Malheur 12° - Brouwerij De Landtsheer NV

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Chocolate brown colour, little head, expirey 9/09. Thanks Boutip. Malt and some spicey yeast, with the emphasis on the spice. I taste ginger, balck pepper, star anise. Alcohol fairly masked. Above avrage mouthfeel, tasty treat that is expertly spiced malt. Very good Belgium.Dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2008 23:42:12 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Roasted pecan brown with reddish orange accents... that becomes murky magenta when backlit with sunshine. Golden beige colored foam oozed out of the bottle neck, was easily caught with the chalice, and is currently sitting pretty at a height of roughly three fingers. It has a wonderfully sticky texture, but hasn't fallen far enough to leave any lace. Note: there's a decent display in the end.

The aroma features medium-to-dark fruit (mostly the former) and a spicy yeastiness that is par for the style course. The beer smells a fraction more sour than a quad should, but we'll have to see how things shake out on the palate. More power would be welcome.

Malheur 12 is pretty tasty stuff. That said, it doesn't run with the big dogs of the style. It's darker than most quadrupels, with what tastes like a generous amount of chocolate-black-roasted malt. In fact, there aren't too many BSDAs that are this 'black'. Although the best before date is a few months away, bitterness is still kickin'. Incidently, the beer doesn't taste the least bit long in the tooth.

Flavors include pumpernickel toast, rye toast, a generous shot of Sambucca, raisin paste, fig jam, ground clove and bitter black tea leaves. The alcohol is expertly masked, but still manages to make its presence known in other ways... like buccal, esophageal and belly warming. What the hell was I thinking? This beer is winning me over more and more with each and every mouthful. Power *and* complexity is a killer combination.

The mouthfeel is a sneaky bastard. Just when it seems to lack a bit of fullness and volume, its smooth, silky, creamy, chewy nature takes over like boringly good Dr. Jekyll turning into interestingly evil Dr. Hyde. Okay, maybe it's time to slow consumption of this big bruiser of an ale. At least until this review is in the can.

Brouwerij De Landtsheer has the uncanny ability to blow me away. The evidence includes Bier Brut (Brut Reserve), Brut Noir (Black Chocolate), Malheur 10... and now Malheur 12. This is an outstanding quadrupel that put me in the happy zone by the bottom of the first glass and is having no trouble keeping me there.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2009 21:27:06 | More by BuckeyeNation

womencantsail

California

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Pizza Port Ocean Beach

A: The beer pours a dark brown color with a finger or two of creamy, khaki colored head.

S: A bit fruit aroma to this beer. Lots of banana accompanied by raisins, cherries, plums, and perhaps figs. Plenty of sugar character in the form of toffee, caramel, and candy sugar. A bit of alcohol is certainly there, too.

T: A ton of banana flavor which is really quite nice. There is still a lot of dark fruit character here along with the typical intense sugar notes of a Quad. Lots of caramel, candi sugar, molasses, and maybe just a bit of roast.

M: The body is medium with a moderate to high level of carbonation.

D: Surprisingly easy to drink and very little booze apparent on the palate.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2011 19:21:04 | More by womencantsail

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clouded, dark reddish-brown body with a thin, short-lived off-white head. Lightly effervescent.

Smell: Rich, malty aroma with notes of toffee, dark candi sugar, juicy plums, yeast, and just a hint of hops.

Taste: Dark maltiness with dark caramel and some chocolate. Lightly tart-tasting fruity compote flavor with spiced sugar hints and a dusting of cocoa powder. Faint yeastiness. Never more than a light bitterness. Peppery on the warming finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Well carbonation. Slight stickiness to the mouthfeel.

