Scaldis Caractère
Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl

Scaldis CaractèreScaldis Caractère
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From:
Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
Ranked #93
ABV:
12%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,944
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 14.47%
Reviews:
440
Ratings:
748
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 12, 2023
Added:
Sep 25, 2001
Wants:
  37
Gots:
  92
Formerly called Scaldis Amber // Also known as Bush Ambrée

Introduced in 1933 under the name of “Scaldis Beer”, this is one of the oldest specialty beers in Belgium and the flagship brand of the Dubuisson Brasserie.

The Scaldis Caractère is a filtered, top-fermented beer made from malt, hops, natural sugars, water from the brewery’s own underground source and an exclusive house yeast that has been cultivated for 80 years.

The pronounced bitter-sweet taste of this beer, its gentle taste structure and characteristic amber colour are all due to the caramel malts used and the expertise and patience of the master brewer (the beer rests for four to six weeks). The high density – the proportion of malt – and the active house yeast make for one of the strongest Belgian beers, with an alcohol volume of 12%.

The CO2 saturated Scaldis Caractère is easily digestible and makes an excellent aperitif or after-dinner digestive beer.

25 IBU
24° Plato
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by lmaduells:
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Rated by lmaduells from Spain

4/5  rDev +3.4%

Oct 21, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.31/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I had this on draft 10/5/23 @ the Hopleaf.

Mostly opaque orange appearance.

Nice khaki head; decent lacing remained.

Raspberry, sweet cream & mild clove notes in the nose.

Creamy, medium thick mouthfeel.

Cream, nutmeg & faint orange peel flavors up front; well-preserved library book notes on the finish.

A dusty, tasty gem. I'd have another!
Oct 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.24 by Humanusfermentum from Virginia

Oct 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.04 by cabsandking from Ohio

Feb 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by redfox405 from Virginia

Jan 01, 2023
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Rated by Tidewater

4.61/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Perky head settles quick, no lacing. Yeasty and bitter with a slight sweetness. Musty afterfeel. Fantastic beer.
Sep 22, 2022
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I continued to enjoy my mussels with this beer.

Poured from a bottle into a shaker pint. Murky, orangish yellow color with with good head and lacing. Sweet fruit smell and taste. Sweet fruit smell and taste. Nice yeast notes along with pears, apples and apricot, maybe a bit of white grapes. Not boozy but definitely has a kick. Good feel. Overall an enjoyable beer.
Aug 12, 2022
 
Rated: 4.13 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Jun 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.15 by cold_beer

May 07, 2022
Photo of Reef
Reviewed by Reef from South Carolina

4.19/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
330 ml. bottle no date
Darkish amber color with two fingers variegated cream head. Full lacing curtains and thick surface ring.
Winey grape, grass, malt, pear, ginger, light alcohol spirit burn.
Sweetish apple, pear, pepper, light banana and malt notes.
12% ABV well hidden, good carbonation, spicy aftertaste and dry finish.
Very enjoyable flavor combination but don’t rush, the alcohol kicks in about half way through.
Mar 19, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Oct 25, 2021
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Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

4.19/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
330mL bottle stamped A 1 05 0 poured into a snifter at just above fridge temp 12% ABV. This bottle is labeled as "Scaldis Caractére", but I believe it's the Amber. The beer pours slightly hazy in a medium amber color. The head is light beige and a thin cap. Slight lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring sweet malt, clove, mild banana and some additional yeasty notes that I can't place. The taste is semisweet malt with hints of orchard fruit. There is a slight alcohol burn in the flavor, but it's well integrated along with moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium plus bodied with higher carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, very good to excellent. Not a traditional BSPA, but suits my tastes and preferences more than most in the style.
Aug 01, 2021
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

