Brasserie Des Rocs Triple Impériale - Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs s.a.

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.49/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 1 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

750ml bottle into a snifter, best before 05/08/2013

A: Pours a hazy light amber with a finger of off white head. The head quickly recedes to a ring. The first pour brought a beer full of flakey sediment. It was a bit odd and really gross. The flakes originally dispersed through the bee from a slight gusher, but a couple of hours recapped with a carb saver let the sediment settle.

S: Quite musty with orange zest, figs, and a bit of anise.

T: Similar to the aroma, except a bit more spicy and sweet. I get nutmeg, cinnamon, orange zest, and figs. A tad astringent.

M: Medium thickness for the style with creamy carbonation.

O: This was the ugliest beer I've ever seen on the first pour, and every pour dispersed the sediment. That alone brought the score down a lot. Other than that, there is a decent balance between fruity sweetness and spices.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 01:27:28 | More by coreyfmcdonald

Pegasus

Texas

4.11/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Hazy deep mahogany to a strong light, crowned by a small, dense tan head, which exhibits fine-beaded, glass-coating lacing.

Aroma: Dense, sweet aroma of dark fruit, coriander, cloves, brown sugar, and sweet, vinous alcohol.

Taste: Opens with quite sweet warming alcohol, followed by a melange of sweet flavors: brown sugar, cloves, figs, plums, and raisins. Bitter apple rind is present as well. These carry throughout the taste, supported by warm, lingering alcohol. Towards the end of the taste, some earthy, moderately bitter hop note appear, but are not at all overwhelming, complimenting the sweet and spicy flavors. Finishes with a mild, lingering hop bitterness.

Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, and quite full.

Drinkability/notes: Really excellent, a worthy effort.

Presentation: Packaged in an eleven point two ounce Euro-style brown glass longneck bottle, served in a New Belgium chalice.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 00:19:59 | More by Pegasus

n2185

North Carolina

2.88/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a murky brown with barely any khaki head that quickly vanishes with no lacing.

S: Belgian spice notes up front followed by a lot of sweet bread aromas. Sweet fruit and caramel notes come through with a slightly boozy finish.

T: Spices here as well before a big kick of caramely, fruity, and bready sweetness. The finish has a decent alcohol presence.

M: Medium-thick body with low carbonation, this beer is definitely underattenuated and could use a lot more carbonation and a lighter body.

O: A pretty unimpressive beer overall. Too sweet and boozy and lacking depth and finesse found in the best examples of the style. Not undrinkable, but nowhere near good.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 20:22:22 | More by n2185

Ryan011235

Ohio

1.95/5  rDev -53.6%
look: 1 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Poured into a La Trappe chalice on 10/8/12

Best before: 05/08/2013

Ok, this ain't right. Early on into the pour, large chunks and clumps of stuff start dumping into the glass. This crud leaves small, large and in-between sized floaties throughout the glass. That, coupled with a murky, muddy brown, makes this look like high liquid content vomit. The head is the most sinister foam I've ever seen. A thin layer is fed by bubbles rising consistently. Lace starts to form at the thicker collar and there is a festering eye in the center of the beer; seriously, the foam is multi-colored in such a way it looks like a gray pupil and a parchment yellow retina. The eye pulses, like it's being eaten by maggots from the inside. Several small brown specks have made their way to the top and are suspended in the foam.

The aroma, on the other hand, is pretty good. Heavy on malts and moderate on fruits. Loads of dark bread, brown sugar, butter toffee, banana, cinnamon, figs, molasses and maybe a faint suggestion of cocoa. Overall, the aromatics can be summed up as largely that of banana nut bread. Notions of caramel squares. Apples, as it warms.

Whatever is left in the bottles smells like burned cinnamon raisin bread.

Ooh, something is amiss indeed. The taste is vapidly dry. Burnt cocoa dust comes to mind. It also has dead fruits; apple, pear and banana are dulled beyond all hope. Paper, cardboard, oxidation. Moving past these unpleasantries are notes of bread and toasted sugars, but hardly enough to salvage this beer.

