Malheur 12° - Brouwerij De Landtsheer NV

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Deep chocolatey brown. Head is somewhat tanned. Retention is decent, but pretty much no lacing.
S- Malty with fig and raien characteristics. Lightly spicy and just a bit of alcohol presence.
T- Taste is more pronounced. Definite fig character that is a really nice flavor. A bit of plum in there too. There is a bit of metallic character in the finish though that is undesirable.
M- More carbonated than most in style, and a bit lighter in body.
O- Merely an average quad. Decent but the metallic aftertaste and weak mouthfeel were subpar.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 03:08:52 | More by jsprain1

packetknife

Idaho

3.53/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I don't like the label, it looks rotted, but it really doesn't matter in reality. It pours deep reddish-brown with a foamy white head. The head bubbled down into a denser layer that held. It has an orange liquor smell on the nose. It has a strong bitterness across the tongue but leaves a slightly sweet aftertaste. It was thick in the mouth and I found it drinkable although you'll certainly feel it after a while. Curious to have it off of tap. I'll definatly revisit.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2003 10:18:32 | More by packetknife

phattysbox

New York

3.53/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

12 oz Bottle poured inot Duvel tulip glass. Pours a murky deep brown color with a nice thick tannish head. Head sticks around for a while and leaves a nice sticky ring of lace.

Initial smell was overpowering medicinal / alcohol smell. Initially poured very cold and the alcohol was very evident - to the point of being unattractive. Allowed the brew to warm to room temp and alcohol subsides a bit - but not too much. Found nice figgy sweetness and malts in the nose, some caramel too.

Taste was again harsh initially due to the spicy alcohol, which sterilizes my palate to any complexity this brew might have. I battled with this brew in the beginning but in the end we came to a truce and I really began to enjoy it. Sweet caramel and toffee notes when it warms. Figs and ripe fruit come to mind. The last 5 sips were absolutely fantastic, more complex than a Roc 10 at the same stage. Meduim bodied and dry finish. Alcohol warms the core with this one.

I think this brew could be a real contender to the Roc line... Unfortunately the alcohol was way to evident and knocked this brew down for me. Maybe this brew needs to mellow a few years in a cellar to bring out more flavors to mask the alcohol. Drinkability is poor due to the evident and burning alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2008 16:53:10 | More by phattysbox

rarbring

Sweden

3.53/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A foggy dark chestnut ale, a high off-white head, good lacing and curtains.

Sweet aromas, raisins, almond and sherry. A bit weak.

Sweet red fruits, brown sugar, some cherry seed bitterness.

Medium carbonation, a thick texture and big body, slightly dry.

Easy to drink, covers the high ABV well.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 17:08:03 | More by rarbring

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.55/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Cork and caged 0.75 litre bottle.

Very dark, deep ruby red body, the head left quickly, leaving a tan coloured collar around the glasses, no lacing.

The smell was sweet, toffee (as used on toffee apples) with a roasted malt overtone.

The taste was almost of treacle, very malty and sweetish. The aftertaste becoming more bitter as the mouth dried.

The alcohol rules the mouthfeel, it hits you almost before the tastebuds can pick up the other flavours.

Not a session beer, but good with friends.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 23:12:53 | More by BlackHaddock

philipquarles

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Opened a gusher. Thankfully I got most of it to gush into the glass and ended up with a dark brown/black beer with an off white head. The foam did disappear quickly though, leaving only traces on the surface.

Smells of malt, with both dark, roasty undertones and a fair amount of sweetness.

Taste is a very unique yeasty flavor, with many fruit esters. Tastes a bit like a more sugary version of Rochefort 10 actually.

Mouthfeel is a bit disappointing; not as robust as the color would make one believe.

