Torment Dark Belgian-Style Ale
Heretic Brewing Company

Torment Dark Belgian-Style AleTorment Dark Belgian-Style Ale
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From:
Heretic Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
10%
Score:
89
Avg:
4 | pDev: 10.75%
Reviews:
31
Ratings:
101
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 09, 2021
Added:
Oct 30, 2012
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  21
No description / notes.
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Ratings by biboergosum:
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
22oz, dark red wax sealed bottle, one of the easier iterations of said presentation to actually open that I've come upon of late.

This beer pours a slightly hazy, dark red-brick amber colour, with two chubby fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and bubbly beige head, which leaves some broad land bridge lace around the glass as it slowly fades away.

It smells of bready, doughy caramel malt, musty toffee, earthy yeast, dark candi sugar, mixed orchard fruit (plums, bruised apples, bananas and pears), and somewhat hot and phenolic alcohol. The taste is gritty, grainy caramel malt, hard toffee candies, laid-back yeast, brown sugar, sweet, syrupy pear and apple fruit notes, indistinct earthy spice, and light leafy, kind of perfumed hops, the only real sign of the elevated ABV.

The bubbles are quite soft and lilting in their genial frothiness, the body a solid medium-heavy weight for the style, and plainly smooth, with a pleasant creaminess evolving as things warm up a tad. It finishes off-dry, but not too sweet, as the fruity and spicy esters give it the ol' college try at conceiving a sense of balance, sort of.

An interesting and tasty BSDA, the normal metrics all there, with a well-concealed 20-proof booze factor. The variable mustiness lends some old-school credence as well, but it comes off as being layered on just a wee bit too thickly in places. At any rate, worthy of checking out, if you're into big, bold Belgian-style brews.
Apr 04, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
650 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10%. Mahogany colour, large off-white head. Pleasant malty aroma of brown kandij sugar, caramel, dark dried fruits and mild spices. Rich and medium sweet flavour, with all the elements of the aroma, but now more pronounced. The 10% alcohol are well hidden, but reveal themselves in a warming throatfeel. Very good beer.
Mar 09, 2021
Photo of rcole1958
Reviewed by rcole1958 from Rhode Island

4.8/5  rDev +20%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Picked this up out here in Mass. Wonderful dried plum, prune, and fruitcake bottom that supports the 10% ABV. I would say that this is a nice alternative to that unicorn, Westvletern 12, which I have had many times in situ at the Belgian brewery, both on tap at the monastery and bottled. Nice work, JZ! Opinion offered by StudyBrewing.org.
Nov 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.04 by Bluesfolk19 from Massachusetts

Jul 15, 2019
Photo of dertyd
Reviewed by dertyd from California

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The beer pours out a dark brown color with red hues and 1 finger of honey comb colored head----------------- the aromas are of dark fruit, chocolate covered cherries, dried plums, figs light citrus and carmel----------------- the flavors are of plums, figs, pears for days, Carmel and sweet tea, the beer has a medium mouthfeel with no bitterness at all-------------------- overall this is a great strong dark ale, big dark fruit and carmel flavors finishing smooth
Jul 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.96 by shelby415 from Oregon

Apr 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Apr 01, 2018
Photo of doktorhops
Reviewed by doktorhops from Australia

4.47/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This came HIGHLY recommended by a fellow craft lover (i.e. the craft of loving). When I say HIGHLY in all-caps I’m not practically shouting through the internet at you - it means this guy really gushed over it and was even so bold to say that “if I love Belgian brews...” [indeed I do] that “this represents the best stab by an American at a Belgian styled beer. Ever.” Pretty big words IMO, I’ve had plenty of excellent Belgian styled beers from US brewers such as Sierra Nevada, Victory, North Coast, Cigar City, Clown Shoes, etc... not sure if Heretic here have managed [damn I really wanted to keep that alliteration going...] to top the works of these top flight US brewers [hmmm, I’ll allow it]. I guess that’s one of the many reasons I drink beer and write about it - to find out if this is the ultimate US brewed Belgian styled beer.