There's so much shit floating around in the glass that I can't bring myself to take more than a tiny sip at a time; even tiny sips bring forth fizzy, effervescent carbonation.

Whatever bubbled up and caused that eye to form has continued to do. Now that part of the head has peeled back, I can see a steady stream of flakes and such being pushed out from the middle. This is starting to look like fish food in a filthy tank being flushed about by a water pump.

What the hell is going on with this beer? Please, oh please, let this be a bad bottle. The aroma makes me think this beer had promise somewhere along the way. As is, it's down right bad. The appearance alone has me close to squeamish.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 00:13:40 | More by Ryan011235

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle. Triple Karmeliet tulip glass. Revisited on jul´12. Hazy brown in color. Beige head creates a close, slowly dissipated, crown. Lacing rings on sides. Dark fruit-plums ,raisins & figs-, Belgian yeast, spiced aromas. Malty sweetness at first sip rounded by fruity, yeasty & spiced touches. Medium to full body. Moderate carbonation. Creamy to oily texture & smooth palate where ABV is very well masked. Slightly phenolic in the middle. Sweet ripe fruit finish. Flavorful & delighfull.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 21:29:12 | More by GONZALOYANNA

LiquidSanity

Florida

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is served from a 750ml bottle.

Ap: Dark, purplish-brown color. Toffee tone with a slight black-cherry/purple hue. Moderate head and a little lacing.

Ar: A very distinct wine like vinegar fragrance is of note. Very sweet and a mild toffee smell is present.

Ta: Sweet with an acidic back bone. It resonates a stronger bite than I'm used to. This doesn't mask the alcohol as well as other Belgian ales I've experienced. Not super overwhelming considering it is 10% abv. The taste of plum and a mild apricot flavor exists. It's a subtle sweetness that offsets the alcoholic bite. Very engaging but sip and savor. You'll feel the alcohol very quickly.

Mf: Very mild carbonation and smooth champagne note. It is enjoyable to sip. Almost wine-like.

Ov: I'm up and down on this style. I prefer IPAs but I enjoyed this beer. To get a 750ml for $8 made it even more enjoyable. I prefer Chimay and Gulden Draak for their smoothness but this beer did not disappoint. I will get this ale again. I may need to split the bottle next time. You certainly feel the alcohol with this one. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 01:19:47 | More by LiquidSanity

viverlee

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Spectacular treat from my favorite abbaye. In many respects similar to the Grand Cru I fell in love with at La Trappe Cafe.

STYLE: Belgian Strong Dark Ale

ABV: 10%

LOOK: Melted plums and Belgian yeasty bits. It could, if you are up to it, use a straining that might improve the mouthfeel. Yes, I did just that with some success. The resulting mocha-latte like head is more consistent than the initial pour, a miasma of foam and sediment. A maze of lacing with strong stickiness corroborates the sugary nose.

NOSE: Cinnamon raisin bread, overripe cherries, plums, figs, and dates. Wonderful. A smörgåsbord of dark fruits laced with just a touch of acidity.

MOUTH: Decadent plum cake, currants, the whole dark fruit family. It’s a reunion in my mouth. The well-masked ABV dares you to gulp. Resist the urge, let it warm a few degrees, and sip some more. Maybe, if you are up to it, let it reduce and smother some ice cream. I think I just might do that.

BA Rating: 94

Hayward Abbey Rating: 95

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 02:51:32 | More by viverlee

falloutsnow

Illinois

2.78/5  rDev -33.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle from Beertopia in Omaha, NE
Best by 2013-05-08
Poured into a New Belgium globe glass

Brasserie Des Rocs Triple Impériale is a Belgian strong dark ale that arrives from a brewery fairly notorious for the large amounts of sediment floating in the beer. I found this beer to be mildly complex in aroma and flavor, but in unpleasant ways. Fruit esters and sweetness were overabundant, and the other flavors did not add much of interest and may have contributed to the unpleasant overall experience. I did not feel that this beer was delicate or particularly nuanced, which may not have been an issue if it were desirably good in flavor and aroma. The abundance of positive reviews suggest that I either obtained an oxidized bottle (or some other flaw), which is of course a possibility, but it remains that I wouldn't seek this out again except if I were, by some lucky chance, visiting the brewery.

