Abbaye Des Rocs Grand Cru Belgian Special Brown - Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs s.a.

Damian

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Drank from an 11.2 fl. oz. bottle purchased at New Beer Distributors, New York, NY
Best before end 2009
Served in a goblet

Upon cracking the cap, a stream of bubbly, light tan froth began spewing from the bottle. As I began pouring the foam (and the liquid) into my chalice, large brown blobs began coming out as well. After settling, the liquid itself was a murky, rusty-mahogany color. The beer was topped by a small, creamy head of khaki colored froth, which quickly faded to a thin, lasting cap.

The aroma was amazingly smooth and fragrant. Yeasty and phenolic. Slightly musty. Sweet toffee and dark Belgian candi sugar notes came through strong. Dried fruits including plums, prunes, figs and raisins were also apparent. Slightly boozy. Some vanilla notes were also detectible.

The flavor profile was very similar to the nose. Lots of rich, sweet malts, caramel and Belgian candi sugar notes appeared up front. Dark fruits and strong spice notes came through in the center. Somewhat nutty. There was an interesting, slightly sour, vinous character as well. The finish was a bit boozy, yet surprisingly crisp and off-dry. A touch of bittering hops were detectible as well.

Had it not been for the large sticky blobs of yeast sediment, the mouthfeel would have been quite impressive. The liquid itself was creamy and silky smooth with a fine, frothy effervescence. Toward the drink's end however, I was getting big chunks of yeast with every sip.

I appreciated many aspects of this beer but the yeast chunks greatly detracted from my overall experience. Perhaps I will seek out a fresher bottle next time.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 05:33:29 | More by Damian

lionchow

California

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours deep brown red with many chunks of sediment. Has a finely laced tan head.

Aroma is big, full of grapes, prunes, candi sugar and vanilla. Really beautiful.

Flavor is slightly sour, malty, caramel, sugar, a bit of prune. Flavor is a bit more mellow than the aroma.

Mouthfeel is thin with a little alcohol burn on the back end.

Overall a good taste, but a great aroma.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 19:24:07 | More by lionchow

SkeeterHawk

Texas

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I have had this beer for quite some time. In fact, I may have had it since about 2006 as I got some from one of the brewers at a beer wholesalers convention I was fortunate enough to attend once. Anyway, I imagine that it has settled as I remember this beer having a lot of floaters. Let's see what it is like:

Appearance: I barely got half of the beer out of the bottle before some serious floaters started heading for the opening, so I stopped them and only got a couple in the beer. The beer itself is a clear amber brown color with a solid vortex of bubbles rising to maintain the 1" head for a good while before it starts to fade slowly back into the beer. I have to say that I am pretty turned off by the huge floaters. Not like I am a wuss, but...

Aroma: I initially got some sweet malt with toffee notes and some raisins and other dark fruit. There is a reserved spiciness that is blending well with the beer, and I think that it is as much real spice additions as it is contribution from the alcohol. Some toasty Munich notes and the spice is giving a clear Lavender as the beer warms up a bit.

Taste: The flavor is also complex and fragrant with spice and floral notes complimenting the alcoholic spiciness and sweet toffee malts giving the beer an almost dessert-like impression. Overall the beer is medium bodied with plenty of carbonation, so it comes across quite drinkable despite its high alcohol percent. There really isn't any hops to speak of, but they may be hiding behind the spice. The finish is balanced firmly toward the sweetness with the alcohol staying reserved the whole time.

Opinion: Well, this is a well blended beer, especially at this point. I remember when I got this beer that it was really balanced toward the spice, and it was all so fresh and new that I knew that this beer had to cellar for a while to soften up. Well, I didn't intend on letting it sit for over 5 years, but it has definitely done this beer well. If there weren't so many floaters, this would be pushed up a lot higher for me...but I am not a big fan of chewing my beer unless it is an imperial stout, you know what I mean?