Poured from a wax-sealed 650ml US bomber sized bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Fuck it smells good... jumping ahead I know, but this really smells good, OK focus Doc. Presents an almost opaque deep dark chocolate brown, bit of mahogany in there too, and a tan head that drops back to a lace ring. Splotches of lace on the side of the glass too, not bad at all. 8/10.

S: Spicy cinnamon notes mingle with rich caramel and dark fruits (date and fig mostly) with a slight woody tone that gives an impression of dryness in the finish that may or may not be there. This aroma is close to flawless - there’s plenty of complexity and balance going on, I would be hard pressed to pick between this and Chimay Blue, although I do love cinnamon [it’s like a naughty Rastafarian]. 9/10.

T: The balance continues to surprise with how well this has been done - it’s sweet but not overly, the above notes: cinnamon, rich caramel, date, fig and that woody note work so well together and the finish has just the right amount of dryness to pull it all back. There’s a lingering aftertaste of cinnamon as well. Yet I don’t feel that it’s outclassing Chimay Blue (though it has been a long while since I’ve had a Chimay). Also it’s a tad boozy (like a granny on bingo night). 9/10.

M: Medium bodied with a decent and creamy carbonation, but a touch too gassy (as the burps are my witness). 9/10.

D: Yeah old mate wasn’t far off: This is one of the greatest US brewed Belgian styled beers I’ve had. Everything was pretty much spot on, would drink again [and again, but maybe not a 4th time - I can be mercurial with beers]. 9/10.

Food match: I would def cheese platter this baby... [that sounded less weird in my head].
Feb 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by freewill35 from Indiana

Feb 12, 2018
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a dark cola color capped by two fingers of ecru foam; good stickage and some splashy lacing lingers

Smell: Dark fruit tones prominent, bringing fig and date; treacle, candi sugar and spice cake tones, too

Taste: Brown sugar, candi sugar and treacle forward, with the fig and date flavors building; the spice cake element arrives, in the middle, along with a boozy aspect that warms the palate through the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: It is rare these days to see a domestic brewer nail this style, let alone even try it; consider me impressed
Dec 19, 2017
Photo of Everydayoff
Reviewed by Everydayoff from Thailand

4.08/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
650ml bottle poured into a snifter.

Very deep mahogany brown in color with some reddish shade and mildly hazed body, the pour builds up thick silky light brown head that well retains itself with good retention before slowly subsiding to some lasting foamy sheet on the surface and leaving some lacing patch and spot on the glass-side.

Oh it is so sweet in the aroma with the massive amount of malt exhibiting everywhere, it ranges between rich caramel, vanilla, chocolate, fudge, dough, bread, and molasses plus with the Belgian’s yeast character of dark fruit, apple, pear, banana, and orange as well as slight phenolic spice. There is also a note of candy sugar and toffee to add some more sweetness.

The taste has nice combination and complexity between all the notes aforementioned in the aroma. It starts off with yeasty character of dark fruit, apple, pear, banana, orange, and some spice. Then it becomes very malty with notes of caramel, vanilla, chocolate, fudge, dough, bread, and molasses just like in the aroma. There is a big sweetness covering all over from the addition of candy sugar. The end and aftertaste is well lasting with all those sweet and fruity flavors.

Full body with creamy smooth mouthfeel from its low to moderate carbonation through the palate, the feeling is just right that is not too hefty nor too thin with proper amount of crispness to carry all the things well. Finish is dry and pleasant.