Pours a voluminous, >3cm head of large bubbles, fairly dark tan in color. Yeast addition to the beer is unintentional, but impossible not to do (even tried using a strainer, but that failed to keep the yeast back). Head has solid retention, lasting several minutes before reducing to a ring around the glass with a few islands of spotty foam atop the body. Lacing is fairly substantial and includes a good bit of yeast. Body is expectedly cloudy, a brown-amber color, with suspended sediment and carbonation visible.

Aroma is of deep toffee-like malts and yeast, lots of yeast, with noticeable ethanol warmth, a bit of brown sugar, old wine, and dark cherry-like fruit esters. Despite this sounding quite nice, I was not particularly pleased with the aroma; there was something off about the combination and intensities of certain scents within the mix.

Taste is similar to smell, with yeast, dark cherry fruit esters, old wine, sweet toffee-like malts, ethanol, old leather, and a bit of stale cola flavor. Again, flavors are not particularly compelling, desirable, or tasty. Aftertaste is cloyingly sweet, like a bad doppelbock.

Beer is medium-bodied with carbonation that is initially a bit too high, but calms down over time. The result is a fairly smooth beer, perhaps a bit watery around the edges, and with noticeable ethanol warming on the tongue, throat, and in the nostrils.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 04:32:40 | More by falloutsnow

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured into a goblet. Best before 4/15/2012, looks like I just missed having this "fresh."

3.5 A: Murky dark brown color. Two fingers of frothy/foamy beige head. Retention is a touch below average and very little lacing is left. A good bit of particulates floating around, but it's partially my fault as I let a giant yeast clump fall into the glass, so I'll be fair.

4.0 S: This is a lot less tame than the Bruin I just had, but still smells great. Lots of fruits including apple, vinous red grape and raisin, plum, and currant. A little boozy, but nothing not to be expected. Toasty, grainy malts. Faintly spicy with pepper and some yeastiness.

4.0 T: Again this is vinous and perhaps surprisingly so. Muscat grape, raisin, plum, currant, red apple, and dates. Light booze. Toasty and grainy malts. Light, but sufficient sweetness. Light pepper spiciness. Yeast.

5.0 M: Light body. Very nice spritzy carbonation. Nice and creamy. Super smooth. Great here.

4.0 D: Great beer. This brewery is definitely legit.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 04:27:30 | More by DavoleBomb

ONUMello

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle poured into a goblet
A: Hazy dark brown with a one finger lingering head
S: Tropical fruit and brown sugar
T: Heavy on molasses, and a bit of malt/fruit esters/spice. The alcohol is well hidden.
M: This might be the best mouthfeel I've ever encountered. Silky smooth, medium-bodied, a bit of kick from carbonation- very complex and makes me think about it, which is something I rarely encounter on the mouthfeel.
O: I wish the taste was a bit less one-dimensional with the molasses and this would be even better, though it certainly does not disappoint as is.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 00:31:09 | More by ONUMello

tencents

Maryland

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-
A rich looking cloudy gray brown, more typical of a dubbel than a tripel. Head dissipated rather quickly.
S-
Very intense, lots of dried fruits, raisins, currents. Sharp, you can smell the alcohol.
T-
Very strong flavored. Same dried fruit that was in the aroma. The first taste is a bit harsh but mellowed as it aired. I should have poured this more carefully. As it got down to the bottom of the glass there were clumps of sediment (assuming yeast), which were very unappealing.
M-
Very full, creamy.
O-
A bit intense for my taste and certainly packs a wallop, which can be a good or bad thing. Definitely needs to sit a bit opened. Nevertheless an enjoyable "sipping" beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 22:17:15 | More by tencents

hardy008

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown with a one finger light tan head, with good retention and no lacing. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of floaters in this beer. True, they are harmless, but don't look very appealing.

