Heavy Seas Letter Of Marque 2011 (Dubbel)
Heavy Seas Beer

Heavy Seas Letter Of Marque 2011 (Dubbel)Heavy Seas Letter Of Marque 2011 (Dubbel)
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From:
Heavy Seas Beer
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Dubbel
ABV:
8%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 5.56%
Reviews:
23
Ratings:
31
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 24, 2016
Added:
Jun 26, 2011
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.66 by ridgeisgod from Ohio

Apr 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Apr 09, 2015
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.76/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
"Winners from our annual 'Letter of Marque' home-brew competition will work alongside our brewmaster to create a yearly special release. Historically, a Letter of Marque was a document that made a Pyrate a legitimate privateer. Our Letter of Marque makes a home brewer a legitimate professional!" Recipe is from David Edmundson and Doug John. Brewed in the style of a Belgian Style Dubbel, the 2011 Letter of Marque was released in 22 oz. bottles and on limited draft.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a Heavy Seas pint glass. Served above 52º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a crisp, sudsy beige head over a maple-amber body. Clarity is good, with a mild haze and light flecked sediment in tow. Retention is average and lacing is light and spotty. 3.25

(Smell) Up front is a medium bready caramel malt body with a pinch of wheat malt, a dash of thin candied sugar and some mild fruit notes of plum and fig. The bright yeast profile showcases citrusy fruit notes and mellow ethanol. Mild oxidation is creeping into the aroma and a modest sourness is gaining ground as well. Potency is medium/high. 3.5

(Taste) The malt profile estimates out to a light biscuity malt and low toasted grain body with some thin syrupy sweetness. There is an earthy grain bitterness and hop presence is nonexistent, as expected per the style, but notes of licorice, vanilla and light ethanol tend to round out the balance. The drinkability of this dubbel is incredibly high, fairly light on the malt side of things but with a decent amount of balance and composition to keep it interesting. 4

(Mouthfeel) Texture is light, chewy, mildly syrupy. Carbonation adds a moderate level of buzz to the mouthfeel for a lightened texture- whether this is too much or little for the style is a fair question, although I found it roundly appropriate. The body is medium for the style and medium overall. Balance is slightly grainy with acidic fruit over sweetness, which is fairly light for the beer in general. The drinkability is nonetheless high. Alcohol presence is moderate. 3.75

(Overall) This Belgian Style Dubbel seems to fit the style guidelines fairly well, even if it keeps a simple malt template and a somewhat mellow yeast profile, it keeps a high drinkability and a favorable balance of flavors, which is what one should expect from many beers. Don't expect anything original or out-of-place in this beer. It seems that Heavy Seas picked a decent winner to showcase in this entry. 3.75

Heavy Seas Beer's
Letter Of Marque 2011: Belgian Style Dubbel
3.79/5.00
Apr 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by bmjivi221 from Virginia

Jul 21, 2013
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.94/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from 22oz bottle into a Piraat snifter.
A: Pours dark reddish-brown with 1/2 inch light tan head. Good retention and a nice coat of lacing left on the glass with each tip.
S: Lightly sweet and fruity with more malt showing than average for style. Excellent.
T: Flavorful and similar to the aroma. Lightly sweet start and mildy bitter in the aftertaste. Nicely fruity with dark fruit (raisins, figs), toffee, and light spices.
M: Medium-full body. Slight astringent and not quite as smooth as expected for style. Medium+ carbonation.
O: Impressive American rendtition of this Belgian style, albeit not up to the best Belgians.
Jul 12, 2013
Photo of Lawl3ss
Reviewed by Lawl3ss from Texas

4.12/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lightly chilled 22 oz bomber into a 12 oz tulip. As we're heading into 2013 I figured it was about time to crack this 2011 release.

Look- A vigorous pour leaves me with a generous three finger head. Soapy look, off-white. Decent retention. The beer itself has a rich dark amber hue with hints of red, reminds me of dark maple syrup or pale LME before dilution.

Smell- Gobs of ripe stone fruit; cherry and butterscotch, currants, sweet, peach cobbler, jammy. Swirling brings out a stronger spicy aroma, something floral but faint.

Taste- A bit plainer than the nose indicated, and lighter as well. Mild spiciness and dark brown bread mix it up with light vanilla, plum, and green tea. Finishes with a toastier flavor and a bit of cherry candy. Faint oxidation, but two years in a fridge hasn't hurt it much. Nice, subtler than most dubbels. Tasty.

Mouthfeel- Medium body, light carbonation. Fuller feel on the swallow, Juicy feel, an easy drinker. Lighter than anticipated. No hint of the ABV.

Overall- Nice, clean, distinctly Heavy Seas, and richly flavored without going too far. It's also aged exceptionally well. I wouldn't mind at all if they decided to bring this one back.
Jan 07, 2013
Photo of ummswimmin
Reviewed by ummswimmin from New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I've had this bottle for about 18 monts and finally opened it up today.