Really pretty drinkable for what it is. My expectations were low after tasting the ridiculously sweet Malheur 10, but I was pleasantly surprised when the sugars were only slightly overpowering in this.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2008 16:38:04 | More by philipquarles

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours very dark copper wtih a lasting creamy head.
Nose is complex as expected: raisins, stewed apples, cloves, bready yeast, treacle and cinnamon. Nice!
Very sweet rich flavours follow, which I suppose are needed to cover the high alcohol... Lots of candi sugar, dark brown sugar and candied dark fruits. Alcohol is noticeable later on but is in no way overbearing. A little to sweet for me.
Carbonation is suitably high. Alcoholic heat is quite noticeable.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2010 05:29:00 | More by CrazyDavros

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #34 (Nov 2009):

Initial head rises high and slowly diminishes to a thin ring of lace; dark mahogany brown that is almost completely opaque. Booze-soaked raisin aroma with some fresh-baked mo- lasses cake in the back. Crisp and slick full body, carbonation comes to play with a sizable bite. Stogy malt character dances with the spicy, peppery alcohol. Flights of fruitiness from the alcohol and caramelized sugar from the malt stack the complexities. Faint suggestions of broth and vegetable middle to end are other affirmations that this is a BIG beer. Mild herbal, almost cheesy hop is right below the spiciness of the alcohol. Finishes semisweet with a kiss of charred malt.

A little rough around the edges, yet still very controlled for a Quad--a treat to drink. The road most taken would be blue-veined cheese with some fig spread ... a bit more daring would be a pork loin with mole sauce.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 21:59:08 | More by BeerAdvocate

chiefhabeb

California

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Head poured thick with tiny bubbles. Dark Dark beer, and the beads stuck around as I drank.

Nice aroma, with a bit of caramel and sour dough. The taste is a little on the alcoholy side with a sharp aftertaste. Not the best in the world, but a solid, above average quad. Bubbly in the mouth, which lingers for quite a bit. Overall a nice beer

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 02:50:54 | More by chiefhabeb

cassanoj

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into a Chimay goblet. Pours an ugly color, a weird brownish raisin. Virtually no head, some lacing that slides down my glass instantaneously.

Smell is seriously raisin upfront. Also, some fig, cherries, caramel, banana. A little spicy.

The alcohol is pretty well hidden by some peppery spice. Taste raisin, chocolate, bread. This isn't a terribly complex beer but it's tasty enough.

Not a very bitter beer, but provides a bit of warmth and tingle in the mouth. Relatively light body.

This is a nice quad, but not much more. Tasty and satisfying, but not nearly the most impressive quad on the market.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2009 06:17:54 | More by cassanoj

Mahlik

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle poured into tulip glass

A - Pours a dark brown with a two-finger khaki head. Head retention is pretty good. Head dissipates to leave a thin crown. Some decent streaks of lacing are left behind.

S - Dark sugars mixed with raisins, figs and molasses give this beer an aroma that is quite sweet. Fresh baked bread and roasted malts make up the backbone of the aroma.

T - Sweet and boozy. Almost a tad too sweet for me. Dark fruits, bready malts and dark sugar are what really stand. Some subtle notes of caramel and cherries. Spicy alcohol makes it presence well known.

M - Medium-bodied with medium-high level of carbonation. Sticky and slick mouthfeel. Plenty of warmth from the alcohol.

O - I've had superior quads to this. The ample sweetness and lack of notable flavors were negatives for me. I don't think this is undrinkable by any means. I just think there are better options. Seek out if you are a big fan of quads.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 23:59:56 | More by Mahlik

SirChugsAlot

Washington

3.68/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber color which shines bright red when held to the light. About a 2 finger head lingers for quite some time

Smells really sweet with lots of fruit apples and figs and grapes

Taste is sweet and malty with a warm aftertaste

Medium body with decent carbonation. not overpowering at all

This is a good desert beer i think i'd like to enjoy this one if i was relaxing on the back porch after a big meal watching the sun go down. I'll keep this one on the list until the next time that happens..

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2008 23:26:02 | More by SirChugsAlot

Sigmund

Norway

3.7/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

250 ml bottle, bought in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Hazy dark brown colour, large tan head. Pleasant aroma of dark malts, hops, chocolate, oak and bakery. Flavour is heavy dark malts, sweet, oaky and spicy. Hoppy finish. Warming mouthfeel as expected from a 12% ABV beer, there’s a certain "raw" and alcoholic edge (not entirely pleasant) that probably would benefit from a few years in a cellar. Powerful stuff, with a potential for improvement!

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2006 00:28:18 | More by Sigmund

Zorro

California

3.7/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear deeply brown colored beer with a heroically tall brown head. About as dark as coffee.

