. Taste is not as complex as the smell, and almost underwhelming with more dark chocolate notes, unripened dark fruits (plums, grapes) grain and yeast.

Creamy and medium to heavy mouth-feel initially, but becomes a bit thinner, with a pseudo-champagne-like feel after a while. Alcohol heat is amazingly subtle and not even noticeable until the very end.

Not for sure this one completely works for me, but glad I tried it either way.

* It is also important to note that the froth in the bottle had actually overflowed, spilled out a little in the fridge, and left a semi-hard, honeycomb like nice-sized chunk of lace around the rim while I was drinking my first glass.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2011 19:13:41 | More by stephens101

JAXSON

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2009 rate.

Bottle opens with a huge, resounding POP! I love the "mushroom" corks they use on these. Westy 12 like in appearance, thin, creamy, cobwebby head, and a darkbrown with reddish edges. I'm immediately comparing this to some great Belgian quadruppels, specifically Rochefort 10, Westy 12, maybe St. Bernardus 12. It has the kind of blueberry-like element of the Rochefort, the beautiful malt and dark fruits of all three. The feel is a touch thin. Not boozy, very lively, spritzy, deep, and elegant. Extremely underrated given the huge appeal this should have for anyone who likes the big belgian quads.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 02:13:52 | More by JAXSON

largadeer

California

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear dark burgundy topped by a small quarter inch head that retains solidly. Dark fruits are dominant on the nose. Raisins, currants, anise, dark candi sugar. A bit herbal too, bringing to mind sage. Champagne like on the palate, highly carbonated with dark fruit and caramelized malt flavors. Figs, raisins, black licorice, a light herbal bite in the finish. Finishes dry, tannic, lightly roasted. Light bodied, fairly drinkable for what it is. Pretty nice stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 06:00:26 | More by largadeer

metter98

New York

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is cloudy dark brown in color and poured with a thin beige head that faded away and left lacy patterns of bubbles.
S: There are moderate aromas of malty sweetness and notes of chocolate in the nose.
T: The taste has lots of malty sweetness and chocolaty flavors as well as some hints of dark fruits.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and a bit creamy with a very high amount of carbonation. There is some warming from the alcohol in the finish.
D: The high amount of carbonation seems to hide some of the alcohol content, making this beer a bit easier to drink.

Note: Reserve 2003

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 05:07:52 | More by metter98

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An absolute stellar beer! All of the complexities of Belgian Dark Strongs with a touch of sour up front and a sweeter/powdered sugar ending.

The pour brings a deep mohogany and lavender-ish pour. Somewhat rusty in it's hazy appearance, the ale has an effervescent appearance and lead to a billowing light tan head, great retainage, and lacing. Beers just don't have a much better appearance.

Tart aromas of ripe berries, cherries, and grapes fill the nose with a estery/spicy mix. Light pepper and zesty tropical fruit rinds give a balance to the fruity-sweet nose. Sweetened with a hint of honey and we have a powerfully aromatic beer with more delicate scents here and there.

Flavors are the most remakable aspect of the beer. An early tart flavor of cherries, under-rippened berries, and red grapes give an almost wine-like flavor to the beer. But the tartness and vinous character slowly fades into a cotton candy/powdered sugar/confecionate sweetness that is both appetizing and fullfilling. Low in hops, the beer achieves balance in its shear complexity in flavor and mild spicy phenolic character.

Where richness and weight could be expected, this Dark Ale's effervescent lifts off of the palate to bring life and airiness to the beer drinking experience. As the carbonation fades, the cotton candy aspect makes the beer evaporate in the mouth with a confectionate sweet but lightness that is magical. The brunt of alcohol warmth is not worth mentioning- the beer is effortless to drink.

This beer should be an opidome of the style- it's effortless nature at such complexity is astounding. The balance is formitably malty-sweet yet complex. Simply a joy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 05:13:37 | More by BEERchitect

armock

New York

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured a hazy brown color with a big tan head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of some sweet malt with dark fruits

T - Starts off with some sweet caramel malt then the dark fruit flavors come through

M - This beer has a medium body with high carbonation to it

D - This is one of those beers to have to celebrate a bachelor party with on a yacht but protect your flat screen from lamps after your wife finds out how much you paid for the bottle but seriously its a good beer thats worth picking up for new years or something

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2010 17:02:22 | More by armock

crossovert

Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

750ml corked, caged, and foiled bottle.

The cork exits with a huge pop. It pours into the champagne flute a deep reddish brown with a creamy tan head that absolutely does not recede.

It has a light champagne scent over some coca and a basic Belgian dark ale scent.

It is decadent. It has a nice alcohol bite and some roastiness. The main flavor is dark chocolate with some ripe dark fruits. It is sweet but not overly.

It is velvety smooth, the mouthfeel is utterly perfect.

An amazing unique experience, try it.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2010 02:39:15 | More by crossovert

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle says bbe 30 June 08. In any event, good beer. Bottle gave a good pop to the cork. Poured with a nice tan head which quickly subsided and a tiny bit of lace. Color is a hazy amber brown. Aroma is malty, yeasty, vineous. Flavor is typical dark Belgian and like aroma. Body seems a bit thin but high carbonation makes up for it. Boozy finish and fairly short.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2010 00:50:33 | More by drpimento

zoolzoo

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Cracked this on a good friend's birthday..

This is my first "Bière de Champagne / Bière Brut"

We almost nailed someone with the cork when it popped. Champagne anyone? Not a gusher though.

Gave this a pour, my glass was rapidly engulfed in a huge off white head. What lurked underneath was murky and brown...sort of dark chocolate in color.

The aroma is sweet and malty - faint chocolate. I can pick up some booze and an earthiness - sort of like faded hops.

The taste and mouthfeel took me by surprise. Here we have a light and prickly mouthfeel, contrasted heavily by dark fruits, molasses, spice, and faint chocolate. Im getting bitterness but I cant detect and hop presence. The consistency is definitely akin to champagne, which makes this an interesting drink.

I wouldn't call this hot but the 12% is warming, another contrast to the light body of this brew.

This brew is interesting and fun. Everyone at the party wanted to try it after seeing a strange brown liquid spew out of an unassuming "champagne bottle". Some of them loved it, some of them... didn't. For me - generally enjoyable, easy to drink, a bit pricey.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2010 13:14:53 | More by zoolzoo

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Was feeling a bit extravagant at Max's today, during 72 hours of Belgium.

The beer pours an attractive cola color, with pretty good head retention and lacing. On the nose I get an attractive blend of chocolate and brown sugar, with some interesting underlying spice and yeastiness. Very definitely there's something of a champagne aroma in this well crafted beer. On the palate, this beer is just flat out delicious. Along with the expected brown sugar and chocolate, I get some dark fruits and spice. This beer has some moderate sweetness, but the spice in this beer counters it very nicely, leading to a fairly dry finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full, and I got something of a creamy mouthfeel after the beer warmed a bit. Alcohol is very well disguised, which is a concern given how easy drinking and delicious this beer is (and given the 12% abv.).

This is yet another very fine beer from this impressive brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2010 23:26:45 | More by johnmichaelsen

ThirstyBird

Germany

4.3/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Dav05Gua for this birthday bottle!!
Appears super dark brown with a tan head that fall s to a skim that lasts. Some lacing.
Smells of dark fruit big time, plum, raisin, dark malt. Big nose
Taste follows the nose with some caramel. Nice dry/sweet finish.
Mouthfeel is crisp carbonation. Medium/full in body.
This is a wonderful rich, fruity sipper.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2010 16:37:14 | More by ThirstyBird