Drinkability: A good beer with plenty of flavor and complexity. For the most part, I'm enjoying the Malheur brews.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2008 03:35:03 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours an iced coffee color with a massive head that foams out of the bottle as well and leaves plenty of lace

Smell: Fig Newton aroma with apricots, cinnamon and brown sugar

Taste: Opens with a fruity but leathery character, with the sweeter fruit (apricot and fig) elements offset by the tannic leather and bitter aspect; after the swallow, the cinnamon, brown sugar and dark fruit dominate the finish

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with rather high levels of carbonation

Drinkability: Though not in the top echelon with respect to complexity, this is certainly a fine and well-balanced quad

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 02:23:26 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep brown color ale with a nice slightly off-white foamy head with some good retention and some lacing. Aroma of sweet malt contains some dry fruits characteristics which are quite enjoyable. Taste is also dominated by some dry fruits characteristics with some nice candi sugar notes. I didn’t notice that much of a hoppy presence as I was expecting but nonetheless I very much enjoyed the experience. Full body with some great carbonation and no alcohol was detectable.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2007 16:52:04 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

An extraordinarily fruity and rich Belgian Dark Strong Ale that shares a lot in common with Chimay Blue.

Extremely complex aromas of sweet berries, grapes, and currants and coupled with dated, figs, chocolates and malt. Candied all arround, the beer takes a confectionate tone similar to Kasteel beers.

The beer pours a froathy, almost heavily weighted, pour of dark brown with ruby/russet/purple hues. A firm and billowing head forms on the beer and fades to a froathy creme that retains well and only laces fairly underneath the strength of alcohol.

Flavors take the classic Belgian turn by starting with the confection sweet, candied fruit character of plumbs, berries, currants, and grapes. Backed by softly sweet (powdered sugars), light chocolate and mildly cooked caramels, the balance to the fruits are acheived by complexity and not by bitterness. Hops have a deeply relegated role and offer only subtle bitterness and no obvious flavor. Estery and sweet throughout, this beer is masterfully brewed.

But it might be in the mouthfeel where a couple flaws are revealed. Though the beer carries a malty/fruity sweet flavor and feel, the dryness only does half its duty, leaving a moderate linger of unresolved sweetness on the tounge in a soda-pop kinda way. Though the beer has an evaporative cotton candy texture, the beer's sweetness isn't completely fleeting or dry. The good news is that the alcohols never get in the way.

Delicious and sweet/spicy, this beer is a delight for all Belgian beer fans, particularly those of Chimay Blue, but with a sweetness that trends toward Kasteel Bruin.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2010 04:27:29 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Sessions in Greensboro.Poured into a tulip glass a deep amber color with a fluffy tightly formed one finger off white head that lasted for quite awhile.Raisin and plum notes in the nose along with lighter yeasty spice and brown sugar.Dark fruit dominates the palate with some medicinal notes,the alcohol is heavy and pretty sweet.It's a nice sipper but the yeast and alcohol can be a bit much....for me.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2012 00:56:11 | More by oberon

metter98

New York

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is relatively clear dark brownish amber in color. It poured with a two finger high dense beige head that has good retention properties. A moderate to high amount of carbonation is evident from the rising bubbles.
S: There are moderate aromas of sweet, dark fruits in the nose along with hints of alcohol.
T: The overall taste is quite complex and similar to the smell with flavors of dark fruits and malty sweetness. There are some notes of alcohol and yeast.
M: It feels medium- to full-bodied and very smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a slight bit of warming from the alcohol in the finish.
D: The beer is actually quite drinkable considering its strength because most of the alcohol is masked from the taste. It's definitely one that needs to be sipped given the high alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 03:53:20 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle date 13.11.10; Sampled July 2008
A careful yet vigorous pour easily produces a three-finger thick, lightly browned, dark tan colored head. The beer is very dark, deep amber, concentrated brown color that shows a brilliantly clear, dark ruby hue when held up to the light. The aroma is a mix of fruity plum, warming alcohol and sweet spice notes. The nose reminds me a bit of molasses rich ginger bread, some touches of cane-rum soaked raisins, dried figs, Brandy fusels, and fermented prune juice. Spicy notes of clove, a touch of ginger. Buried in the aroma towards the finish is a nice, toasty malt character that contributes some browned biscuit like notes. An interesting, very fruity aroma that definitely shows its 12% abv strength, but somehow manages to come off as being fairly mellow.