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 02:47:04 | More by SkeeterHawk

boudreaux

Alabama

4.55/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz; Best before: 02/18/2013; classified as a Belgian Special Brown Ale

A: a lot of head in the glass, although it did foam over after popping the top; extremely murky, brownish color with a hint of red

S: sweet & spicy aroma, a little funk to it; typical Belgian yeast, with a touch of candied sugar and yeast

T: pretty solid, like a spicy strong Belgian version of a milder brown ale

M: rough sediment, due to the yeasty, in-bottle fermentation; definitely worth the tongue coating

D: a little yeasty for my tastes; however, a pleasantly refreshing and positive Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 06:03:29 | More by boudreaux

gumushie

California

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

From a 330mL bottle. Drink by date listed as 16/10/2012. Served into a Hoegaarden Grand Cru glass at 55°.

Before I even opened the bottle I noticed a lot of sediments floating around, so I left it to settle for a few more days. I gave up waiting 3 days later. Looking through the bottle, even with no disturbance, there are tons of little flakes of sediment floating around. It looked like a piece of amber.

The Pour: As soon as the cap was cracked the beer gave an impressive 1/2 in. head in the neck. The sediment sort of takes over. It come rushing out no matter how carefully and slowly the bottle was tipped. Formed a very voluminous head, color was cream tinted pink. Despite the lees a gorgeous it had a deep ruby red/brown. However, beer that 'glops' from chunks of stuff is a little disconcerting.

The Aroma: Mouthwatering. It hits you as soon as you start pouring. Like any good beer, you get notes of general types of smells but it's seamlessly and wholly it's own thing. Sweet, caramel, dried raisins/cherries, spiced wine and malt. Delicious and no heat.

The Taste: Though the sediment is potentially a drawback, it certainly wasn't what I was looking to have a mouthfull of, this is a damn good beer. Incredibly smooth (once you get past the lees). It tastes as good as it smells with the addition of dark buckwheat honey and walnuts on the tongue. Like the daytime version of the Rochefort 8. Does not drink like a 9.5% abv!

Overall: I've complained about the lees enough. This is an exceptionally tasting beer. Perfect for cold nights and desserts.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2011 18:47:44 | More by gumushie

Urbancaver

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours reddish brown with lots of white head that sticks around forever. Sweet tart on the nose. Some citrusy smells coming through with lots of sour. bitter tart on the tongue. a lot of fruit coming through with a very dry feel. Great mouthfeel... nice carbonation. A sipper for sure. Too sweet to be drinkable

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 18:28:28 | More by Urbancaver

Frosty80

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Popped the cap and, just as it did with a slightly expired bottle, the carbonation goes nuts for a long period of time, carrying a lot of chunky sediment up to the top before it drops it. need to seek a professional opinion on this

Color: pours a slightly milky, light brown. sits slightly cloudy, light brown with orange hue. head is explosive and massive with tight bubbles with about a 5 min half life.

Smell: like a conservative young lady: really takes some work to get it to open up. concentrated blast of sweet, bready malt, dark fruit notes and light caramel. has a very light toasted character along with some spicy highlights. alcohol is pretty subdued as well as the noble hop presence

Taste: light, peppery spiciness is consistent throughout, from the alcohol and light hops i imagine. caramel and dark fruit notes are in quantities enough to balance and not take over the palate. sweet bread and light toasted notes are found a little deeper. finish is somewhat dry, as is most of the palate, with a tinge of spiciness and bitterness along with a hint of toasted nut and dark fruit

Mouthfeel: medium body with, surprisingly enough, medium carbonation

Notes: very complex. gotta keep swirling and smelling to get this brew to reveal all its secrets. more on the Trappist side of BSD's

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 03:45:28 | More by Frosty80

afinepilsner

Iowa

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz brown bottle
9.5% abv

Brasserie des Rocs Grand Cru was dark brown in color with lots of yeast floating around. It had a huge beige head with good retention and left a little lacing behind. The smell was brown sugar, dried fruit, and spices with a touch of alcohol. The taste was very good and complex with toasty malt, fruit, yeast flavors and spices, and a hint of alcohol. It had a long dry finish. It was medium-full bodied with medium carbonation. Drinkability was outstanding. This is a very good beer and worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 23:54:49 | More by afinepilsner

jrallen34

Illinois

3/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

11.2oz bottle poured into my Narke tulip...Shiney medium copper, much lighter on the sides. Lots of yeast floaties throughout. A tope head rises about two fingers, then falls quickly to a half finger full cap, decent lacing...The aroma is challenging to say the least, tea, yeast, alcohol, and vomit...The taste again is lots of yeast and iced tea, just not feeling this beer at all. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2011 04:00:21 | More by jrallen34

rapidsequence

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle. $8.99 from Beer Run.

