Val-Dieu Grand Cru - Brasserie de l'Abbaye du Val-Dieu

UCLABrewN84

California

4.05/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

Pours a clear dark orange-brown with a foamy tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, dark fruit, and slight spice aromas. Taste is much the same with fruity and spice flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 02:29:03 | More by UCLABrewN84

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

On tap @ Chez Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Brussels, Belgium) on 7/5/12. Served in goblet.

Pours a near black in the glass, topped with 1 ½ fingers of rich off-white froth. This retains with a thin creaminess that soaps the sides of the glass with thick swathes of glass. The aroma is a dark fruit explosion, with a strong spiciness (anise is really sticking out) and a sticky underpinning of molasses and brown sugar flavors. This is very rich and flavorful in the nose.

The taste is RICH! Dark fruit, cocoa, molasses, brown sugar, toffee, and licorice all leading into a dry and spicy feeling finish. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied, with a light prickliness on the tongue and then more of a smooth silkiness that fills out the rest of the mouth. The alcohol here is present and while not overly warm in any way, it does start to wear on the palette just a bit.

Man, this was a damn good Quad! It was extremely flavorful and smooth for the size and was just a real treat to end our meal with. I’m glad we can get these beers in the States. Val-Dieu is on my radar in a big way now.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 16:56:20 | More by Kegatron

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Moeder Lambic Fontainas, served in a Val-Dieu goblet.

A: Deep persimmon body under a finger of creamy, very fine tan head. Great retention, good lace. Excellent.

S: Rich, sweet dark fruits, dessert wine, and a chocolate. Lots of figs, grapes, raisins, and plums. Minor spice, chocolate, and alcohol. Terrific.

T: Fruity up front, with some rich malt sweetness building in behind the dark fruits. Spicy booze on the finish. Sweet, complex, and great.

M: Fairly full-bodied, sticky, and full of creamy, rich carbonation. Decadent.

O: This was a spectacular Quad, probably my favorite that I drank while in Belgium (no, I didn't have Westvleteren, but I did have tons of Rochefort 10).

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2012 12:53:27 | More by woosterbill

wedge

North Carolina

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

@ Woody's

Served in a Val-Dieu chalice, which was a nice surprise. Very dark brown, nearly black in the dim lighting with an attractive silky beige covering on top. Sweet raisin aromas dominate upfront, opening up to reveal strawberry, cherry, caramel, chocolate, banana, and vanilla...very nice. Somewhat less fruity flavor, though the raisin continues along with plum, fig, and caramel malt. No booze at all. Medium-full bodied with very light carbonation making it satisfyingly smooth. I really liked this one...

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2012 14:05:46 | More by wedge

beerpirates

Belgium

4.3/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap @ moeder lambic " zwanze day "

A- Pours a dark ruby / crimson color, almost black. Produced a fingers width of white creamy head. As the beer warmed, lacing became more prevalent.

S- I love the smell of aged quads. Loads of dark fruit consisting of figs, prunes, and raisins along with ripe pear. Also carried some sweetness from malts. Just fantastic.

T- Much like the nose...great combination of ripe fruits and sweet malts. Really enjoyed how the fruit flavors were distinct. Sometimes the sweetness can be overdone in big beers, but this had just the right amount. Very mellow and blended perfectly.

M- Medium to full bodied. Pretty carbonated. My only knock is that it could have been a bit more viscous.

D- While the aroma and taste were great, this is still a big beer. That being said, the alcohol really mellowed out as compared to the fresh version.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2011 17:15:52 | More by beerpirates

Thorpe429

Illinois

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

On tap at Moeder Lambic Fontainas during our trip to Belgium last week. Reviewed from notes.

Served in a Val-Dieu chalice.

Pours a very dark brown with hints of mahogany and a really nice light tan head that lasts for quite awhile.

The nose brings some light roast as well as a good amount of dark fruit and a fairly-prominent anise character. Light booze. Flavor mixes dark fruits and anise quite well, leading to a nice finish after a medium body. Really interesting and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 13:42:17 | More by Thorpe429

ehammond1

California

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

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Dark amber, ruby, and brown with a very thin khaki head. Lined lacing down the glass. Can't come out looking much better from the tap.

