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

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

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 750ml corked and caged into Westvleteren chalice.

A. Pours 2 finger head. Thick lacing. Really good retention. Color is very dark brown.

S. Caramel, dark fruit, oaky earthiness, belgian yeast. Smells like it is a dryer quad. Gets a little bit sweeter smelling as it warms. Brings out some candi sugar. Also get a bit of creamy spice as the beer warms. Interesting depth of aroma.

T. Drinks pretty dry too. Very interesting. Lots of caramel malt. So much caramel malt flavor it almost pulls the beers flavor away from being called a quad. Get belgian yeast, and a bit of spice on the back of the tongue. Not very sweet.

M. Medium/full bodied. Medium carbonation. Finishes pretty dry.

O. Really good beer. Great aroma. Flavor is not on par with the very best quads. Just not the traditional Belgian flavor of the very top Quads. Has a lot more caramel flavor, and lacks some of the sweetness. Never the less, this is a really good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 01:21:40 | More by siradmiralnelson

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.65/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle courtesy of fthomasl pours a rich crimson color with a fluffed tan head. Awesome lacing upon a decent retention. A good looking beer for sure.

Nose is bananas and chocolate....almost reminds me a bit of Aventinus. Lots of yeast esters and malty goodness....mmm

Taste is chocolate covered bananas with a dusting of cloves...interesting and tasty belgian offering. Id go more BSDA than quad but that is mainly due to the spicy zestiness the beer throws down. Interesting blend of flavors, but a bit on the sweet side for me and the phenols are raging.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 00:31:07 | More by twiggamortis420

Impfan

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Aroma and flavor of dark, candied fruit, caramel, toffee, clove, banana, tart Branston pickle, ginger, lemon and orange peel, and honeyed melon, cherries, grapes, and pears. Very complex and appealing with just the right level of carbonation. One of the better Grand Crus I’ve tasted.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 20:02:31 | More by Impfan

avalon07

South Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Poured from a bottle to a goblet. had a dark brown color and a cloudy consistency. There was a two inch, off white, foamy, long-lasting head. Very good lacing.

S: A big aroma of dark fruit, yeast, sugar, and malt.

T: Tasted of Belgian yeast, toffee, malt, dark fruit (plums, raisins), and some spices (pepper). Slightly boozy, but not overwhelmingly so. A very focused, complex and powerful flavor.

M: A highly carbonated beer with a smooth, prickly finish. Medium-bodied.

O: One of the best Quadrupels I've tried in a while (or ever). Very, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 13:30:14 | More by avalon07

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

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

A gift from brewandbbq, thanks for the opportunity Jeff!
Pours a deep reddish orange color with a huge bubbly off white head that persists forever. The smell is quite fruity. Orange and cherries and raisins in front of a solid caramel and darker sugar back drop with a hint of alcohol. The flavor is quite fruity as well with orange and citrus mixed with some sweet cherries raisins and plums. A solid caramel and melanoidin malt sweetness provides a nice balance against the fruit. There's a warming alcohol, but its very faint and never harsh. Medium to thick body with a moderate to high level of carbonation and a sweet almost syrupy mouthfeel. This is a very nice quad, the citrus flavor adds a nice dimension to this brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 00:28:06 | More by johnnnniee

rarbring

Sweden

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

The brew is clouded chestnut, an off-white small head with little lacing but heavy curtains.

Smelling of dried or ripe fruits, bananas, spices, some acidity. Much Belgian.

Tasting sweet, brown biscuits, syrup, brown sugar, ripe fruits, some faint bitter cherry seed nuances.

Medium carbonation, foamy small bubbles, soft and smooth, a big body.

A very rewarding and in every sense great beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 18:40:39 | More by rarbring

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

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

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

750ml bottle poured in a snifter.

A: Pours a deep dark amber color forming a huge yellow head. Particles floating around. Good retention and many lacings left

S: Very sweet and fruity (plums). Candy sugar, caramel malts, Belgian yeasts and alcohol. Bit of earthy hops

T: Follows the nose. Sweet upfront. Very malty. Candy sugar, Belgian yeasts, dark fruit esters (plums and raisins). Alcohol in the end. In overall, a sweet beer

M: Heavy creamy and molasses body. Good mild bitter aftertaste

O: Good drinkability. Nice Quad

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 19:55:03 | More by eduardolinhalis

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

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

Had first heard about this beer from Ml67 (Mark) and he said it was incredible. While visiting Moeder Lambic in Brussels I saw this on the menu. Just had to have it. Very glad I did. Excellent beer.

Being in Brussels needless to say it was served in the proper and specific glassware. There was a thick/tight beige head with awesome retention. Dark brown with burgundy/purple tones. Some foam lines the glass as you work through the beer.

Aroma hangs heavy in your nostril and if filled with sweet, rope dark fruit. Plum, fig, light spice and some yeast notes. There is a sweetness to this that is very pleasant.

The flavor follows the aroma, but is a bit more complex. Raisins, plums, fig present along with some cherry coke. Black Pepper and subtle anise. Lots going on here. The layers of malt flavor are very nice.

