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

89Vision

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The first thing I noticed about this beer upon uncorking it was the smell. It has a very sweet smell with a faint tartness that I found to be quite pleasant, though a little stronger than I'm used to from Abbey ales.

Poured into a chalice, the color is a very dark, deep brown. I was disappointed that there was no real head to speak of, and it quickly faded. The color was nice and about what you'd expect from a quad, but the head retention was much less than what I've come to expect from an Abbey ale.

The beer was colder than what was suggested on the bottle, but I was impatient and dove right in. The taste was about what I was expecting form the aroma. Very sweet, tasting of grapes, a faint taste of cherries, and the raisin/fig quality found in most Abbey ales. When colder, its definitely a little too sweet for my liking. As it warmed, it mellowed out and the taste was significantly better. The high alcohol content (10.5%) is also hidden quite well.

In all, I enjoyed this beer, but I don't think its something I would seek out again. To me, it was a little overpowering and less subtle and complex than other Abbey ales.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2010 02:06:38 | More by 89Vision

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

mithrascruor

California

3.7/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle poured into a chalice.

Appearance: A very dark pour, with reddish-brown highlights at the edges. Nice off-white head is creamy and foamy, with good retention. Some nice lacing as well.

Smell: Quite different than I imagined, since it is not heavy at all. I am getting the lightness of, say, strawberries and cream, though the actual aroma is more of caramel and fruit.

Taste: Has a pretty mellow fruity caramel flavor. I catch some raisins, apples, and hints of spice (cinnamon, nutmeg). Not much in the way of darker fruits, clove, yeast, or brown sugar. There's some more sweetness up front, and a bit of bitterness in the aftertaste, but overall, a pretty even keel throughout.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and smooth with light yet constant carbonation.

Drinkability: High ABV but not really apparent in the flavor.

A nice beer, but I don't really feel impressed by it. It lacks the dark, heady flavors that I generally associate with this style, and after a while starts to taste a tad too sweet. Not bad, but I was expecting something more and I'll pass on this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 00:02:34 | More by mithrascruor

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

Brabander

Netherlands

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

We drank this beer during at tasting at Mar02x place in Vlissingen a week ago. This beer had bad luck to come just after we tasted a Dark Lord. I did quit nice....

Fluid is normal to darkbrown. Little head. Smell and taste are a bit sweet. Well balanced beer where the alcohol was pretty well hidden. Corbonation was normal.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 09:02:16 | More by Brabander

Crosling

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -10%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Burgundy color, with a full and creamy foam that lasts. Lightly aromatic, with hints of burnt popcorn, brandy, dark fruit (plum) and the attributes of Belgian Yeast. Flavor is very rich and full, with extremely well hidden alcohol, fruit, chocolate and Belgian yeast.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2007 03:36:29 | More by Crosling

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

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.88/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shared a bottle with Rob earlier this summer. Review from notes.

Poured into two goblets from a 750mL bottle. This beer appears a cinnamon brown hue with a decent sized head and adequate lacing on the glass.

Belgian yeast aromas with sweet malts, figs, alcohol.

This beer is a little hotter and a sweeter than I would prefer. There are some nice notes of dark fruits soaked in alcohol and classic Belgian yeast strain flavors, but this is a step below the upper echelon of Belgian quads.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 03:35:37 | More by Huhzubendah

charlzm

California

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

Consumed October 17th, 2010 at the Los Angeles Beer Week Festival.

Beer pours a clear but very dark brown with a clingy one finger off-white head.

Nutmeg and dark sweet malt in the nose.

The flavor is mostly about bready malt; molasses, nutmeg and prunes play supporting roles. A sharp white grape note leaps in near the finish.

Smooth but boozy on the finish.

Its heft renders it not terribly drinkable, but impressive nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 03:49:14 | More by charlzm

Sachsenfreude

Germany

3.9/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

appearance; thick and creamy beige head, perfect retention throughout the drink. Beautiful chunky lacing, dark, brownish amber body.

smell; much like the style but muted and lacking the complexity of some of the big boys. A bit of stale grass and sugar with alcohol stands out.

taste; a tad bit too sweet, very nice aftertaste, complex with a good, touch of light hop balance and alcohol. Hints of cherries soaked in whiskey.

mouthfeel; on the light end of heavy bodied, creamy and warming with a sticky finish.

