Review Date 2/11/2005
Try?
Re-buy?
I came a cross a can of soda. How’d that get in here? I interrogated my Beloved Bride Barbara™ to find out. Hey, this is a DBR! Only beer allowed. Anyway, that wasn’t from Belgium. “Ah, here we go”, I thought when I came across a bottle of Val-Dieu Abbaye Brown (aka Val-Dieu Abbaye Brune).
Having thoroughly enjoyed Val-Dieu Tripel , I figured I would enjoy this too. And I was right. It turned out to be a wonderfully delicious, soft malty treat with some interesting and complex notes.
Like Val-Dieu Tripel, Val-Dieu Brown is not actually brewed in a monastery, though it is produced according to a recipe used by monks for many, many years. This is a brown ale with an alcohol content of about 8% by volume; for all intents and purposes a double.
It’s also a beer that, helped by its bottle conditioning, should improve for several years. So don’t feel the need to drink it all at once. You can buy it in 330ml “stubby” bottles (ideal for one) or 750ml corked bottles (perfect for two).
As
I pour my bottle of Val-Dieu Brown into a wide-mouthed Belgian ale
glass, a huge thick and rocky head formation quickly forms and rises to the
brim of the glass. I have to allow the foam to settle slightly before adding
more liquid. Lots of Brussels Lace follows sticks to the sides of my glass.
The beer is murky dark brown in color, and the nose is full of chocolaty
notes. It definitely smells like I’m in for a treat. As I sip, the palate is
smooth, creamy, fairly rich in body and delightfully complex.
First you get the chocolate, then a touch of licorice and nutty malt
flavors. There’s a touch of yeast flavor but remarkably little for a Belgian
beer. This really allows the chocolate flavors to display themselves.
There are also notes of vanilla, caramel, and a tart whisky-like quality
that is most notable in the finish. The finish is slightly sweet, but a bit
of alcohol warmth cuts nicely through it.
All in all, this is a very nice and complex brew that’s a little out of the
ordinary. Based on a dubbel, it nevertheless has a character all its own.
It’s worth seeking out.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