Appearance: Pours light brown with a very large, tight head. It recedes, but never completely goes away, leaving at least a half finger of head all the way to the bottom of the glass. Held up in the light, the beer is perfectly clear, with a dark orange-red color. Lacing is minimal. Lots of crap in the bottom of this bottle. Lots.

Smell: Sweet and sour dark fruit and phenolic spice. Musty yeast. I like it, but the musty/sour notes drown are a little too dominant.

Taste: Very spicy and yeasty. Phenolics tend toward bandaid, which is a bit much. Flavorful maltiness. Dark fruit again is somewhat sweet, but with sour notes. Ethanol bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is lively without becoming to sharp or tingly. Creamy and soft in the mouth. Dryish finish.

Drinkability: This is a pretty good BSDA. A bit too musty/spicy/sour, but overall its got a lot of complex, interesting flavor. Not the best of the best, not even close, but good.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 02:06:49 | More by rapidsequence

crnipeter

Slovenia

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle, BB says 28. August 2012, into 180 ml Chimay chalice designed for tasting aged Chimay blue. Pours deep copper-brown body with coarse yeast particles, topped by thick beige airy head that dies out in a minute or so and exhibits even less duration with the later pours. Aroma is rich sherry-like malty sweetness with honeyish notes and unrefined sugar (although the beer is pure-malt one without sugar added), fruity esters of plum and raisin and peppery phenolics. Some barely noticeable spicy alcohol. Flavor is rich , almost Munich-type like malty sweetness with bready notes, dried dark fruits, peppery phenolics and light bitterness toward the finish which is surprisingly dry for a such sweet, malt inclined brew. Medium to full bodied, viscous and creamy with soft carbonation and alcohol warmth.
Abbaye des Rocs remains one of my favorite breweries although their dark strong ales are are somewhat alike and hardly distinguishable.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 23:51:40 | More by crnipeter

mithrascruor

California

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz. bottle poured into a chalice.

Appearance: Pours a dark reddish-brown color; totally solid, though looks a bit hazy. Nice 1-finger off-white, dense foamy head turns into a heavy film.

Smell: There's lots of sweetness in the aroma. Caramel malts, plus some fruits.

Taste: Starts out malty with a bit of caramel. Some plums and other dark fruits come in, followed by a bit of tart cherries. Finishes with citrus flavors, like orange. Malty aftertaste with bittersweet citrus.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and very smooth. Minimal carbonation.

Drinkability: Very drinkable - high ABV but no presence in taste. Good flavor too.

Lots of complexity in the taste, and it isn't too sweet (like I was afraid it would be from the smell). Very enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 22:11:17 | More by mithrascruor

keithmurray

Louisiana

3.48/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

11.2 oz bottle poured into a Duvel snifter

Appearance - Redish brown color, aggresive pour yielded no head. Lots of sediment floating around on this one

Smell - This smells sweet and rich, brown sugar, plums, raisins, red wine, grapes

Taste - Feels like I'm drinking red wine instead of a belgian brown. Red wine, grapes, booze is prominent

Mouthfeel - So much Sediment floating around in this one that the first couple of sips felt like a slushie, remove the sediment and the mouthfeel on this one is a bit thin for a Belgian ale, no carbonation to speak of here, which is puzzling me a bit

Drinkability - compared to other BSDA's I've had, this is far down the list in terms of beverage quality. I may have gotten a bottle that wasn't stored in optimal conditions, but with all the nice choices out there for BSDA's and factoring in the price (~$6 for 11.2 oz) I can't see myself re-visiting this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 04:30:25 | More by keithmurray

ToAzwethinkweizm

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Date: 8 December 2010
Glass: Standard 8.5oz Cervoise
Type: On-tap

Taken from notes on a coaster. Had on-tap @ Tap & Mallet in Rochester, NY.

