Barrel-Aged Project Brew No. 8 - Sauternes
Brouwerij Hof Ten Dormaal

Barrel-Aged Project Brew No. 8 - SauternesBarrel-Aged Project Brew No. 8 - Sauternes
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From:
Brouwerij Hof Ten Dormaal
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
ABV:
12%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 8.55%
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
24
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 08, 2016
Added:
Oct 18, 2012
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. A bit of a gusher, but I was ready for it, being familiar with this series. A full glass of foam at first, but quickly a normal pour of a cloudy orange amber with a two finger white head that dissipated quickly to a thick cap and good lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, orange citrus, light stone fruit, Belgian yeast. Flavor is caramel malt, orange family citrus, apricot and peaches, light oak, finishes with a very appealing orange peel zest fruitiness and light tartness. Nice lingering stone fruit and orange aftertaste. Medium bodied with sharp, peppery carbonation. I bought quite a few of the variants from this series because I like Hof Ten Dormaals Belgian ale yeast and malt base a lot. The gusher from this made me nervous, but it appears to just be a very active bottle; no signs of compromise. I'm not familiar with Sauternes per se, but there is a light suggestion of sweet dessert wine here, but mostly the expected stone fruit and caramel. The orange zest in the finish really made this one stand out for me and is not a flavor I'd expect from the wine barrel. This one is very nice after three years, with no signs of oxidation. One of my favorites from this project. Very good.
Aug 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.74 by JohnathanColeman from West Virginia

Mar 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.43 by kguard from Iowa

Jan 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4.03 by jaydoc from Kansas

Jan 13, 2015
 
Rated: 3.78 by szmnnl99 from Michigan

Jan 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by pmarlowe from Virginia

Jun 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by jtladner from District of Columbia

Jun 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Jordy777 from Illinois

May 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by gillagorilla from Maryland

Mar 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by smlmeyer from Iowa

Mar 17, 2014
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured a dark, reddish brown body that had decent head and lace on top of an aroma that at first struck me as real sweet, with not only some caramel or other sugary malts (jelly??) but something in the tropical fruit area like apricots or even peaches (now it is reminding me of cheap sangria) along with traditional touches of Belgian yeast and woodiness. It is a lighter bodied beer that has a blend of tropical fruits and a minor sweet malt base (caramel is really only thing I can think of) and passes real easy thanks to the wood/oakiness in the beer (and yeast). I didn't mind drinking this beer as it reminded me of a sweet/desert wine but after awhile it grew tiresome and one is enough for me.
Jan 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by thefluker from Missouri

Oct 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Janeinma from Massachusetts

Sep 17, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by VictorWisc from Massachusetts

Sep 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Sspeer1 from Massachusetts

Sep 14, 2013
Photo of beerdrifter
Reviewed by beerdrifter from Germany

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Picked this up at my favorite beer store in Belgium, Dranken Geers. When opened, this one poured foam out the top of the bottle. Probably would have been a gusher had I not been careful opening as I've had similar issues with these beers. Slightly hazy pour with a huge thin foamy head with great retention and thick clingy crazy lacing. Sweet boozey nose with hints of grass, oak, caramel, apple, and a touch of maple syrup. The taste is sweet and pretty boozey as well with hints of apple, grass, vanilla, caramel, oak, maple, and peaches. I'm not familiar with Sauternes, so can't really tell if the barrel aging achieved its goal. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and fairly fizzy, but also creamy at times. Overall, this is pretty similar to the others I've had in this series, but it never seems to disappoint.
Jul 07, 2013
Photo of mdfb79
Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York

3.94/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From 06/23/13 notes. Had an 8 oz. pour of this on tap at TØRST in Brooklyn, NY. Listed as a
Sorachi Ace saison on the menu.

a - Pours a deep mahogany brown color with one inch of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of dark fruits, raisins, roasted malts, oak, caramel malts, yeast, some alcohol but not really sure what, a tiny bit sweet. I like the nose quite a bit. Lots of dark fruits to it and sweet but not too sweet...I like it quite a bit.

t - Tastes of sweet dark fruits, caramel malts, lots of oak, toasted malts, burnt malts, alcohol, molasses, sugar, and Belgian yeast. Not much alcohol at all to the taste in that it doesn't feel like 12% ABV at all. I like the taste more than the nose.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Easy to drink; alcohol is very well hidden.

o - Overall a very nice Belgian dark; I liked this more than most it seems. Nos eis nice with some dark fruits and caramel, and the taste is even better, hiding the alcohol really well. Interested to try the other versions, and would have it again.
Jun 24, 2013
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

3.7/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle shared by me, purchased from West Lakeview Liquors. Served in a tulip.

A - This one was a gusher. Cork rocketed off, and the pour yielded a massive white foam that settled to a thick collar, wisps, and plenty of lacing. Murky amber body that I'd attribute to the agitated yeast.

S - Sweet, fortified wine, caramel and fruity malt flavors, slightly phenolic and spicy Belgian yeast, a touch of oak, and a faint chemical/alcohol note as it warms. Perhaps a bit of brett, although it's hard to be certain.

T - The taste is definitely sweeter and less attenuated, with no obvious brett character. It's a sweet, Belgian amber, with notes of caramel and stone fruits, and some faint vinous oak flavors in the periphery. Alcohol is well-hidden, as is common throughout this series.

M - Medium body, with moderate carbonation. Dry, grainy, and tannic texture. Minimal alcohol warming for the listed 12%.

D - This seems to be the most balanced of the three versions I've had so far. Barrel character is certainly present, but not as heavy-handed as the Porto nor as faint as the Cognac. There seem to be some QC problems at this brewery, so mileage may vary. Solid, but probably not worth the money nor the effort.
Jun 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by MaseFace from Kentucky

Jun 08, 2013
Barrel-Aged Project Brew No. 8 - Sauternes from Brouwerij Hof Ten Dormaal
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 24 ratings