The aroma is of prunes and raisins, some alcohol, rye bread, and a bit of spicy, tangy yeast. Good, but I wish there was less of an alcohol presence.

I have a similar complaint with the flavor. The dark fruits, yeast, and tangy rye bread are all very good, though (and perhaps because I tend to judge my quads tougher than most any other style) I'm disappointed in how present the alcohol is in the flavor. A delicious sipper, though it does have room to improve. I would love to try this one aged.

Medium to thick mouthfeel. Somewhat thick and creamy.

A good quad, with just a touch too much alcohol heat.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2011 17:53:17 | More by ehammond1

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: on tap at Ebenezer's Pub, Lovell, ME

Served on tap, poured into a chalice; a dark mahogany brown with a small eggshell head that left some nice lacing on the glass. Aromas of dark sugars, rich maltiness, and notes of dark, dried fruit. Nice array of flavors on the palate, with yeasty bread, brown sugar and caramel, raisins, pears, plums. Smooth and medium-bodied, and pleasantly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2011 23:03:11 | More by Rifugium

trevorjn06

Washington

4.45/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep mahogany/brown with a thick, tight mouse-like head that lingers. Thick lacing down the glass.

Aroma is rich stone fruits, figs, plums, raisins, molasses, burnt sugar and dark caramels. Wonderful.

Taste follows the nose with sweet, dark caramels and dark fruits. There is a bit of burnt sugar, sweet malt, molasses, moving into plums, raisins, figs and a bit of Munich malt like bready character. Finish has hints of alcohol and dark fruits that linger for awhile. A very pleasing taste that lingers.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall this is an amazing beer: strong, full bodied flavor with a great complexity and lasting finish. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2011 03:09:46 | More by trevorjn06

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.65/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: Poured a deep purplish color with good carbonation leaving a nice dirty cap and bubbles, some lacing

S: Sweet candy, loads of fruit(grapes, lighter prunes, figs, very nice

T: Amazing. The moment I sipped this I said "Wow". Very tasty. Loads of nice dark grapes, not overly ripe but fresh, some figs, raisins and a light prune, some candy sugar, brown sugar, molasses. So sweet and easy toi drink. The booze is light but no way did it taste at 10%. Killer beer.

M: Medium body, not heavy, booze is masked well, loads of flavor

O: I believe this sets the standard for Gran Cru's. I found it to be awesome and it beer be at $9

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2011 01:53:10 | More by barleywinefiend

Wowcoolman

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I thank Hop-head Mike for making sure I've had this both on-tap and from the bottle. Either way try to check this one out.
There's a noticeable jump in character from the Val-Dieu Triple. It's bigger, darker, and sweeter. The sweetness is a fundamental driving character here- we get notes of caramel and brown sugar and some dried fruit backed by the malt. This is pure Candyland for adults, with the alcohol subtly enhancing the mix, but not overpowering.
There are quads out there that have more complexity and bigger flavor profiles. Compared to some of those, this one may not be the greatest beer on the planet. Let those ones stand as a main course. This ones for dessert.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2011 04:18:18 | More by Wowcoolman

Halcyondays

California

3.58/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a dark brown with a remarkably white head compared to the base beer. Some nice lace.

S: Brown sugar, raisins, dark candi sugar is prominent.

T: Has the classic dark candi sugar quad flavour but really nothing else. Some raisin and prune, but lacking complexity. Just going through the motions.

M: Medium-bodied, very smooth, light carbonation.

D: A solid quad, but the complexity and flavour was considerably better in the Brune which I had back in the day.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2010 23:50:38 | More by Halcyondays

beertunes

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served in a glass that was a cross between a flute and a tulip. Poured a very dark brown, really light black, with 3/4 of an inch of tan head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma was a slightly sweet blend of malt and fruity scents, not really any yeast on the nose. the flavors were also rich and dark, featuring a bit of fruit, solid malts and a bit of yeast.