overall; A nice drink but lacking the usual complexities of the style. Still a great drink and well worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 01:29:48 | More by Sachsenfreude

geexploitation

Indiana

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

Pours very, very dark -- nearly black, with only shy tawny highlights that show up with the liquid at a very low level. Strong Brussels lacing, little head. One of the darkest Belgians I've ever seen. Aromas are predominantly sweet, with roasted coffee, cola, dark candi sugar, and some bubble gum leading the way. Very rich, sumptuous aroma. On the palate, cola tastes lead the way, from syrupy sweetness right down to that tarty cola tang. Nutty at the mid-palate, then creamy, before drying out at the finish. Mouthfeel is full of carbonation and thick malts. Overall, this is a big, sweet, smooth quadrupel. I wasn't crazy about the cola flavors, but it's in line with style and well executed. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2007 03:53:30 | More by geexploitation

fragilemacabre

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I first tried this fresh from chillage, and I was NOT pleased. It reminded me of the bitter, flat characteristics of Gulden Draak (which I had been led to have high hopes for).

Another try while it was warmer, however? It has a good bready smell to it, almost a sourdough, with a deep, dark sweetness to it, and its head and lacing upon warming up are impressive. The molasses flavor that was overpowering and cloying while cold mellow out into a maltier and bittersweet profile.

I won't ever drink this cold, but warmed, it is happy for the taste buds (and the warming of cheeks)

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 08:16:38 | More by fragilemacabre

JoeAmerican77

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

App-Poured a rich dark mahogany, very little head which sooner than later equalled no head.

Smell- Smells faintly of dark fruits and alcohol, a little bit of licorice root. A slight sourness to the aroma almost lambic like.

Taste- A soft Sweet, front meets you from the get go. Generous amounts of candy sugars and phenol nips. A thick mallasses flavor and some sour citrus in the back. Once warmed is opens to a thick and sweet treat.

Mouthfeel- Full-bodied and thick in the mouth, blankets the tongue. Lightly dispersed carbonation and the alcohol tends to help clear the palate in a decent way at the end of each sip.

Drinkability: Heck yes, get one and enjoy the dark flavors that await. Brewery's best offering maybe?

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 05:01:10 | More by JoeAmerican77

BretSikkink

Mexico

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Deep violet, opaque, nearly black, almosr, under a fine sheath of creamy froth...I like the look, so far...
Dark chocolatey color, style-appropriate. Nice.
Big yeast carbonation in the nose. "Dark" spices - pepper, anise.
Good flavor, a touch understated for a quad, which can be nice. Dark malts, roast, coffee. Carbonated enough to be reminiscient of spiked Coke. Honestly, it smells like bread yeast. It's good, not overly complex but not a pretender. Full bodied, but hides double digits nicely.

Thick in the mouth, gets more viscous when warm. Good for the style and the aftertaste is less intense than others 10+% beers. Finishing the bottle was hard for me, not necessarily the taste just the heavy characteristics. Great beer.



Taste: mmmm-MMM!!!Espresso whispers, cola hushes, dark fruits and anise, black pepper peeps in, black and chocolate malt, and delicious Belgian malt and yeast. Mmm, darkness and spice aplenty! Yu-um! That's what makes this special, this particular sparkling spiciness....a bit rough in the texture, burrs against the buds to much, methinks...but then this unique and wondrous flavor creeps in ...too much...

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2007 05:24:15 | More by BretSikkink

4thoseabout2bock

Illinois

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

Poured very dark and clear into goblet
nice lacing

toffee, caramel sweetness in the aroma

The taste was surprisingly sweet (even for a strong Belgian beer) and lacked complexity as compared to other vleteren quads. I got some toffee/caramel/candy sugar, and a little alcohol. Maybe a little raisin. But not really much else. This was sort of like a St Bernadus 12 "light" in flavor -- it had the same top notes, but not much behind it.

Glad I tried it, and nothing wrong with it. But there are other quads I prefer.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2007 17:12:37 | More by 4thoseabout2bock

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

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

Bottle: Poured a clear deep brown color ale with a full foamy head with good retention and great lacing. Aroma consists of sweet malt with some candi sugar and some dry fruit characteristics. Taste is also a well balance mix between rich Belgian malt with notes of candi sugar and some dry fruits such as raisins and plums. Full body with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very well done and some thing that I would have on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2008 20:04:14 | More by Phyl21ca

treyrab

Pennsylvania

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

Had this at Zeno's, State College last night and split with a fellow BA...

A: A semi-hazy dark Belgian color. Murky dark copper with a nice big head that lasts and laces decently.

