Verboden Vrucht / Fruit Defendu (Forbidden Fruit) - Brouwerij van Hoegaarden

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer arrived on the table very lightly hazy and deep amber with an off-white frothy head which lasted long and laced the glass.

The aroma was fruity with a storng dark caramel character and a very light bit of DMS. The fruity presence contained a light banana.

The flavor was that of dark fruits with deep caramelization. The flavor was fruity and estery with a spicy presence. The dark fruits were raisins and prunes and were coupled to a light spice that stayed long in the flavor.

The finish was dry with a dark fruity character lasting long with a bit of spice into the aftertaste. The body was medium with a moderate carbonation and a creamy mouthfeel. A very nicely done Belgian Strong Dark.

Bottle served in proper glassware at Cafe Vlissinghe in Brugge on 9/13/06.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2006 21:57:17 | More by GCBrewingCo

patre_tim

China

4.06/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Half way between dark brown and golden, as though sprite and coke were mixed. Cloudy, no apparent carbonation. 2 fingers of off white head, almost white with a dirty touch of brown watercolour lightly washed in. Great lacing.

S: Smokey, dark fruits, Belgian yeasts much like North American versions of Belgian style yeasts. I am reminded of Unibroue, especially the dark Belgians like La Terrible and 17. Acidic fruit. Pheonols. Some alcohol.

T: Totally follows the nose, but smooth and complex moreso than I expected. Smokey, La Terrible is totally coming to mind, Belgian yeasts like the ones used in North American stains, a hit of fruitiness, then it rounds off. Alcohol present, at 8.5% its well hidden. Pheonols there, especially come in at the end and linger.

M: Medium to heavy, leaning into heavy body but complex, medium amount of foamy bubbles in carbonation.

O: Great Belgian beer, well reminded of Unibroue here in China so I am happy. Complex and unique for what’s available to me, so I would like to try it again. Great by itself.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 14:38:55 | More by patre_tim

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

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

Appearance: Orange/Chestnut; cloudy with sediment; medium beige head with good lacing

Aroma: Malty; coriander; spiced pear; smells a lot like a Bavarian wheat

Taste: Malty and creamy on start; warming alcohol and dried fruit; a lot like a heavy wheat bock; very smooth, but stout

Remarks: Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 23:09:38 | More by IchLiebeBier

magpieken

Australia

4.25/5  rDev +9%

05-25-2013 14:43:46 | More by magpieken

desint

Belgium

2.75/5  rDev -29.5%

05-24-2013 12:09:52 | More by desint

Ciocanelu

Romania

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

05-16-2013 21:02:16 | More by Ciocanelu

Archemedies

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

05-05-2013 13:31:43 | More by Archemedies

metter98

New York

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy reddish brown in color. It poured with a finger high off white head that has good retention properties and hardly died down.
S: Aromas of light fruits - apples seem to stand out in particular - along with some notes of spices.
T: The taste is similar to the smell with additional flavors of yeast, dark fruits and subtle bits of initial sweetness. The spices seem a little stronger compared to the smell.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. Slight hints of dryness are perceptible.
O: This beer is rather complex and isn't too difficult to drink because the alcohol is well masked from the taste. It doesn't taste like a pure Belgian Strong Dark Ale and also tastes a little bit like a Belgian Strong Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 15:26:25 | More by metter98

newton99

Belgium

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - Hazy orange brown colored with a big lingering fluffy whitish head. Very little lacing.

S - Light spices, apples, pears. Light banana aroma. Much more complex than the traditional Hoegaarden.

F/M - Pleasant bready, sweet pilsner malts. Lots of estery flavors: apples, pears, banana, light cloves. Hints of alcohol. Dry, clean finish. Medium light mouthfeel with moderately high carbonation. Lingering fruity flavor.

