Abbaye Des Rocs [Brasserie Des Rocs Brune] - Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs s.a.

santa109

Quebec (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this at L'autre-oeil in Gatineau, QC.

A: Poured a dark brown with very little head despite an aggressive pour into a chalice. The head retention was disappointing as it took about 20 seconds for the head to completely fade away.

S: Caramel, malt and candy sugar are the dominating aromas. Belgian yeast is also present. Hard to really define.

T: Candy sugar and some ripe dark fruitiness. There is also some brown sugar in there.

M: Medium-bodied with low carbonation. Nothing to brag about in this department.

D: This was the best part of this beer. The alcohol made its presence felt but it was really apparent in the taste.

Overall, it was enjoyable despite being hard to define in the smell and taste departments.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2008 20:57:06 | More by santa109

chinchill

South Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle served in a St. Bernardus snifter.

A: Poured with a thick creamy light tan head on top of a reddish-brown body that has lumps of dark soft solids floating about. Not appealing, but the solids have no nasty effects on feel or flavor, and settle to the bottom anyway so that they could be avoided ... that is, if the beer wasn't so darn good you'll want every drop. Still, a downgrade on looks; it remains high due to the stellar head and lacing.

S: Smell is bready-fruity-floral, with hints of cumin, orange juice, and champagne. Some additional, more earthy and less attractive alcohol esters.

Taste: rich, even given the aroma, and mainly fruity and spicy, although the flavor is subtle and complex. Making appearances are raisins and dates, dark bread, coriander, cumin, ginger and oranges. There's a faint hint of smoke in the aftertaste. This beer is rather sweet but the bitter/sweet blend seems on the spot.

M: Body seems medium-full and, at the same time, light and airy. Very very soft. Only a soft alcohol heat despite 9% ABV.

O: superb; a real treat.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 23:49:46 | More by chinchill

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into chalice, best before 2/12/2013. Pours moderately cloudy reddish brown color with a nice 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with plenty of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big raisin, prune, fig, apple, caramel, molasses, toast, toffee, brown bread, pepper, light clove, and earthy yeast spiciness. Incredible aromas with big complexity and great balance of dark malt and fruity/spicy yeast ester notes; with good strength. Taste of raisin, fig, prune, apple, caramel, molasses, toast, toffee, pepper, light clove, brown bread, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of light and dark fruits, caramel, molasses, toast, toffee, brown bread, pepper, light clove, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Fantastic complexity of malt and spicy/fruity yeast esters; with a great balance of malt/spiciness and no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy, slick, and moderately prickly mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Belgian strong dark ale! Great complexity and balance of malt and fruity/spicy yeast esters; and very smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 03:51:53 | More by superspak

KingEdward

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -23.5%

04-20-2013 23:41:36 | More by KingEdward

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a cloudy to murky dark brown in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation and some ruby red highlights along with significant amounts of yeast sediment in suspension near the bottom of the glass (dark yeast sediment). The beer has a three finger tall dense foamy dark beige head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a slightly thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Overall the aroma for this beer is sweet with notes of caramel and toffee malts and some dark fruits + spices.

T: Similar to the smell, upfront this beer has moderate to strong flavors of sweet malts with notes of caramel and toffee. There are moderate flavors of dark fruit and just a hint of spices. Light amounts of bitterness which fades quickly.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Relatively smooth.

O: Overall the alcohol in this beer is extremely well hidden and this is a very enjoyable beer. Easy to drink and definitely one I would get again. The flavors and aromas intensify as the beer warms.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 21:26:54 | More by dbrauneis

smithj4

New York

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

04-20-2013 21:20:42 | More by smithj4

Ciocanelu

Romania

4.25/5  rDev 0%

04-07-2013 11:34:36 | More by Ciocanelu

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5.9%

04-04-2013 01:33:07 | More by Sparky44

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -5.9%

04-01-2013 00:52:36 | More by NightINgale

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A pleasant surprise to find at te LCBO's in Northern Ontario.

A - Pours a rich ruby red, black in the middle and ruby on the edges, solid thumb of head with decent retention and some sporadic lacing.

S - Rich caramel and burnt sugar, bready malts and a candied caramel apple finish.

T - Much like the nose the burnt sugar and caramel flavours dominate the palette alongside hints of dark fruit, musty caramel and a bready finish.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and surprisingly wet.

O - A tasty brew loaded with flavour and well worth seeking out. Glad I had a chance to try it and will grab an extra bottle or two before they disappear.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:09:29 | More by andrenaline

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

4.75/5  rDev +11.8%

03-23-2013 07:44:59 | More by grahamboudreaux

gtermi

Texas

4.25/5  rDev 0%

03-23-2013 06:08:31 | More by gtermi

mizx

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -5.9%

03-20-2013 16:10:12 | More by mizx

Chrily

Norway

4/5  rDev -5.9%

03-14-2013 12:38:24 | More by Chrily

Matagal

Brazil

5/5  rDev +17.6%

03-11-2013 23:55:43 | More by Matagal

Duvel

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -5.9%

03-09-2013 15:18:41 | More by Duvel

deac83

Texas

4/5  rDev -5.9%

03-02-2013 03:14:17 | More by deac83

nightwolf55la

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

02-19-2013 03:00:38 | More by nightwolf55la

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -5.9%

02-11-2013 21:07:41 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

Mattias

Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -17.6%

01-27-2013 22:20:49 | More by Mattias

mfgreene

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%

01-22-2013 00:53:12 | More by mfgreene

Josiah2729

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev 0%

01-17-2013 14:20:00 | More by Josiah2729

Antnyd82

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev 0%

01-16-2013 05:26:49 | More by Antnyd82

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -11.8%

01-14-2013 00:51:15 | More by spycow

eric5bellies

Australia

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

Been looking forward to this one for some time.

Drank from my Duvel Tulip

A - Pours a nice dark Mhogany cloudy colour with an off white foamy head that retains very well.

S - Plenty of figs, burnt sugars, bread, yeast, caramel and toffee.

T - Up front some nice malty notes followed by some spicey sugars with toffee and fig. The finish is a little warm with a nice bitterness. The balance of flavours is of a very high standard.

M - Medium body with medium to full carbonation.

O - This is a big dark Belgian not for the feint hearted. A must try. The balance in this beer is truely impressive.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 12:49:07 | More by eric5bellies