Sweet tasting with some toasted, dark malt flavors. This is quite light bodied, especially given the strength though I wouldn't quite call it quaffable; it is close though and could certainly be dangerous if drunk by someone not realizing its strength. The ample fruitiness continues through to the flavor of this beer with notes of prunes, caramelized raisins, dried figs and even a bit of cherry (in that order of intensity). Some dry cocoa notes come through in the middle, but then the sweet fruit notes seem to sweet the palate clean of this flavor. Noticeable alcohol flavors combine with the other flavors to produce notes of dark Rum, caramelized Brandy and a touch of some tongue numbing, spiced liquors. Speaking of which, flavors of clove, turpene like allspice, light ginger and some pepper notes play a sometimes substantial role as well.

An tasty beer, while it does not do a good job of hiding its substantial strength, it never gets hot or harsh and the alcohol seems to integrate with the other notes. The light body on this brew was also quite nice, never cloying or sticky, yet still rich, satisfying and a sipping brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2008 05:05:23 | More by Gueuzedude

Halcyondays

California

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I missed this beer at Beachwood, but I was excited to find a bottle at Town and Country Liquor in Fullerton,

A: Pours an opaque deep brown with a soft creamy off-white head, good retention.

S: Classic dark Belgian malt, dark candi sugar, yeasty, molasses.

T: Dark candi sugar, raisin flavours, definite fermented brown sugar with a moderate sweetness. Belgain yeast flavours are clearly evident.

M: A tad overcarbonated, but a nice full body, well hidden alcohol, smooth.

D: I wouldn't call this a by the numbers quadrupel, it's certainly well made, and a nice complexity as I expect. Just missing something to make me go crazy, the flavours are quite good.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2010 03:10:49 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ml cage-corked bottle, best before end of 15.04.11, poured into tulip glass:

Pours dark brown with a thin creamy tan head. Rings of lacing stick.

The smell is of caramel/toffee with anise. Earthy and rooty notes.

The taste is of toffee, anise, earthy very complex and rounded together. Some vinuous notes come through as it progresses. A floral touch comes through at the finish.

The feel is rich and creamy.

It is very well-balanced. Creamy and complex. Alcohol shows only slightly, making it very approachable for abv. Very drinkable for a "big" beer. Very enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 20:41:35 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a bottle at BXL on 43rd in Midtown for $11. Served in a stemmed Malheur glass, it appeared a hazy red with a short tan head. While this beer was a bit of a sipper, I was impressed by how smooth it was for the strength and that it was relatively drinkable compared to other 12% beers. The flavor was dominated by sweet vanilla and plum, with berry fruits and typical subtle Belgian spicing in the background. The hops were there mostly for balance and contributed little to the taste. Heck of a quad, one of the best I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 15:34:59 | More by tempest

Wasatch

Utah

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to jwc215 for this one.

750ml Bottled Conditioned
Caged/Corked
Best Before: 15/04/11

Poured into a chalice a very nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger foamy tannish head, which leaves some nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, yeasty, some dark fruits. The taste is very nice malty/yeasty, some nice figs/raisins/plums notes, slight spice. Medium body, nice warming effect, the ABV is hidden very well with this one. Very drinkable, this is a tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2009 00:57:20 | More by Wasatch

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

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

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark chestnut brown color with some amber edges when held to a light source and a huge frothy tan head that slowly settles into a lasting cap that leaves chunks of soapy lacing.

Spicy peppery aroma with a bit of cinnamon, chocolate malt, brown sugar, candi sugar, licorice and earthy hops.

Dark chocolate malt flavor with some nice spicy notes, especially pepper, cinnamon and brown sugar. There are also some nice dark fruit notes; plum, raisin, fig, etc. as well as some brown sugar, candi sugar, subtle hops and some sweet alcohol warmth in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2009 05:24:32 | More by corby112

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

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

The beer pours a fairly dark cola color with minimal head retention, but OK lacing. I get something of a rootbeer and brown sugar aroma, coupled with some light spice. The sweet, rich, flavor profile is much more intense and impressive, with chocolate, rootbeer, nutmeg and allspice. There are dark fruits as well in this spicey quad. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full, and the finish is fairly long. Drinkability is pretty good for the abv., though you can tell this is a big beer.