The aroma has figs, dates, raisins, spices. and brown sugar. Smells very nice. Hopefully the taste is just as good.

The taste is very good, and sweet, but not as good as the aroma. Raisins are the most dominant thing I taste, followed by figs, dates, brown sugar, spices, and a little bit of alcohol. When you consider that this beer has an abv of 10.00 %, tasting a little bit of alcohol isn't too bad.

Medium to full bodied with modest carbonation. Has a sweet aftertaste. Not as good as the best Belgian Strong Dark Ales, but still quite good. If this beer had more complexity, and no floaters, it would have been scored higher.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 01:31:25 | More by hardy008

Neorebel

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured this into my Chimay glass and observed the color to be a deep chestnut, with plenty of sediment/re-fermented yeast present. A frothy, off-white head appears but dissipates quickly, leaving only a thin covering. The aroma is extraordinary - with spices and many fruity elements, such as green apple, pear, and plum. Flavor - has some tart cherry that I did not detect in the aroma as well as the apple spice. Begins very sweet and has a touch of bitterness in the finish. I am noticing a woody earthiness, that comes off a little chalky to me. I'm taking some points off for this. The beer coats the palate nicely and the alcohol heat only reveals itself once it's down. Overall I'm a little disappointed but I'd like to try it again for a follow-up review.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 03:55:16 | More by Neorebel

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a hazy, deep red brown amber, massive head and very active carbonation. A number of dark brown, fruit flavored chunks floating at the top. Head is long lasting and leaves massive lacing. Powerful aroma of caramel malt, dark fruits, inviting. Very pleasant dark fruits, very malty, and caramel flavor. Complex and medium to heavy bodied. A very nice ale that I hope to revisit often.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 03:43:09 | More by LiquidAmber

Philousa

California

4.23/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark chestnut with two finger head that settles to thinly cover the glass. Light carbonation hits the nose first. Dark fruit, plum, raisin, rich caramel, nuts. Full body is evident. Some smoke comes as it warms. Raisin, plum, and red grapes hit the tongue first. The full body lingers with a tinge of bitterness. Rich caramel stays with you as well. Silky chocolate comes as it warms, with multiple sips. Spices also come out well, cinnamon and allspice mostly. Medium to thick mouthfeel. Drinkable, but you know a lot went into this beer. The alcohol is hidden very well, never would have guessed this at 10%.

I warmed up to this beer as it warmed to ambient temperature. The label of a dark Tripel really threw me off. This is a Belgian Strong Dark in my opinion, and it should flaunt this fact, as it is a great showcase for the style. All the good qualities are there: high ABV that's well hidden, stone fruit prominent in the nose and flavor, great body, and rich flavors that are offset by the barely there hops, used only for bittering purposes. The only complaint or word of wisdom would be to watch out for the temperature for this beer, because I let it sit out too much and it started tasting like grape juice a little too much. Grape juice with spices and bitterness, that is.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 04:29:39 | More by Philousa

mynie

Indiana

4.7/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a candyish red, like one of them tropical Starbursts. Not what you'd expect from a tripel, but still very pretty.

Smells very sweet and lightly tart. Nodes of plums and apples are present, along with grapes and caramel, and just a wee lil' wisp of yeasty alcohol. Nice and complex, but I'm a bit worried that this'll be tart. N-nothing against tart beers, but I was kinda in the mood for a malty Beligian...

And, well, I guess I shouldn't have trusted my nose. The big fruit nodes are still present in the flavor. Up front, at the very short beginning of the sip, they hit you almost as strong as a Flanders red. But they subside quickly, replaced by a middle that's as smooth and dully sweet as a tootsie roll, finishing off in a gloriously savory ending that's like a combination of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms.

