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Verboden Vrucht / Fruit Defendu (Forbidden Fruit)
Brouwerij van Hoegaarden
- From:
- Brouwerij van Hoegaarden
- Belgium
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #105 - ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,354 - Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 10.62%
- Reviews:
- 158
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 09, 2023
- Added:
- Feb 22, 2002
- Wants:
- 24
- Gots:
- 43
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by basica:
Reviewed by basica from California
4.89/5 rDev +26.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.89/5 rDev +26.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This is the second time I am trying the Forbidden Fruit, this time a full bottle; the last time
I shared a bottle with Keith. The Forbidden Fruit is my entry into my favourite Belgian style,
the Belgian Strong Dark Ales. After quite a while venturing into the world of Belgian Strong
Dark Ales, I would probably drop the rating for Hoegaarden Forbidden Fruit down to 9.5. After
tasting many of the great Belgian Dark Ales, I guess my taste buds have matured quite a bit!
Anyway this fruity ale pours out a dark red brown with a mild creamy head with pretty good
retention. It smells strongly of cherries, berries and some dark fruit and a subtle nice yeasty
smell. It was heavy on the fruits in terms of taste as well; pretty unique compared to a number
of the dark ales. Cherries and berries as usual with a few other dark fruits like plums was
in the taste. Nice aroma from the smell to the taste; really good. The finish was very slightly
bitter but not at all disturbing. Also well masqueraded is the alcohol and there was not a hint
of alcoholic taste in this beer though the strength along with the nicely balanced subtle bitter
finish gives is great character for such an ale. Very fruity yet full of unique character due
to a masterfully crafted balance. The body was between medium to full body but I felt it could
have been better off with a thicker body. Almost no carbonation and very smooth mouth feel and
it also smoothly runs down my throat. A full score for drinkability for certain! The after taste
was again Cherries and berries (and perhaps plums) and I could really appreciate this
fruitiness. One of the most drinkable strong Belgian dark ales which is fruity tasty, sweet and
well-balanced; a Hoegaarden masterpiece and one of my favourite beers.
Jul 02, 2007I shared a bottle with Keith. The Forbidden Fruit is my entry into my favourite Belgian style,
the Belgian Strong Dark Ales. After quite a while venturing into the world of Belgian Strong
Dark Ales, I would probably drop the rating for Hoegaarden Forbidden Fruit down to 9.5. After
tasting many of the great Belgian Dark Ales, I guess my taste buds have matured quite a bit!
Anyway this fruity ale pours out a dark red brown with a mild creamy head with pretty good
retention. It smells strongly of cherries, berries and some dark fruit and a subtle nice yeasty
smell. It was heavy on the fruits in terms of taste as well; pretty unique compared to a number
of the dark ales. Cherries and berries as usual with a few other dark fruits like plums was
in the taste. Nice aroma from the smell to the taste; really good. The finish was very slightly
bitter but not at all disturbing. Also well masqueraded is the alcohol and there was not a hint
of alcoholic taste in this beer though the strength along with the nicely balanced subtle bitter
finish gives is great character for such an ale. Very fruity yet full of unique character due
to a masterfully crafted balance. The body was between medium to full body but I felt it could
have been better off with a thicker body. Almost no carbonation and very smooth mouth feel and
it also smoothly runs down my throat. A full score for drinkability for certain! The after taste
was again Cherries and berries (and perhaps plums) and I could really appreciate this
fruitiness. One of the most drinkable strong Belgian dark ales which is fruity tasty, sweet and
well-balanced; a Hoegaarden masterpiece and one of my favourite beers.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Ubrewty
4/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very dark cloudy amber colour. Dark pale generous head that holds it's volume. Good carbonation. Roasted notes, caramel, fruit malt, spice, sweetness and banana. Crisp clean finish. Refined smooth mouth feel.
Nov 04, 2022Reviewed by misteil from Ireland
4.08/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
this is a very nice bspa i’ve got to say, got some really nice chocolatey flavours, burned toast, oaky, cigar smoke, nutty, black bread, vanilla, liquorice, black pepper, fig, cherry, hint of banana, medium bitterness on the finish, body is medium and carbonation is high, bit of alcohol warming, slight dryness on the finish, i quite enjoy this, this is a fireside beer… shame i don’t have one. it’s cold rainy night gratefully indoors beer, and i sure have that
Apr 05, 2022Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
4.11/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.11/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L- It's evening here, and under lamp-light this is a paler shade of chestnut. It has a tiny amount of haze, and it seems there's some sludge left on the bottom of the empty bottle. Poured carefully yields a 1Cm ultra pale tan head.
S- Ok, woah! Quite a lot going on, on the first sniff I get woody, hints of leather, a touch of smoke.
T- Boof, it's pungent! ... ... Man it's making me sneeze too! It has a liquor-ish note that goes well with it's quite deep and pungent flavour.
F- For me it's 'classic winter warmer', one to slow sip, it's too full-on for me to hurry it at all. It's pretty deep, pungent and complex.
O- I like it, there was zero out of place or balance here for me. I'd happily drink +/or buy this fine thing again.
330ml bottle Bought from BeersOfEurope (UK) BB: 07/08/2021
Mar 27, 2020S- Ok, woah! Quite a lot going on, on the first sniff I get woody, hints of leather, a touch of smoke.
T- Boof, it's pungent! ... ... Man it's making me sneeze too! It has a liquor-ish note that goes well with it's quite deep and pungent flavour.
F- For me it's 'classic winter warmer', one to slow sip, it's too full-on for me to hurry it at all. It's pretty deep, pungent and complex.
O- I like it, there was zero out of place or balance here for me. I'd happily drink +/or buy this fine thing again.
330ml bottle Bought from BeersOfEurope (UK) BB: 07/08/2021
Reviewed by elnachooo from Spain
3.88/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
De color ámbar, con una buena cabeza espumosa de buena retención. De cuerpo medio y alta carbonatación. Aroma intensos a plátano, levadura y cilantro. En boca es muy rica, con un excelente equilibrio entre dulzor y amargor.
Jan 25, 2020Reviewed by Martin194 from Iowa
4.3/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: Dark, cloudy brown with a white head.
Smell: Sweet dark fruits, brown sugar
Taste: Reminded me of red wine; fruity and sweet with a robust aftertaste that had notes of tobacco.
Feel: Normal carbonation, left a sticky mouthfeel
Overall: Very tasty beer!
Aug 19, 2019Smell: Sweet dark fruits, brown sugar
Taste: Reminded me of red wine; fruity and sweet with a robust aftertaste that had notes of tobacco.
Feel: Normal carbonation, left a sticky mouthfeel
Overall: Very tasty beer!
Reviewed by edhardy22 from England
4.09/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a creamy head.
Has a very fruity aroma loaded with figs, prunes, raspberries as well as a strong yeast smell.
Taste has raisin and apple notes as well as mild bitterness from the alcohol. The malt also provides lots of sweet caramel undertones.
Lovely mouth fell and carbonation
Very good beer definitely worth a try, has very powerful fruity notes making it unique.
May 11, 2019Has a very fruity aroma loaded with figs, prunes, raspberries as well as a strong yeast smell.
Taste has raisin and apple notes as well as mild bitterness from the alcohol. The malt also provides lots of sweet caramel undertones.
Lovely mouth fell and carbonation
Very good beer definitely worth a try, has very powerful fruity notes making it unique.
Verboden Vrucht / Fruit Defendu (Forbidden Fruit) from Brouwerij van Hoegaarden
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
277 ratings
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