An excellent, well crafted Belgian quad.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2010 20:20:07 | More by johnmichaelsen

glid02

Georgia

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a slightly hazy dark amber color with a half-finger slightly off-white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of sweet and mildly dark malts with good amounts of sugar-coated medium fruits. The fruit aromas are mostly pears but with hints of figs and golden raisins. Also present are bready yeast aromas.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sweet and dark malts with smooth Belgian candi sugar flavors kick things off. Shortly thereafter pear and golden raisin flavors join in with hints of green apple and indistinct darker fruits. Midway through the sip hints of nutmeg and brown sugar kick in and carry through to a mildly crisp ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a slick thickness with soft carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass with no problems and could have another.

Overall I thought this was a solid beer but it was more of a BSDA than a quad - it just didn't have the thickness and heavier malt profile of the latter. Still, a decent beer that's worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2010 23:23:19 | More by glid02

Gusler

Arizona

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Quite a change from their other beers that are all golden to orange in color, this ones dark and brooding with a monstrous head, frothy in texture, beige in color and as it degrades, leaves a nice sheet of lace upon the glass. Nose is malt sweet, plummish, hints of yeast and even some caramel, well that’s the way this old honker smells it. Start sweet, loads of malt, top middling in feel to the palate. Finish is mildly acidic, hops are delectable in their spicy presence, the aftertaste alcohol bitter, dry and long lasting, quite a “Belly Warmer” to boot, not meant for the “Light Weights”, it’s a “BA” Beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2003 16:58:15 | More by Gusler

kojevergas

California

3/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

On-tap into 20cl fest stemware at Beer Passion Weekend 2011 in Antwerp, Belgium. Reviewed from notes.

A: Three finger tan colour head of nice fluffy cream, fair thickness, and decent retention. Dark amber colour.

Sm: Amber hops. A mild scent. Maybe some darker fruit esters.

T: Amber hops, dark fruit ester hops, and bittering hops. Caramelized malt is present and well handled. Fairly complex. Decently built and balanced.

Mf: smooth and wet, with adequate coarseness to bring out the flavours. Fairly complementary of the flavours in the body.

Dr: Fair price, pretty drinkable, and low quality for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 20:07:49 | More by kojevergas

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Small picked up at the COOP today... paid about $4.25.... sharing with Brenda... mine poured into my Delirium goblet.

Lite tan head tries to stick around but drops fairly quickly.. just spots of lace... very very dark brown brew is fairly hazy... I probably should have let these sit in the fridge for a couple of days.

Dark dried fruits really only show as mild raisin.. maybe some lite prune... significant amount of brown sugar and mildly spicy.

Flavor is pretty mild for the style.. same as the nose with a fair amount of chocolate.. sorta figgy.. not as sweet as the 10.. thankfully.. a fair amount of malty sweetness helps drive the palate forward.. a little earthy as it warms up.

Body is medium with a bunch of carbonation.

This is fairly well made, but not on the same level as my favorites.... I will however, certainly buy it again anytime I want a decent priced well made BSDA.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2009 01:19:06 | More by JohnGalt1

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.53/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a rich, opaque dark-chocolate brown with a nice fine-bubbled light tan head. Aroma is malty and has an overtone of hard cider. Malty flavor has a strong fruity and brandy-like tone, as well as a hint of chocolate and just a whisper of sweetness. Texture is smooth and quite fizzy.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2010 21:42:20 | More by Cyberkedi

stcules

Italy

3.28/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A bit different from their other beers, that are all golden-orange in colour. The colour of this one is dark mahogany-burgundy, with some reflexes. Big head, quite thin and compact.
The smell is nut, chocolate, almost vinaceous. Cocoa. Quite sweet (other difference between this one and the other Malheur, where the bitter is dominant). Alcohol very present.
In the taste the bitter is more evident, but even the alcool. The alcoholic impact is too strong. It warms... but the alcohol covers all the rest...
Surely a meditation beer, but maybe a little unbalanced: too bitter and too alcoholic, without a texture that can support all.
The aftertaste is bitter and sweetish caramel, and cocoa and hazelnut. And even alcohol, obviously...
Medium-high body.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2003 09:31:37 | More by stcules