Sweet smelling with a lot of fig and dark preserved fruit aromas. Grape and apple scents with an edge of apple brandy to it. Basically this is all fruit scents.

The taste starts out sweet and fruity with a woody aftertaste. Mild fig and raisin flavor and a trace of apple brandy. One of the milder flavored Quads around.

Mouthfeel is good.

Not a bad beer but one in a style that has quite a few top beers in the world in it. Not a bad beer but Gouden Carolus Carolus D'Or is cheaper in the same place I bought this and a superior beer. Not bad but there are better.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2008 01:21:06 | More by Zorro

TLove

District of Columbia

3.7/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 2.5

The Malheur 12 was really quite an odd beer, with a beautiful dark amber color and a light head. It was a great consistency and a bit heady, but thats common for big bottle belgians. Roomate picked it up at the local beer store (Rodmans in DC) and poured in a tall glass. The smell was very fruity, though the presence of the alcohol (12% ABV) was certainly a turn-on.

The taste was incredibly soft and the fruitiness and maltiness hit the palate together almost immediately. Its a combination a lot of beers try for (the Delerium Nocturnum, to name one), but can never quite balance out the way this beer does.

The dark fruit, caramel maltiness, and subtleties in lacing make the Malheur 12 exceptionally soft in the mouth, but the beer does not round out enough in the end to make it really drinkable in the long run. Fantastic beer for a glass, but reluctant to drink continuously.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2008 03:22:17 | More by TLove

david18

New York

3.7/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on draft at the Amsterdam Ale House, thinking i'd never had it before and then i discovered I had it in a bottle recently.

My previous review:
Dark brown appearance with a great light tan head. A lot of yeast presence in the beer visually with an amazing dark fruit aroma and flavor. This is a beer i won't forget too soon. Dark fruit upfront with a caramel after taste. At this alcohol by volume i need to be careful but I would highly recommend this beer.

This is a little less yeasty than the bottle version but the strength is still very present. A good beer bur for later at night.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2010 15:51:15 | More by david18

mithrascruor

California

3.7/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at O'Brien's, San Diego.

Pours a dark black/brown color with barely any film. Dark malt aroma with some sugary spices. Malty taste, with the addition of dark fruits like fig, date, and plum. Mild carbonation, and medium-bodied. This is an ok beer, but it doesn't particularly impress me in the flavor department... seems to be missing a bit of the spices in the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2010 20:35:34 | More by mithrascruor

aerozeppl

New York

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured with around 10 fingers of white head when combining the 4 pours it took to get an 11.2 oz bottle into my glass. Billowy white head. Almost looks black until held up to the light. Then a nice deep ruby/rust color.

S: Little bit of toffee some malt and sweetness. Little bit of a burnt nose. The candi sugar comes across fairly clear. Little bit of esters with a touch of dark fruit in there as well. Lacks the complexity I look for in the style.

T: Nice sweetness up front. Candi sugar. A little bit of burnt malt. A touch estery. It just is lacking the complexity I want for this style and the ABV.

M: The mouthfeel ia little too sharp and assertive. Fairly prickly. Probably a result of all the sugar they used in this beer. After 30 min in the glass it gets better.

D: Maybe this should be aged for 5 years before drinking. It is super smooth and there is really no immediate hint of the ABV other than the taste of lingering sugar. The carbonation really killed this beer for me. Once it settles down it was fine. It just really lacked the complexity I am looking for in the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2010 02:24:54 | More by aerozeppl

ksimons

New York

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-a very dark chestnut brown with two fingers worth of fluffy looking tan head

S-rich malts, raisins, caramel, yeast, and a decent amount of alcohol

T-rich malt, booze soaked raisins, toffee, and alcohol. For 12% though the alcohol isn't too overwhelming.

M-big body, medium carbonation, a light fruity taste left in the mouth

Overall this is a big beer. Lots of malt, dark fruit, and alcohol in this beer. Pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 22:43:26 | More by ksimons

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle into a snifter

A: Pours a very dark brown with almost three fingers of thick off white head. Great lacing and retention.