The body was full, rich and smooth. Drinkability was great, couldn't be better. Overall, a true gem of a beer, worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2010 19:29:12 | More by beertunes

ekmoody

Wisconsin

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

A nice deep ruby colored beer with about a finger of white head. Aroma of dark fruits, bready yeasts, some mild sweetness. Taste is similar to the smell, a delicious blend of fruit, spices, and malt. The 10.5% abv is definitely not apparent in the flavor. Overall I really enjoyed this one. Of course, it's not something I'd have more than one of in a sitting, but I'd certainly have one again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2010 14:01:12 | More by ekmoody

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at 6 & Save in New Kensington, PA.

Poured into a goblet very dark, looked medium-bodied, with a thin dusting & ring of head. Ruby highlights. Full lacing, like the inside of the glass was coated in gauze.

Smells of dark, rich fruit: cherry, grape. Like a pudding.

Taste is fab! Rich, candied fruit, bready, spices like cinnamon & sugar. Under that is kind of a crispy, biscuity malt character reminiscent of an Oktoberfest, gives it a little backbone. Some caramel pops up. Wonderful.

The mouthfeel is full, kind of sticky sweet, to be expected.

This was delicious. Did not find the alcohol imposing, or even really noticeable. This is like a rich dessert: one is plenty, but you can't help yourself going back for another helping.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2009 12:17:49 | More by OneDropSoup

Soneast

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap at Brasserie V in Madison, served in a Val-Dieu chalice. Pours a brown color with some copper tones. The light brown head is thick and pillowy and hangs on for the entire ride. I had to drink through suds right down to the very last sip. Great retention! Lace....Talk about lace! This more or less pulled a sheet of bubbles down the entire glass as I drank.

The aroma reminded me of black cherry so definitely some dark fruits on the nose as well as a well defined sweet malt and some brown sugar-ish/toasted caramel presence with little to no alcohol detected.

The flavor is quite complex, although predominated by the dark fruit character with black cherries being the dominant fruit I'd associate it with, as well as an underlying raisin, some brown sugar flavors, a mild chocolate presence throughout, and just a hint of hop spiciness towards the end to round out the flavor profile.

I was thoroughly impressed with this beer. Just silky smooth, leaving a delectable presence on the palate. Quite an easy drinker too, although it would probably be best to keep this to one or two glasses. Those Belgian Strong Dark Ales and Quads never cease to amaze me with their ability to pack an amazing flavor-punch, yet retain a low alcohol presence, despite the high ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2009 00:58:04 | More by Soneast

willjschmidt

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at La Trappe in SF in the proper glass.

A: Pours a dark brown hue with a tan head.

S: Sweet dark fruits, some brown sugar.

T: Dark fruits in the form of plums, figs, and some cherries. Some brown and candied sugar in there as well. A great quad.

M: Smooth and rich.

D: A very drinkable beer, I could easily sip this all night although the high ABV would get me in the end.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2009 15:46:16 | More by willjschmidt

discovolante65

Rhode Island

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

Had this on tap at Track84 in Warwick, RI

Pours a prune-purple brownish color with a 1-inch off white head that reminded me of sea-foam.

Smells of brown sugar, malty/toffee goodness, and raisins/cherries. Slight alcohol smell at the end.

Tastes of malts/brown sugar, toffee and maybe caramel. The taste is almost an exact replica of the smell.

Mouthfeel is creamy, fizzy,and lingering with deliciousness. coated my mouth and throat nicely for quite a while.

Drinkability- were it not for the high ABV, I would've had more, but I was driving, so I shifted to something with a lower ABV. Next time I come here, not driving, and having more than one of these. Excellent Quad!!!

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2009 21:42:20 | More by discovolante65

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served on-tap At brigid's in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a dark purple/black almost prune-like color with a thin off-white foamy head. Aroma is dominated by chocolate maltiness, dark fruit and toast. Very smooth drinking beer that masks the high abv very well. Smooth creamy maltiness lasts throughout with dark chocolate, fig, toast, caramel and toffee notes. Slight dry finish.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2008 09:02:11 | More by corby112

Atron67

Wisconsin

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

Just had this over at Brasserie V in madison

A- was a deep walnut brown with a strong red hue under light with a thin tan head on top that lasted pretty long

S- big earthy characteristics, caramel and biscuit character, with a great yeast and fruit undertone throughout. pretty decent yeast character all over and really nice

T- this works together great, all the things that you can notice in the nose is there as well, and they all are blended together pretty smoothly and gives a really smooth overall character that has no hint of the alcohol. very rich and well enjoyed

M- creamy full body, light carbonation, lingering body

D- very good

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2008 22:27:10 | More by Atron67

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

It's rare to see this beer and I've never seen it on tap before. Oh that's right, I'm at 72 hours of Belgium at Max's.