Poured into standard cervoise, no head, runny lacing, deep clear brown in color. Aroma of amazing toasted malt, almond, and a sweetness like lactose. Taste was sweet, like milk-sweet, so lots of sugar and almond. Extremely complex. Slight sting, but sweet on the palate. I wish I had more time to write about this beer, as it was SUCH a complex Grand Cru.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2010 18:39:43 | More by ToAzwethinkweizm

drabmuh

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass. Beer is brown and hazy and forms a tan dusty head of small bubbles that leaves a little lacing on the glass. Carbonation moderate.

Aroma is sweet and bready with notes of citrus in there. Smells really nice!

Beer is medium in body and heavily carbonated on the palate. Its bright up front with a mixture of citrus and sweetness, good malt backbone. The finish has a slight roast to it but overall its a really nice beer. Well balanced. I think the brightness of the citrus gives this one some character the others were lacking. It's a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 15:24:28 | More by drabmuh

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an oversized tulip.

Big, thick, frothy, light beige head sitting atop a deep brown colored brew. The head settles to a thin wispy layer covering to the sides with a thickened middle.

Smells of dark over-ripened fruits, doughy yeast, caramel and musty, earthy hops.

Tastes like it smells, over-ripened dark fruits - rasins, cherries, spices, caramel, grains, mild vanilla, doughy yeast and mildly bitter hops. The abv is fleeting...

Good carbonation, silky smooth and creamy.

A very good BSDA. If you like the style - I can't imagine not...pick it up, you will not regret it.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2010 01:55:54 | More by ujsplace

mmmbeer

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL green champagne bottle with an indecipherable best-by date; purchased 2-3 years ago. No adjunct sugars in this Belgian brew. Deep amber, with a fluffy tan head and turbulent carbonation that makes the chunks of floaties swirl around like crazy. Smells very rich, almost vinous, with fruity orange notes and a sugary caramel backing. Dense, malty flavor. Nutty, spicy, warming, with mild yeast, and sweet, but not cloying malts. Little, if any, discernible hops, with cherries, plums, raisins and some kind of spice (orange peel?). It is fullish, warming, with numbing carbonation and, apart from the occasional glob of yeast, feels very nice. This is a solid beer that has stood the years very well. Sweet, spicy and malty, and easy to drink despite being all-malt.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2010 12:24:50 | More by mmmbeer

biggred1

Indiana

4.22/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazed, russet brown with a massive creamy tan head and some visable chunks of yeast circulating through the bubbles that jet off of the bottom of the glass. Dark fruit, musky hop and apple cider in the aroma. Alcohol is barely detectable. Tart and cidery with raisin and sour plum flavors and a touch of coriander and herbal hops. Medium bodied with ample carbonation. A nice example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 01:02:09 | More by biggred1

metter98

New York

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is cloudy brown in color and has yeast particles near the bottom of the glass. A thin layer of bubbles is covering the surface.
S: There are aromas of dark fruits and malty sweetness in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste is complex and rather sweet. It has lots of malty and fruity flavors. A very slight amount of bitterness is also perceptible.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a light amount of warming from the alcohol.
D: This is a good beer to sip and appreciate the complexity in the flavors.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 20:30:43 | More by metter98

codewarrior

New York

4.03/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750mL Bomber (L100108072), poured into a chalice.

The label on this bottle - along with it's entire dress - is hilarious and tacky, and it's not surprising that no one yet has uploaded a picture of the bottle. I have a photo of the labels as they are in my journal ... we'll see if that's up to BeerAdvocate snuff.

A: Murky dark brown, very little head.

S: Smells of sweetness and booze, with a little fruit.

T: Sweet and sticky. Iron here in the back, fat bloody finish. Damn good.

D: Complex and lovely in 4 of the 5 or so stages. The finish itself is immaculate, at least 2 stages to it alone, and it goes on for days. Beautiful beer. Beautiful.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 23:54:29 | More by codewarrior

ptykozoon

California

3.93/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to the advocate and trader below me, both of us were able to try this one out, thanks Michael :)

Pours a dirty brown, with a light beige head. Strong tiny bubbles keep retention and lacing undying. Is this bits of sediment I see floating in the beer absolutely everywhere? Strangely antibeautiful..yet intriguing.