4.04/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
#1685 - Blind-tasted except for the beer's name, ABV% and brewery/country, zero reviews below read (yet!)...
This bottle is labelled (at front) 'Premium Belgian Beer - Bush - Ambree/Amber - Caractere 12%'
L- Amber indeed, under a halogen desk-light it's almost a glowing dayglo orange! Pours clear (filtered) with a 15mm just off-white pillowy head. ps 10mins later. Holds really well and forms lacing on the way down.
S- Ooh! Lovely Belgian ester notes (think 'Pear Drops' sweets).
T- The taste follows, + slightly spicy on the palate, then almost slightly peppery? Big ester-notes, quite literally mega banana notes, it's wonderful. The ABV% also can't help but peak out to be spotted. Rich but as it warms a touch perhaps nudging a sweet note here and there. [serve well chilled and don't linger is my 2c]
F- In a beer of this heft there are times I think the Taste and Feel almost have to combined as in a beer as solid as this they are so deeply inter-twined. It's big, it's solid, it's a slow-sipper, it's a perfect winter-warmer. It has quite notable richness but the clear esters, meaty presence and solid ABV% balance that.
O- Wow, Bush Scaldis Amber, for such an understated bottle this is a high-class thumper of a beer. 'Thumper' seems impolite for it, but the 12% isn't exactly shy either. I like this, perhaps just a touch over-rich for me, but it is a demonstration-quality beer for anyone who needs a great example of Belgian esters featuring BIG and evident.
Love it, would happily grab one of these any day, and year-round too (just not at the px I paid!).
Review/scoring all done, now the reveal, I get to read the bottle lables to see what I missed! ==> Ingredients include sugar. That's not for any Bottle-Cond either so rather disappointing.
330ml bottle £4.55 BB: 25/01/2023 Bought from BeerMerchants, Kent/UK as part of a large pick-your own consignment to London.
ps. With ref to the previous reviewer suggesting this is the strongest Belgian beer, nah, it's not. I've reviewed BE beers here to 13% and I'm sure there are many others I've not encountered yet. But yes it certainly is a statement of a brew! :)
Mar 11, 2021
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Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
(330 ml bottle, 04/07/2020; purchased single off shelf... chilled only long enough to reach desirable drinking temp; no cold settling... decanted into teku glass, similar enough to the one shown on the beer's profile page on the Dubuisson site)

L: polished-clear, fiery orange-amber liquid; tall, tight, amber-dusted off-white head, building tall on pour, but receding from the onset... its color is lovely, jewel-like; one mottled bar of lace at the non-sip end

S: caramel syrup, vanilla extract; sweet ethanol, vague floral and milk chocolate flourishes... smells of a syrupy, quad-y malt liquor; scented candle... excellent intensity, but lacking nuance

T: caramel champagne; moderate+ dry aftertaste with hints of floral ethanol and spicy yeast (esters, bordering on fusel)... second sip and beyond: hard-candy caramel and an stealth, exponential, crescendo of ribbon-spread thread of spicy alcohol... its intensity catches attention, but its lack of depth begs a dump or slug

F: soft, lithe, subtly-bouncy spread to its body; cut, cleaved, clefted, lifted by the point of spirit originating on the front of the mouth, spraying back to the aft of the palate, but its angle directing it more or less halfway, while the back of the palate remains relatively un-engaged... dangerously moreish, despite its flaccid carbonation

O: ok, so this may have been at least a year or two old; the joint I bought it from has had it in stock as long as I can remember and has replenished their shelf stock at least twice, so somebody else IS buying this... pretty sure I had this once or twice along my winding path... basically a one-dimensional vehicle for booze and 'Belgian' flavors; could maybe (and probably should) accompany a sweet, creamy dessert... even a single 330 ml would be best shared; not a savor-able sipper (1699)
Sep 25, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by Insomniac from Canada (ON)

Aug 08, 2020
 
Rated: 3.79 by StoutBoi from New York

Jun 05, 2020
 
Rated: 4.05 by Electros from Canada (ON)

Apr 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.63 by Rukeli76 from Canada (ON)

Mar 26, 2020
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Reviewed by InspectorHound from Canada (ON)

3.79/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Look: Bright copper. 1 finger white foamy head that fades quickly leaving a ring around the circumference of the glass.
Smell: Bright, apples, caramel and hay.
Taste: The high ABV (12%) is apparent. Sugary and caramelized malt. I'm not picking up any of the expected nuttiness.
Feel: Smooth and creamy. This beer fills the entire mouth from top to bottom. Only the very back of the tongue is left out.
Everything about this beer brings to mind brightness. The taste is the weakest element of this beer. (Overall I'd give it a solid B+.
Mar 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.99 by bikko from Canada (ON)

Mar 02, 2020
Scaldis Caractère from Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 748 ratings