Taken separate, the very beginning or end could be considered cloying. But that long, drawn out middle connects them wonderfully, and the result is an amazingly well-balanced beer that still manages to be adventurous and extreme. It's fabulous.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 06:01:19 | More by mynie

mikedotnet

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Light brown, nearly opaque body; small fluffy brown head that quickly dissipates. A significant amount of yeast floating around (I poured the first glass from a 750 mL bottle a bit too aggressively, I believe).

S - Extremely sweet aroma; extremely heavy on the dark Belgian candies. There is a hint of plum, but it is heavily dominated by the sugary smell.

T - Wow! I was worried that this was going to be an overly-sweet beer based on the aroma alone, but that is definitely not the case. Yes, it's sweet, but it's quite modest. The fruitiness actually seems to dominate. There is a very faint hint of bitterness in the finish (which works very well).

M - Wonderfully smooth and almost creamy (yet very well carbonated).

O - I was a bit worried about this because of the overly-sweet aroma, but this ended up being quite fantastic. I would most definitely buy this again (even an entire case)!

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 22:30:50 | More by mikedotnet

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Looks to be bottled 2008.

Beer is dark brown, moderately-sized beige head. Retention is limited. Some lacing.

Smell is great. Dark candied fruit, particularly plum, fig, grape and cherry. A bit of spice. Reminiscent of port. A bit malty. Very strong scent.

Taste is thinner than expected, but good. Same fruit flavours as in the nose are present. A very slight tartness. Fairly sweet but not overly so. Pepper and a bit of other spice.

Fairly syrupy feel, lighter than expected body (though certainly not light). Pretty high carbonation. Sweetness dries out the mouth a bit. Pretty good.

A really nice beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 00:49:26 | More by jrenihan

thadbme

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark carmelized brown with a foam head that went away less than a minute after pouring into a maudite glass. Appears to be slightly carbonated from the bubbling.

S: Even mix of caramel and malt. Doesn't smell to be overly strong alcohol content.

T: Tastes a bit more malty than carmamel for my tastes. It is a bit complex, in that i'm having to take several sips to try to read into what some of the other folks have posted. After a bit I did pick up on the fruit. Nice and drinkable.

M: A bit more carbonation than I like. It may improve with sitting a little bit. Medium body.

O: Seems to be a very drinkable beer, and I will have no problem taking down this 750 by myself. It has a touch too much carbonation than I prefer. This one doesn't seem to set itself out from the pack from me, but its worth a try. *EDIT* I let this sit for a few minutes and after the carbonation wore down I like it a lot more.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 00:22:30 | More by thadbme

ckollias

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this 11.2oz bottle out of a large snifter glass.

A: Hazy dark auburn brew with a thick, frothy, white, two-finger head that quickly dissipates. Leaves an incomplete ring down the side of the glass and ends in a wispy lace.

S: Strong malty and caramel scent. The alcohol and yeast give off a well-balanced aroma. It has a spicy fruity finish

T: Complex beer with lots of flavors. The brew tastes very sweet with heavy caramel flavor and hints of dark fruits. Very smooth and easy to drink. The alcohol is nicely masked by the sweetness.

M: Heavy body and medium carbonation

O: This is my second time tasting this beer and it had not disappointed either time. It well balanced, easily drinkable, and had a wonderful complex flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 04:04:29 | More by ckollias

rapidsequence

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle. $8.99 from Beer Run. Best before 18/12/2011, so it must be a few years old.

Appearance: There is some crud around the inside of the bottle, right above the fluid line and some of that ends up in the glass. The beer pours a orangey-brown with some haze. I expect it will clear on warming. The head is surprisingly small and there's little lacing.

Smell: Rich, sweet candied dates and raisins. Malty and not hot boozy smelling, but a bit like a port.

Taste: Very tasty, but maybe a bit simplistic. Not very complex. If you like sweet, malty beer with lots of raisin/date notes this is for you. Just a little spice, and nearly undetectable alcohol, except for a slight bitterness at the end.

Mouthfeel: Soft and slick, with just the right amount of carbonation to make it slightly foamy in the mouth. Very well done.