O - Tasty, crisp and refreshing, this would be an excellent "imperial" summer beer. Perfect for finishing up yardwork at dusk during the summer.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 09:59:14 | More by newton99

WastedYouth

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

03-13-2013 19:24:07 | More by WastedYouth

TheoC007

Belgium

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

03-11-2013 16:32:28 | More by TheoC007

Chrily

Norway

4/5  rDev +2.6%

02-21-2013 11:57:32 | More by Chrily

Arno

4.44/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: amber / brown & foggy. Tan head, nice lacing.
S: Sweet, Toffee, dark fruits, dough, belgian yeast and spices.
T: Very smooth and surprisingly fresh followed by the flavors the nose suggests.
M: Creamy, smooth with a medium dry and slightly spicy finish. Medium carbonation.

O: A very well balanced beer. Lovely and complex flavors without making it heavy at all, quite an accomplishment. Great beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 21:51:41 | More by Arno

LBIsurf

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.6%

01-30-2013 01:22:40 | More by LBIsurf

pelicon

Slovenia

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

01-09-2013 15:20:48 | More by pelicon

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle served in a snifter glass.

A: Pours a deep amber to brown color with many brown particles floating around. Forms a big bubble tan head when poured. Good retention and many lacings formed and left. A thin layer lasts for long on the top

S: Great nose. Sweet, bready and quite spicy. Notes of toffee, caramel malts, dark fruits like plums and raisins. Brown bread, Belgian yeasts, cloves, wheat

T: Follows the nose. Sweet caramel malts upfront followed by a quite fruity and spicy taste. Notes of plums and raisins. Earthy and bready yeasts. Notes of wheat and cloves. Extremely Belgian Ale. Final is slightly bitter

M: Heavy creamy and a bit molasses body. Medium carbonation. Sweet, bready and slightly bitter aftertaste

O: Excellent Dark Ale. I've had it many times in the past and I hope that I will have it many time in the future too :)

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 11:07:29 | More by eduardolinhalis

PCfirefox

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

11-19-2012 14:28:38 | More by PCfirefox

Thirsty_Teacher

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%

11-04-2012 02:01:56 | More by Thirsty_Teacher

HiPpYcHoP

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

11-01-2012 23:14:20 | More by HiPpYcHoP

bostonryan

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

10-23-2012 18:59:00 | More by bostonryan

pin

Australia

3/5  rDev -23.1%

09-08-2012 06:36:48 | More by pin

Hoppsbabo

United Kingdom (England)

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark reddish with lots of sediment. Slightly off-white bubbly head.

S: Sulphur.

T: Immediately reminds me of Schneider Weisse's Tap 5&6 wiezenbocks. Wheaty. Caramel and marzipan. Some phenols. Hint of banana. Also reminds me of Leffe Brun but it's better. Alcohol to sugar balance spot on.

M: A light and creamy emulsion.

O: Underwhelming at first but got much better. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 08:06:33 | More by Hoppsbabo

sfprint

Germany

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

a dark chestnut brown with no rising carbonation, and just a half finger of head. bits of sediment floating about. Very full, pleasantly sweet, dark fruit smell + apricot. A bit of Alcohol tang, a hair tart, but underneath that there's a well built, solid not so sweet dark fruit flavor. Mouth feel is a tart and drying. Overall a nice one.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 02:37:21 | More by sfprint

kobeer

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

07-27-2012 17:30:48 | More by kobeer

russwbeck

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Very hazy red-brown color with a few fingers of light brown head. Great lacing and retention. The label gives this beer a bonus in my book!

S: The aroma is distinctively Belgian, like a dubbel, but with some notes of sweet, light fruit--apples I would assume. Spicy and sweet. The alcohol is masked well.

T: The taste doesn't bring about any surprises, but it is quite nice. Much more apple I would say, but with a rich, dark fruit underbelly. The spices are toned down, but the fruits are very refreshing.

MF: A nice twinge of carbonation rests on the palate. The body is light. This is really drinkable, nicely balanced, and without a note of alcohol. Crisp and refreshing.

O: This was exactly what I wanted it to be. Fruity, Belgian, and a perfect compliment to m dinner. I would get it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 02:20:25 | More by russwbeck