I used a tulip glass for this beer. There was very minimal foam on the initial pour. The body is deep brown, like leather colored.

Off the top you get raisins and tobacco. The nose is light and easy.

The flavor is pretty simple. I get a decent amount of malt, some dark fruit (not a lot), and some more of the tobacco.

This beer was good. It probably didn't merit a special run, but I enjoyed it.
Jan 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by DiscGolfRobot from Ohio

Dec 27, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by sendbeer from Georgia

Nov 03, 2012
Photo of giblet
Reviewed by giblet from Ohio

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
pretty darn good brew. pours a light amber. nice two finger head. steady carbonation. good lacing down the glass. fruit aroma dates and some grass from hops. full flavor and lighter body than expected. nice finish but watch the abv.

suckem up and movem out.

giblet
Mar 25, 2012
Photo of DrDemento456
Reviewed by DrDemento456 from Pennsylvania

3.97/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Looking at the earliest reviews I determined this beer was brewed in June of last year, so that makes it at least 8 months old.

A - Noted as have pretty low carbonation, fourming a slight bubbly lace ring that as mild lacing. Color is a dark brown yet clear not hazy.

S - The yeast in the smell is very fruity along with some dark fruits mostly plums, and a bit of caramel or toffee.

T - Taste is very clean without much chalkiness of the yeast giving it a good bubblegum tone. Fruit is light yet balanced with a mild touch of hops and caramel in the finish. Tasty.

M - Medium bodied it hides the 8% well.

Overall can't say I can find this anymore and even though it's old it's still drinking fantastic. Worth picking up if you can find it under 6 bucks like me.
Feb 21, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by jaidenjb from Ohio

Jan 30, 2012
Photo of Vylo
Reviewed by Vylo from New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
ARRR. Any beer with piracy involved interests me :D.

Pour an orange-amber color.

Smell was nothing to be noticed, but wasn't obnoxious in any way.

Taste was quite nice, classic dubbel feel, not much to stand out, but definite quality to the malt taste.

Mouthfeel was quite good. A lot of beers can ruin a taste with bad/overbearing carbonation, but this one was solidly done.

Overall, a neat drink. Worth a pick up if you haven't tried, but I wouldn't break down any doors to get a bottle.
Dec 21, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by THECPJ from Delaware

Nov 22, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by bmur112 from Maryland

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of cdbooth219
Reviewed by cdbooth219 from Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a hazy amber/ brown with 2 fingers of mocha head that dissipates rather slowly

S: Hints of bread, dark candied fruits and a bit of mustiness. Also a bit of brown sugar

T: Sweet dark friuits, figs, cherries, and prunes, and brown sugar up front, followed by bready maltiness. Finishes with a bit of earthy bitterness, herbal notes, and mustiness

M: Medium-full bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Alcohol presence is there, but not overwhelming.

O: I found this to be an enjoyable American-made Dubbel. Definitely not the best of the style, but a tasty, well-made beer still.
Oct 16, 2011
Photo of nickthetick
Reviewed by nickthetick from Maryland

4.09/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: pours a light brown/amber into my brewers art chalice with a thin amount (about a half a finger) of khaki head that dissipates fairly quickly.

S: dark fruits, caramel, a tad musty, leather, grassy.

T: a lot of dates and figs, some prunes, sweet but also earthy. Leathery with a musty bite and also some black grapes.

MF: light carbonation, creamy flavor and smooth taste profile.

O: a bit light on the body and color but not a bad beer, there are so many better dubbles out there. Its neat that this started as a home brew and like I said its a good beer but I wouldn't pass up a Westmalle for one.
Oct 10, 2011
Photo of busterwhite
Reviewed by busterwhite from Georgia

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a nice reddish brown with a 1 finger head that dissipates quickly.

Dark fruit aroma with a little Belgian yeast funk mixed in.

Dark fruit with a little sweetness and a spicy finish.

Well carbonated, a little thin on the mouthfeel.

Overall a solid dubbel with a very nice spicy finish.
Oct 03, 2011
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle picked up at Rick's in Alexandria a few months back. Served in a Mikasa goblet.

Pours a reddish-brown with a thin off-white head and just a bit of spotty lacing on the way down. The nose carries through a bit of dark fruits and light sweetness. Faint toffee presence as well. The flavor is semi-sweet with nice fruit notes. A bit of cherry there as well. Medium body with low-medium carbonation and a bit of a chewy nature. Pretty good overall. Another fairly-solid beer in the Letter of the Marque lineup.
Sep 29, 2011
Photo of OWSLEY069
Reviewed by OWSLEY069 from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy deep amber color with a light tan head. In the aroma, white grape and plums. In the taste, dark fruit, raisin, plum, and fig. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry dark fruit aftertaste. It is a bit tart in the nose, but dry dark fruit in taste.
Sep 14, 2011
Heavy Seas Letter Of Marque 2011 (Dubbel) from Heavy Seas Beer
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 31 ratings