Overall: Well, the numbers don't add up, but I really like this one quite a bit. Better than the Grand Cru.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 01:24:05 | More by rapidsequence

Kendo

New York

4.47/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Best-by date on the bottle is 11/20/12; consumed on July 16, 2011.

A: Poured into a Duvel tulip. First comment on appearance was "Interesting." It pours brown out of the bottle, but then looks black in the glass. However, when backlit it becomes mahogany. A small khaki head settles on top, leaves a little bit of lace.

S: Nice Belgian-type smells: big-time dark and dried fruits - think raisins & prunes - and a bit of earthiness. Also some plums and grapes in the nose.

T: Candied sugar and darker fruits - plums and raisins. Yeasty earthiness noted. Also a touch of alcohol heat going down, but no real booze noted in the flavor. Finishes clean but with a faint lingering sweetness.

M: Call it medium in heft. Good airy fizziness makes it seem lighter.

O: Very good - a nice beer that was full-flavored yet fairly easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 20:42:07 | More by Kendo

jayhawk73

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a dark cherry red w/ a brown two finger head. Nice carbonation and good lacing. Very dense, and can't really see more than light streaks through it. Nice looking beer.

S- Cherry, rum, figs, malt, sugar sweetness, maybe some whiskey in there? Nice smelling, and the cherry is the predominant smell. Everything is pretty balanced as well, although the mildness of the nose keeps the score from being higher.

T- In addition to the nose, there's a woody-ness to the taste as well. Almost like it was aged in oak barrels, or something to that effect. Nice, but not world class in my humble opinion- it's too one dimensional for that.

M- Very chewy, bready w/ a substantial, but not heavy feel to the beer. Nice.

O- Nice beer, but definitely not best in style for me. Still, it's worth drinking if you haven't tried it before. I enjoyed this one, and glad it wasn't skunked (from the green glass).

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2011 23:43:36 | More by jayhawk73

Reaper16

Alabama

2.95/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

12oz. bottle served into a tulip glass

Pours lighter than expected: a caramel & breadcrust shade of brown. It looks like a brown ale in many respects. A lovely butterscotch head of 1.25 fingers forms, leaving walls of lacing around the entirety of the glass. It's too bad that this beer has, as BA member FernMaster once wrote about another Brasserie des Rocs beer, more floating particles than the first level of Vectorman. Nasty protein clumps fill the glass from the first second of the pour. They make a pretty beer ugly, like Ron Paul tshirts do to girls. It's gross.

Thankfully, this beer has a pretty solid aroma. Candied apples, fruitcake, butterscotch, distant rum, cherry-vanilla, a distant herbal component. No surprises, but everything works well together.

Attempting to drink this beer around the island-sized clumps of protein is difficult. Seriously, I think that Oceanic flight 815 crashed over one of these things. I eventually spooned out the giant ones. The beer itself, well, it's alright. Some warming alcohol notes, lots of fruitcake flavors. A bit of a cola taste on the midpalate, before fading to a pretty meh, sickly-sweet malt finish. This is average stuff. I'd be having a better time drinking it though if I could take normal human sized sips.

The mouthfeel is hard to gauge. I mean, let enough liquid into your mouth and the beer feels like you're drinking cottage cheese. That's not good. If you can somehow strain the beer, then it's ultimately sort of watery for the style. It lacks the proper attenuation that I expect from a BSDA that is on the lighter side of the style.

Overall, I'm going to say that this is an average beer for the style. Because, if you mostly ignore the yeast islands, it is. If you heavily consider the yeast islands though, ugh.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 03:06:14 | More by Reaper16

nickhiller

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: amber-brown, flat, no head.

S: sugary malt, bread and biscuit

T: tastes like an alcohol-free malt drink, no even the faintest suggestion of hops, Belgian candy and brown sugar, biscuit, rubber, topped off by a nice smoky charcoal/cigar finish

M: pleasantly smooth, just enough carbonation to tickle the tongue

O: delicious, I was skeptical going into this--I'm not a huge fan of big malty beers--but this one really surprised.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 00:09:42 | More by nickhiller