S: Dried apricots, orange bitters, nutmeg, and a bit of peppercorn. A bit brighter with less dark fruits than I'm used to for the style, but still quite nice.

T: Sweeter than I thought it'd be based on the aroma. Plums start off with a bit of prunes. Quite peppery as well without as much of the brighter apricot and orange I got from the aroma. A tad soapy.

M: Medium thickness with a nice, strong carbonation.

O: Not a bad Quad, it has a nicely complex aroma and a decent flavor, it just doesn't stand up with some the heavy hitters of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 17:46:44 | More by coreyfmcdonald

Blindpigbiz

California

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Smell: the sweet cream and subtle mint is a fairly unique characteristic in beer, especially from a quadruple

Taste: milk chocolate, minus the heavy malts, pervade throughout along with ruby-red grapefruit; an odd pairing of flavor

The beer wasn't terrible by any means, even with the odd flavor combination, but rather, the beer was unique in its eccentricity; the beer wasn't life changing but I would recommend it

PAIRS very well with orange chicken for some reason

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 21:50:54 | More by Blindpigbiz

thierrynantes

France

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer bottle (33cl.), tasted in 2002.

Appearance : dark brown color, with abundant tan foamy head.
Smell : caramel aroma.
Taste and mouthfeel : very sweet, black fruit, malted and good bitterness.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style Belgian quadrupel.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 20:38:53 | More by thierrynantes

rapidsequence

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Corked and caged 750.

Appearance: This is the darkest quad I've ever had thats not some sort of stout hybrid. It looks black in normal light. When you hold it to light its a dark, dark red brown with haze. The head is huge and fades slowly. The lacing is great.

Smell: It smells bready with tons of sweet, dark fruit (very raisiny). Its spicy, and definitely boozy.

Taste: Very sweet. I say a little too sweet. And hot. Very boozy. The taste, even more so than the smell is very raisiny. Lots of interesting spicy flavors, but the overly sweet, syrupy nature hurts the overall flavor. Finishes long and bready.

Mouthfeel: This is a huge, chewy monster. I love the mouthfeel.

Drinkability: I dont want another now for sure. I did enjoy this quite a bit, but a whole 750 is too much for one person. This thing drinks like port, and a small serving would be better.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2009 00:38:20 | More by rapidsequence

AgentMunky

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

An 5 ounce pour into a Gulden Drak tulip glass at the Horse & Hound in Charlottesville. From notes. Reviewed 8 July 2011.

A: HUGE head fills half the glass. Off-white/beige. Very dark and not susceptible to light. Some bubbles coat the sides of the glass.

S: Green apple Jolly Ranchers. Seriously. Not much else.

T: A bit flat/underwhelming. Having sampled a truly horrendous Maredsous Tripel (which I quite enjoyed from the bottle) on-tap at the same establishment, I suspect the bar is the issue more than the beer. Quite sweet, very big, noticeable alcohol. Periously close to reminding me cough syrup. Purple grapes. Not a great quad, but serviceable. I'd like to dry it from the bottle.

M: Meh. Disappointingly flat. Slightly sticky. I'd like more carbonation.

O: A good beer, that I'd like to try again some place else. At this juncture, I can't recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2012 21:46:26 | More by AgentMunky

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had on tap @ Armsby Abbey, and I kicked it (sorry everyone else).

A: Light fluffy head fades fairly quickly over semi clear dark ruby brown colored beer.

N: Slight boozy, dark Belgian malts and candi sugar dominate. Then comes some fruit, raisin, fig, plum, etc. Lots of malts. I even get a hint of peppermint.

T: Very sweet, crazy sweet! Thick and slightly syrupy, boozy, warming alcohol but no real alc sting. It even tastes boozy. WIth that is candi sugar, lots, molasses, lots of Belgian malts, more fruits with plum, fig, raisin, and even apricot. Slight nutty taste with the malty taste, and a little minerality. Some bitterness too.

M: Semi thick and a little syrupy, lower but decent carbonation.

F: Still very sweet lingering but it gets a slight dryness. Some creamy taste lingering, not really boozy anymore. More lingering raisin and a touch of smoke. Despite having a boozy taste and warmth there was no alcohol burn or real feel otherwise. And way too sweet.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2010 16:51:45 | More by jlindros