S: Tons of banana, dark fruits, clove, spice. The smell here is really robust.

T: Does not lack complexity by any means. Very flavorful with sweet fruits dominating. This reminds me a lot of Southampton Abbot 12, but not as sweet. A lot of banana and clove in the taste as well..

Overall, this is a great Grand Cru and/or Quad.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2008 21:44:44 | More by treyrab

phishgator

Florida

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

Poured into a Chimay glass. Deep brown in color with a medium head, low carbonation. The aroma is of rasins and plum. The taste is a touch of sour rasins, but a mix that is warming as it goes down. The alcohol is well hidden, but hits you at the end. The body if full and rich. This makes for and enjoyable drinking experience. A very smooth drink with a good amount of subtle flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2008 13:27:40 | More by phishgator

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a chalice)
cork says 2/10
A- This beer pours a dark dense brown body with a light brown glow at the base of the glass. There is a big beige oatmeal head that is rocky but simmers down to a thick creamy head as it sticks to the glass with each sip. There is a strong carbonation of tiny bubbles that keep the head strong.

S- The mysterious aroma is well blended and hard to describe with qualities of dry brown malt and old wood notes without oak but it has some cream and some molasses hints. The finish has some dry dark toffee notes.

T- The light brown malt flavor is well blended and fairly dry with a dry aged wood note and a slight tart hint that has some roasted malt qualities which grow as the beer warms. The finish is a dry candy sugar flavor with some grapefruit rind and brie rind flavors that are from yeast not hops.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with no alcohol heat until it warms a good bit and then there is only a soft boozy alcohol flavor.

D- This beer really opens up as it warms and has a nice mysterious complexity making it a easy drink especially for a 10.50 ABV. It didn't have that wow flavor that pulled in lots of flavors but it was pleasant to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 14:04:44 | More by rhoadsrage

clayrock81

Virginia

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

Pours a dense black body that leaves a big head and lace ring down the entire glass. A mix of roasted, coffee, burnt chocolate, toffee, oak, maple...I'm picking up a lot of malts and hints of fruit. A thick bodied and stick beer that is a little dry, has a large portion of roasted and burnt malts with some sweetness from chocolate, vanilla and caramel (even licorice). Not quite sure but I know tasting something like maple or molasses along with a berry type fruit. Finish is dry and a tad bit of an alcohol burn. A quality quad that is meant to sip and enjoy for a very long time...it's just that heavy and like a meal in a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2009 13:37:53 | More by clayrock81

Mora2000

Texas

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

Thanks to thirdeye11 for sharing this bottle.

Pours a murky medium-dark brown color with a white head. The aroma is cherries, dark fruit, malt and some sweetness. The flavor is dark fruit with a strong malty sweetness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 03:22:48 | More by Mora2000

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

from notes
\
deep amber in color bordering on a nice brown with a small head of light off white color that quickly faded into obscurity and left some nice lacing along the sides of the glass. Deep boozy aroma here, lots of alcohol present along with some nice caramel malts and a touch of light grassy notes as it warmed. Some nice fruit flavor on the first sip but this is drowned out quickly by the hot nature of the booze. Really could use some time to sit down as it is just too fresh I feel. Still though I push on letting it warm and come through some light touches of raisins, perhaps a touch of light fig now mixing in as well. Smooth, light and subtle carbonation leaves the mouth dry

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 01:50:36 | More by mikesgroove

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

TomGavin

Illinois

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

From a 750ml bottle into a Chimay goblet. Pours rootbeer brown with a gray-ish white head of about 1/8th of an inch. Great head retention and lacing.

Nose: Caramel covered almonds, rhubarb, cola malt and vanilla.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied and creamy with mild carbonation.

Taste: Chewy caramel, wether's originals--but without any diacetyl slipperiness--and roasted vanilla smores malt. The finish is fruity and brief, but satisfying nonetheless.

Comment: I never noticed the ABV--10.5%--and this is the charm of a well executed and dangerously tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2009 07:36:05 | More by TomGavin

stbfan

Alabama

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

Very nice looking, dark brown with ruby hues to light. lots of sediment. Huge off white head. Smells of cloves, bread, yummy. Tastses like a medium to thick mouthfeel.tastes of cloves, belgian yeast, a little bitterness in finish. almost metallic. Very drinkable.Nice quadruple. Nice lacing on glass. Finish is a little lacking though.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 04:56:56 | More by stbfan