Thick body, shy of sticky…but in the neighborhood.

Mark was right. (not that I doubted him) This is a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 11:29:48 | More by Reagan1984

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

danedelman

Pennsylvania

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

A-dark brown with creamy white head. Nice lacing on glass as you drink.

S-dried fruit, candi sugar, molasses and malt dark

T-very smooth at 10.5%. Lots of raisin, fig, and dark candi sugar all very well blended together. All work well together and produce an awesome brew.

M-very drinkable, if the abv wasn't so high could session this one!!

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 22:19:12 | More by danedelman

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

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: 1/2" tan coloured head that remained and left a nice lacing over a deep and rich coloured dark brown liquid. The carbonation was steady. Beautiful.

S: Very sweet. Strong Belgian yeast smells of cherries, figs, plums and pears dominate the smell profile.

T: The taste is very similar to the smell. Very sweet with flavours of figs, plums, cherries, dark grapes and some pears on the back end. The malt is sweet and biscuity with a hint of toffee. I would give it perfect marks taste-wise, however, I found it to be a little too sweet and just a faint bit metallic on the back end.

M: Medium to thick viscosity and a high level of fine carbonation.

O: A beautiful beer that ranks up there with some of the best Quads and Belgian Strong Dark Ales that I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 23:53:10 | More by DaftCaskBC

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out as a deep amber/brown color with a tan colored head on top. The smell of the beer was a little sour ot funky... It worried me a little bit, I was expected a sweet malty aroma and I got something that reminded me of a Wild Ale. The taste however completely made up for the aroma. The sweet malt and candy like flavors that a quality Quad has were in there and very pronounced. The beer tastes sweet with minimal bitterness. The mouthfeel was pretty good, it was moderately thick feeling with a low carbonation to it. Overall I enjoyed it, the smell still doesn't please me but the beer in general is quite good.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 02:57:08 | More by Knapp85

gfreed

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Found a bottle gathering dust at one of the beer stores on my regular route. Given the ABV and the quadness, I figured that even if it really had been sitting eternally on a shelf it wouldn't be rotten and old. As it turns out, this really wasn't too bad but it leans toward being gritty-sweet, similar to the frosting on a supermarket sheet cake. Dark-brown to near-black; decent head, if a bit thin; sugary aroma mixed with a Dr. Peppery pruniness; a taste of peaches and figs and then the slightly out-of-bounds sugar. Definitely mellows out upon warming, and makes a nice winter accompaniment to beef stew, popcorn and a decent Hollywood Western. I took about 90 minutes to drink half the bottle; by the bottom of the glass my opinion had definitely risen (although that may just have been the 10.5% talking).

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 21:48:43 | More by gfreed

draheim

Washington

4.18/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750mL (best by 12/11? on cork) poured into a chalice. Crystal-clear mahogany color w/ a 1-finger khaki head. Nice bright carb.

Aroma is vinous grapes and some dark sugary fruits.

Taste is plums, dark candi sugar, grapes, and sweet malt. A little alcohol burn too, which I actually like.

Mouthfeel is velvety and smooth, with a clean dry finish.

Overall this one surprised me, I really liked it as a sipper over a dinner of Thanksgiving leftovers. Nice and warm and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 03:22:44 | More by draheim

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

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

Val-Dieu Grand Cru

Abbey Ale from Belgium, the Val-Dieu Grand Cru pours a clear deep amber hue with an inch of bubbly film. Active carbonation rises from the bottom of the etched goblet. Aromas of grape, belgian yeast, and sweet malts. In the taste, raisin, brown sugar, mild sweetness and finishes clean and dry. Effervescent, medium bodied with very solid flavor. Enjoyable for being surprisingly light given it's strength, and flavorful at that. A fine example of a Quad.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 02:03:16 | More by Stinkypuss

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

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.13/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Thirstybird for sharing. 750ml corked and caged bottle purchased in 2009. Cork reads 02/10. Pours a hazy mahogany with an off-white head and thick bands of lacing that are revealed as the brew is consumed. Nose suggests a bit of oxidation, yeast and dark fruit (primarily prunes). This beer taste great - vinous, dark fruits interspersed with a subtle spicy character. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a crisp carbonation that leaves a residual bite at the back of the throat. A very solid Quad - carbonation is bit too assertive, but not overly off-putting. Not mind-blowing but really quite pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 00:42:05 | More by Jwale73

Mar02x

Netherlands

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

I tried this beer on the Zythos beer festival in March 2011 for the first time, and it was the winner that day!! I loved it ever since.
At a beer tasting on the 26th of august this year, this beer had the honor to be tasted after the Dark Lord 2010. It hurts to say that it made a knee fall that evening. To the 'Brabander' I would like to say: I'll be back!

A - Beautiful dark brown with a nice head.

S - Very nice on the nose, dark fruit, some vinous characteristics.

T - Very rich flavor profile, a bit sweet and some wine like flavors.

M - Good carbonation, and smooth but maybe not quite as smooth as the Westvleteren 12.

O - Strong taste, nice after dinner beer. A very, very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 19:23:14 | More by Mar02x