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

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

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.45/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is the second beer I drank on 30th Aug 2007, to celebrate the lives of John White and Micheal Jackson. I bought the bottle at the brewery shop this year and had been saving it for a special occasion.

Brown 75cl corked and caged bottle, the cork carries the best before date of 03/09. The cork was long and difficult to remove, so the bottle was slightly wobbled, the sediment moved into the beer and may have messed up the scores a bit!

Poured in a Duvel glass and a Hoegaarden Grand Cru one.

Very dark, almost black in colour, with a white head sitting proudly on top. If I looked closely, which I did, the sediment was washing around just below the surface and throughout the body of the beer, pity.

I could detect no aroma what so ever, which in its self is very strange, because the taste was full bodied and strong.

The taste as already mentioned was full bodied, it was also fairly sweet, very alcoholic and suggested plums, raisens and a light liquorice presence.

The flavours hung around in the mouth and although it is a strong beer, the thickness wasn't rich or pudding like. Can't put my finger on it, but something was missing. Which is why the drinkability is only a 3.5 score. The no show of any aroma doesn't help either.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2007 09:03:52 | More by BlackHaddock

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

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

glid02

Georgia

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

Daryk77 was nice enough to split this one with me.

Pours a hazy deep chestnut color with a big two-finger light tan head. The head recedes slowly into a thin pancake of bubbles on top and a thick ring around the glass. Lacing is sticky. The last of the bottle yields fine yeast floaties.

Smells of Belgian candy sugar with some breadiness along with dark fruits. Light hints of the alcohol come through as the beer warms.

Tastes great. Candied dark fruit flavors up front are backed up by very light bready flavors and even lighter spices. It's a tad sweeter than most other quads I've had.

Mouthfeel is great. It's got a good thickness and small, grainy carbonation that make this one smooth brew. Velvety.

Drinkability is great for any ABV, but especially for a 10.5%. I could have a lot of these.

Overall this is on the top tier of quads. All the flavors work very well together and it's so very smooth. Give this one a shot if you see it around.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2008 22:27:52 | More by glid02

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Very dark, brown-black with a huge, bubbly, light-tan head. Excellent retention & lacing.

S: Dark fruit & pleasant spicy phenols. Truly excellent.

T: Figs, raisins, cherries, light spicing, brown sugar, cider, nuts, hints of cocao, nicely balanced bitterness, slight alcohol warmth, though I'd never guess it was this strong! Flavourful, perfectly balanced, well-crafted.

M: Well-attenuated, moderately full body has only a slight hint of residual sweetness. Good carbonation.

D: A really easy-drinking Belgian for its strength.

I'd say this is more of a strong dark than a quad, but all around, it's a great brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2010 20:36:07 | More by Derek

tavernjef

Minnesota

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

Dark purpley pour to settle a glazed black with a mediumish sized light sandy tanned whitened cap that slips away quickly to a hazey skim and good collaring. Lots of lacing in a solid coating sticks tightly in a wave of tiny holed sheeting acroos the snifter.

Aroma is soft and dullish of dark fruity sugars and purple grape juice, the dark malty fruityness begins to add up more as it warms as does some vanilla cola sweetness and a tiny hint to yeasty spice and black licorice. Nice, but I had to really stick my nose in it to get into it.

Taste is firm and soft with an alluring gradual pull into a sweet, dark, sugary pile of fruity pie filling. Purple grape emerges the winner at first taste with a smooth rounded tone of malty gooeyness that slips right into a melange of warming dark jellies and pastry fillings. Flavors and tones are quite acceptable in the realm of sweet dark malts, caramel, and light fruit tones, semi bready and sugary with vanilla, plum, fig, cherry, and grape. Lingers lightly for a bit and kinda cuts off before rebuilding a memory of lasting lengthy malt laden chewyness and slickness across the palate as it finishes with a crescendo of the warmth.

Body is firm, soothing, and just beyond medium with a thick lasting malty smooth reaction of boldness and chewyness. Has a late reacting finish which really grows on ya. Has quite the memory take back on the palate. A unique characteristic not found very often and which I found to be intriguing and fulfullingly fun and interesting. Warmth emerges even later with a hint of heat touching the back. The malts however stay the stage no matter the scene.

A pretty decent Belgian Quad here. Val-Dieu's Grand Cru is by far one of the better, top notch brews to be produced by them and worth giving a try. The unique effect of body from start to never ending finish in flavor and tone is the best part(heart) of the whole beer and the main reason to seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2007 02:45:27 | More by tavernjef

ccrida

Oregon

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

Review #1000!
Served in the small Val Dieu Grand Cru goblet, it's dark brownish red with a big light tan head, creamy on the edges but some bigger bubbles in the middle, leaving heavy sheets of foam. On draught (at La Trappe in San Francisco), which normally is a nail in the coffin for the style, but really didn't hurt the head much at all here.

Smell is strong rich malt, big grape flavors, but an equally assertive spicy ester, as well as perceived dryness. Very unique and distinguished for the style.

Taste is pretty smooth, rich, but really not as intense as the noes, which is first a let down. Still, it's pretty full, lot's of special B like raisin notes, red wined, with some noble hop spice, grass, light hints of bread pudding and caramel, alcohol character.

Mouthfeel is highly digestible, medium light body, with a bit of a dry chalkiness as well. Super smooth.

Drinkability is pretty good, one of the fruiter quads, big flavor without being a palate buster. The light body also really drives home what a benchmark example this is of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2009 21:34:36 | More by ccrida

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

mynie

Indiana

4.8/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours like gingerbread and butter. Neat like them, too. Sandy offred. Nice head.

Smells of wonderful fruit and yeast and ethanaol and love. Lightly sour. Lightly burny.

Tastes perfect. Excellent. Excellent and perfect. Giant fruit, fresh and authentic like you're on a grove, walking amongst the fruit, and you just pull one right off the goddamn vine and bite into it. What fruit these are, I do not know. It's really fucking tasty, though. Moves into medium-bodied red wine, peppery yeast, pleasant alcoholic zing.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2009 04:54:15 | More by mynie

lordofthewiens

Maine

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

We went to Ebenezer's Pub in Lovell, ME for a party, and Chris had a metheuslah of this beer. Besides the impressive presentation, this is a very good beer. A brown color with a medium head that lingered well. Sweet, fruity aroma. A nice vanilla taste, with the dark fruit and Belgian yeast present also. Lovely beer, very smooth. Didn't know it was 10.5% ABV until I was admiring the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2007 21:33:07 | More by lordofthewiens

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.05/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750ml bottle $10. I have always passed up Val Dieu beers and for some reason this caught my eye. Maybe it was the black label? Anyway, this poured a very dark brown and looks like your typical Belgian quad. The smell was fruity and sweet, almost too sweet. The flavor was raisins and sweetness, cloying sweetness. This was not my favorite quad and now I may know better about buying Val Dieu beers.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2010 00:22:10 | More by ArrogantB

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

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

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

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

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

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

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottle split with Steve and crew at Beer Bistro. 75cl, 2006 vintage. Into a few tulips.

Pours dark brown, relatively opaque with some great head and retention. Mild spotty lace. Nose of dark fruits, tons of spice, cloves and pepper, all taking on a subtler and well integrated flavour given the 5 years of age on it. Taste has more of the dark fruits, plum, spice and a nutty quality. Fruits are rich, as is the body. Grape skins and chocolate. Alcohol hasn't yet disappeared. Full body and rich feel to it, not overwhelmingly so. Complex and a nice treat.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 18:23:48 | More by liamt07