The beer pours a brownish color with great head retention and lacing. On the nose one gets chocolate, brown sugar and honey. The flavor profile replicates the nose and is just delicious. Very soft and creamy on the palate. The abv. is well disguised.

Fabulous stuff. Just absolute nectar.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2008 18:11:59 | More by johnmichaelsen

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Deep mahogany with a medium head, bubbles clinging to the sides under the surface. The head is thick and clings to the sides of the glass.

S - Prunes, raisins, caramel malt and molasses. An okay aroma, abv is faintly detectable.

T - Malty, raisins, dates, a touch of dry grapes and alcohol. Aftertaste is faint linger fruitiness and alcohol. A touch of overripe bananas,

M - Thick, smooth, slick, very frefreshing and delcious.

d - Pretty good. I'd have it again, but I am in no hurry to do so.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2007 03:15:54 | More by mrasskicktastic

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Corked bottle...nice pop...poured in a Corsendonk chalice. Cork says 10/2014.
Dark brown with a beige head.
Rich aroma of sweet malts, slight plum, pear & prune.
Significant carbonation and big mouthfeel.
Flavors of candy sugar, molassas, dark roasted malts, caramel, cocoa, slight carob, rosemary, sarsaparilla...lets give this a few minutes...
Yeah baby...there's a small remaining head and the aroma remains strong and sweet...flavors are strong with a sweet biting malt distinctiveness.
I'll admit I did represent this brewery in California in 2007 and found all their brews excellent...great yeast and big malt profiles. The Grand Cru has a touch more of a bite than the others, but nevertheless a lovely beer, fresh or with a few years age.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 03:39:12 | More by DenverLogan

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.24/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle, best before Jan 2014. I had no idea that this was a Quad - otherwise I might have gotten to it much sooner upon its arrival in Alberta a while back. It possesses a crappy, unmovable Champagne-style cork, which at least gives my recently idle corkscrew something to do - silver linings!

This beer pours a hazy, fine sediment-strewn dark copper-amber hue, with three ambitious fingers of puffy, shiny, thinly foamy ecru head, which leaves a few dense, sudsy instances of hanging curtain lace around the glass as it duly melts away.

It smells of dark, complex sour fruit - plums and bruised banana, mostly - earthy yeast, light caramel malt, a bit of astringent woodiness, a touch of brewer's sugar, mild nutty chocolate, and a musty, somewhat dank hoppiness. The taste is a fair bit sweeter than let on by the nose, with a steadily subtle caramel/toffee malt, some nicely muddled black/brown fruit - again led by overripe bananas and saucy prunes - bittersweet chocolate, mild clove and faint white pepper spice, ethereal Belgian yeast, and a dull hum of moderately musty, dusty, earthy hops.

The carbonation is average, with a bit of lifting pep, and nothing more, the body an almost hefty, but that's a-ok, medium weight, with a dulcet, understatedly creamy smoothness. It finishes on the sweet side, but in a oh-so moderated manner - fruit, malt, yeast, and a conspicuously absolute absence of booze warming.

While maybe not on a totally even par with the Rocheforts and Westvleterens of this focused little world, Val-Dieu's Grand Cru (I just love saying that, for some reason) still comes off as a serious player, in both flavour and otherworldly complexity. I still can't inwardly reconcile how they sneaked a 21-proof ABV offering past me so cleanly, so additional kudos for that.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 03:47:25 | More by biboergosum

PHSCAPT

Pennsylvania

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

A – mahogany dark, turbid orange when held to a light; poured at 60F into a Chimay goblet; a pinky finger of creamy white head
S – seriously…I get macaroni and cheese mixed with an apple shed
T – Nicely boozy; sweet dark fruits with slightly dry finish
M – finely carbonated, very smooth
O - Definitely a re-buy

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 21:45:21 | More by PHSCAPT