Simply Torment with pleasure with the heavy loads of malty caramel, toffee, bread, and so on. Also candy sugar and fruity yeast, it is just like a great dessert with lots of sweetness from malt, sugar, and fruity ester.
Jun 10, 2017
Photo of DJ-Hophead
Reviewed by DJ-Hophead from England

4.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Tap @ Small Bar, Bristol - Pours dark brown with minimal tanned foamy head which quickly disappears, Aroma - dark fruits, dark sugar, caramel notes. Taste - Sweet, candied sugar, dark fruits, roasted malts, spice overtones, light yeast notes, light bitter finish with a light whisky feel warmth. Very nice Belgian style ale.
Mar 22, 2017
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.86/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle from Boise Co-op. Pours out a nice mahogany hue, small, soft beige head. Initial whiff of cherries had me thinking of a kriek. Taste changes the tone a bit with some pit fruit, raisins, dates and just enough Belgian yeast to wrap it all up. Comes off as a lighter weight quad. Very pleasant surprise.
Oct 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.99 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Oct 16, 2016
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Since I heard about this brewery and the guys who created it, I've been aching to try their beer. Finally got my hands on some. Hopefully this is what I was hoping for. Bottled 11/20/15, so 10 months old, but par for the style.

Pours a decent fizzy foamy 1/2 finger darker head that fades at a quicker pace, dark hazy auburn mahogany color.

Nose is really interesting, lots of Belgian malts, caramel crystal toffee malt very biscuity, big caramel candied raisin, lots of Special B malt, a touch of a wet cardboard so perhaps a little oxidation unfortunately, but that fades quickly as I swirl it, bringing more sweet candy, fig and date, candied raisin, caramelized candi sugar and a little creme brulee, nice ester profile.

Taste brings a lot more of the same, tons of raisin, brandy soaked raisin and candied dates, fig paste, dried fruits, nice ester profile with all that. Plenty of sweet like malts, caramel all over, caramelized brown sugar, candi sugar, a little toffee, caramel creams candy, nice biscuit toffee like, plenty of Special B malts. A touch of warming booze with a little phenol character which brings nice Belgian spices. Finish is sticky, a bit sweet, tons of lingering caramel, toffee biscuit candy, mild booze warmth and a bit of phenols still.

Mouth is fuller bod, a bit creamy rich, decent carb, lighter but decent carb.

Overall quite nice, def hits that spot for a Belgian strong dark ale, mild warming booze, nice phenols and little ester profile, great sweet caramel biscuity toffee candy malts and tons of great raisin date profile. Other than the mild oxidation on the nose that seemed to disappear quickly, this was a very nice Belgian.
Sep 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.17 by PHBoiler from Illinois

Sep 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by sjrider from California

Aug 24, 2016
Photo of ChrisCage
Reviewed by ChrisCage from Canada (AB)

4.55/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A- Root beer like in color, with red/brown tones that have some copper undertones....quasi opaque and there is a syrupy texture to it around the side of the glass....not much for lacing and/or a head, but there is a thin ring around the glass. Carbonation is somewhat hard to see but it is in many columns when looked upon straight down from the top.

S- Sweet rum and plenty of fruit, such as peach, apple, plum, apricot, figs, and a strong sweet cotton candy that seems to be derived from Belgian candy syrup/sugar....I also enjoy the cinnamon spice right on the finish! There is plenty of malt goodness, toffee and caramel are all noted....very nice overall....robust and rich to boot!

T- Chalk full of thick sticky sweet flavors! Sticky caramel, toffee, apple, orange zest, plum, Belgian candy sugars, melted brown sugar, milk chocolate, pear/peach/apricot, beer nuts, prunes, cotton candy, malted barley, buttery yeast....this is rummy and slightly boozy at the same time....hints of vanilla....just amazing in the flavor!

M/O- This is medium/full bodied and the carbonation is smooth smooth smooth! This has dessert like qualities and is a delectable brew that is rich and flavorful....drinkability is nice and I would rather enjoy a sitting of this over an evening! This changes and mellows out well as it warms and I'd love to explore this one again! Cheers!!
Aug 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.64 by 2ellas from New Hampshire

Jul 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.4 by marshrat63 from California

Jul 17, 2016
Torment Dark Belgian-Style Ale from Heretic Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 101 ratings