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

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy brown beer with a medium head. Spicy nose with a lot of character. Hide the alcohol very well. I was expecting a very industrial beer but it seems this may be an exception. Very suprised and pleased by this beer. Adding "fruit" in the name might be misleading since this is more of a belgin strong ale than a fruit beer à la leifman...

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2003 06:45:54 | More by Phyl21ca

Rocko

Sweden

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

It pours a dark brown color, very nice growing head, it settles after a few minutes though. The bottle contains lots of yeast sediments which I don't really like, so I let it stand for a few days then poured it easily so I didn't get it all. I don't know if that's very unorthodox...if so tell me. ;)

Smell is a bit of alcohol, fruity estery smells with a touch of raisin. Pleasant smell overall. It taste is also very fruity (hence the name I guess) and spicy, there is a little hint of alcohol but not as much as one would think this abv would give.

Overall it's a really good brew! I liked it! :)

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2003 12:41:12 | More by Rocko

Naerhu

Japan

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

Ingredients: malt, hop, yeast
Funky cool design no the bottle.
Slightly off white head that leaves attractive lacing. The darkest red body, malty, fruity nose, sweetness on a light bodied and light bitterness. The flavor is an attractive over-ripe fruit, like a when a pear is past its prime, a little too mushy, yet still really good.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2003 06:32:05 | More by Naerhu

Popsinc

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The first time i tried this beer it didn't really leave much of an impression. After having it a second time, i enjoyed it a little more.

Dark, cloudy brown in clolour. Very bubbly, acidic mouthfeel. Taste was highlighted by mostly earthy notes with a dry, alcohol finish.

As a sidenote, this beer is not available in Ontario in any liquor or beer stores. For those of you who have beer the the Esplanade Bier Market though, have a look at the large painting on the back wall of the Bier Market. It's the exact same picture that is used as the label of Verboden Vrucht.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2003 05:59:08 | More by Popsinc

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Its a pretty good drop, but perhaps a bit sticky and the alcohol is evident. Still interesting and strong, a nice winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2002 02:53:58 | More by rastaman

Jason

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 33 cl slender brown Euro style bottle with a “Best Before End” date on the back label. States that it is bottle conditioned. Front label depicts the tempting of Eve with the forbidden fruit.

Appearance: Deep and hazy plum reddish hue with a rich and creamy looking off white lace that is quite remarkable for the rings that it leaves.

Smell: Ripe fruit with suggestions of granny smith apples, golden raisins and slight pineapple. Bit of grain and a very noticeable ester content in the nose.

Taste: Very intricate mouth feel from the bottle conditioning, incredibly smooth without holding back on the crispness either. Creamy and almost slick medium body. With the wave of crispness comes a fruity ester alcohol flavour that grabs hold of the taste buds and does not seem to want to let go. Fruity yet on the dry side with some dry malt caramel flavours. Bit of hops that are over taken buy the earthy yeast with a slant of grain in there also. Finishes nearly dry but still has a drop of sweetness in the back end of it all.

Notes: Sometimes beer can be too complex, this is one of them. Flavours are big yet flailing around. A big Belgian to reckon with and to also respect with its high alcohol content. A beer to pair with a rich meal rather than to drink alone.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2002 23:40:33 | More by Jason

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drank at Cirio in Brussels.

Awesome glass and a great appearance - a mahogany as rich as fine panelling, with a voluminous head that lasts and laces well. Sweet, fruity aroma, with a strong back end of alcohol. It smells for all the world like a brute of a beer. Pleasant fruit flavour is somewhat steamrollered by a fusel element and brutish alcohol. Decent berry notes at the start, mixed in with raisin and spice. The alcohol really begins to assert itself in a lightly drying, but heavily warming, finish. Full mouthfeel, with restrained carbonation, though it never becomes cloying. Its a decent stab at the strong dark style, but its just a touch too boozy. If you have a bottle I recommend aging it to see if it mellows out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2009 14:42:54 | More by bobsy