Unexpected apple pie coming through, tinge of orange peel, nuts, light floral tidbits.

Strong belgian flavors come through immediately. The cooked apples are there now as well. Very tasty.

Mouthfeel is very smooth and lively. Overflowing yeast works well to make this interesting. Not getting any heat on this one, which is strange..yet nice.

I'll be revisiting this again. I'd love to experiment with this one for sure. Great solid belgian.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 03:39:24 | More by ptykozoon

djmichaelk

Florida

3.98/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

11.2oz bottle into a perfect pint. Grabbed a couple for extras since it was on my tradee's list, so figured I should at least try it before sending.

A - Pours a cloudy medium brown, with a solid-looking two fingers of head. Great retention and lacing.

S - Lots of the usual belgian notes -- figs, dates, raisins. Also some oatmeal cookie and... pumpernickel? Clean and fruity smelling, without the earthiness that I get with some of this style.

T - I can't help but think of oatmeal-raisin cookies. Toffee and caramelized sugar, along with more dark fruit. Alcohol is there but definitely in the background, so it's more complimentary than detrimental.

M - Medium-bodied, with a long-ish dry finish. It might be the yeast, but my mouth is fairly well dry after each sip.

D - Like many in this style, I could easily see myself downing a few of these without an issue. The ABV might get in the way, but I probably wouldn't notice.

O - This beer was a nice surprise, above average in almost every aspect. If I hadn't been looking for extras I doubt I'd ever have picked this one out, but I'm very glad I did. The price is in line with quads and tripels, so I'm putting this in my rotation for when I need a sweet, yeasty fix.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 18:06:37 | More by djmichaelk

aepb1

Florida

3.85/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Special thanks to vapodge for sharing
Poured into a Dogfish Head goblet

A- Dark brown with a small white head

S- Vanilla, fruity and some alcohol/rum

T- Caramel, spiced in the end, there's a nice sequence, one after another with a nutty flavor after the end when you breathe!

M- creamy and smooth with good carbonation

D- Great brown and easy going!

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2010 03:19:46 | More by aepb1

daledeee

Iowa

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured this into a tulip glass and got a nice light tan head with great lacing and clear dark brown body.

Nose at first was absolutely perfect. Vanilla, figs, prunes, raisins. After it aired the nose simplified somewhat but still showed raisins figs and maybe rum.

Taste is great as well. Caramel, rum dark fruits with some spice.

The mouth feel is a little carbonated but acceptable. Alcohol is warming and the taste makes this quite drinkable. Very good dark Belgian. Reminds me of a quad.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2010 22:53:16 | More by daledeee

adamette

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Live review. Poured from the 11.2 oz. brown bottle that I bought from Save-On Tobacco & Beverage in Mentor for $3.75 a few weeks ago into my silver rimmed Orval Chalice. "Best before end" of 09/01/2012 stamped on the lower right of the back label. My bottle features the name "Brasserie Des Rocs Grand Cru."

A Nice light brown creamy head over a brown only slightly translucent body with visible chunks of sediment that I could see as I poured from the bottle and are currently floating on the top of the liquid. Nice, classic look. Bump by 0.5 for a cool darker color on the head where the last pour was, a feature that reminds me of Westvleteren 4.5

S Sweet, bready malt and a nice Belgian yeast smell as well. 3.5

T Bread like sweet malt smell carries right over into the taste. The Belgian yeast smell is not as obvious in the taste and I simply do not taste the ABV listed at or about 10.0%. This, therefore, can be one of those beers that sneaks up you so be careful with this one! 4.0

M Big, thick, chewy, especially with the chunks of what I believe to be yeast sediment (I spooned a few of the larger ones out but felt several others go "down the hatch"). This is a big beer but it is smooth anyhow. Really good feel for the style. 4.5

D One and done for me with the size of the beer, the ABV and, I'll say it, the cost. $3.75 apiece will keep this from being a session beer. Of course I know that the beer is not trying to be a session beer, though. I think that the drinkability is on target for the style but not much higher than that. 3.0

Notes: BA lists it as a retired beer but my local store has about 10 of them with an expiration date in 2012 so maybe it is not retired?

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 04:05:34 | More by adamette