Kopi Loewak
Brouwerij De Molen

Anytime the most expensive ingredient in any one kind of food is possible its easy to jump at the chance to indulge. But when that ingredient has passed through the bowels of the civit cat, that enthusiasm has the tendency to hit the breaks. Brewery De Molen throws such caution to the wind and infuse their imperial stout with reckless amounts of the coffee for its full and unadulterated effects.

Aptly and simply named Kopi Loewak, the beer's high roast strikes the nose with burnt scents that range from carbonized sugar, woods, scorched earth and yes- coffee. Espresso black in its color, the beer billows to the rim with a lathery, loose and frothy crown before a lavishly malted taste greets the tongue. Those wonderfully burnt, smokey, earthy sweetnesses challenge the early palate with chocolate, molasses and cream.

Its immense roasted flavors easily command the middle palate, especially once the wondering sweetness wears off. A depth of earthen roast casts a burnt, ashy and soilish taste of the coffee over the session before revealing a strong fruit presence of grilled blueberry, red grape and plum. Dark baker's chocolate plays out on the later palate just as the hops and roast combine for a bitter, pepper and campfire finish.

Unquestionably full on the palate, the beer's texture is malty but drying. Its use of acrid roast, smokey coffee and bitter ash combat the lingering textures and sweetness of malt for a long a somewhat brutal linger of smoldering ember, tangy fruit skins and cocoa powder.

 

Bottled 4/18/12

Appearance: Pours characteristically Belgian, with a huge, frothy head coating the fudge brown liquid; beaucoup lacing

Smell: Chocolate fudge with coffee undertones; not surprisingly, the coffee has faded somewhat, as earlier reviews suggest that the coffee was dominant

Taste: Chocolate verging on mocha with blueberry tones emerging through the middle; the finish is rather harsh and acrid, bringing a slightly burnt character to the profile

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with effervescent carbonation

Overall: Beers from de Molen are always interesting and this one is no different; not crazy about the aftertaste but the rest of the experience is good

 

 

 

 

Look: This beer has a dark brown body that is light brown around the top edges when held up against the light. The reactive head is mocha colored and very foamy. The legs and lacing are foamy and sticky. The lacing left behind is very sporadic and irregular. Persistent head.
Smell: Mushy and musty coffee grounds up front. Earthy and raw aromas - Yummy! Some char and roast, and light dark cocoa. The smell is dominated by green coffee bean notes.
Taste: This has an unripe, green coffee bean taste. The taste follows the smell.
Feel: Medium to heavy body. Creamy in the mouth. Lower level or carbonation. Dry-ish finish.

Overall: What an experience. I am happy to have tried this beer.

Cheers Brentk56

Serving type: bottle. From notes made last month.
Beautiful from start to finish, beginning with a lovely coal-black pour with a rich, fluffy brown head that lasts forever, with lacing that's downright difficult to wash off the glass.

The nose is incredible: coffee and chocolate lead the way, with vanilla, spices, sweet molasses, dark fruits, malted milk...and then you take that first sip, and all the promise of the aroma is fulfilled. The coffee flavor that leads the flavor rush may be the best I've ever tasted in a beer, backed up with rich dark chocolate, molasses, vanilla, plums, cherries, a hint of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg bourbon and rum on the mid palate. The alcohol is essential invisible; only an occasional warmth in the throat hints at the 11%. On the finish, most of the flavors just...persist, dominated by the coffee, chocolate, molasses, and vanilla, with a final whiff of spices at the end. In the mouth, this is a dream: rich, but creamy with its perfect carbonation keeping things dangerously drinkable. Best coffee stout I've had.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bottle found locally the other day! enjoyed from a de struise black damnation taster.

a - brew pours a watery black with an overly frothy head. big creamy head, super foamy. big streaky lace.

s - nose is burnt chocolate, belgian yeast, and gourmet coffee. the yeast gives it a crisp almost vanilla thing over the top.

t/m/o - big creamy stout, very dessert liqour like. again, the belgian yeast sets this off and gives it something really unique. cross between a belgian strong dark ale and a stout. feels like it is not what it once was, but still tasty. the vanilla notes are nice on the coffee. the coffee is on the lighter side. glad i picked this up.

i have become a colossal fan of de molen recently. i have always been a fan, but i have recently really appreciated their beers in the context of others, just so different and high quality all the time. this one is great, found at hazels in boulder, 2012 edition with slightly different specifics on the label. the pour is crazy, its super bubbly, more than any other big dark beer i have seen, reminds me of the engles, that foamed like a mad man, but this is a little more under control, just hard to pour, and the bubbles are huge and light brown. there is some yeast sediment chunked up in the beer too, but they settle fast. the nose is odd, less coffee for me, but there is some age on this one for sure. i smell green pepper, even an ancho chili in here, with some coffee and dry cocoa, a cool nose to say the least. like all of their beers ive had, there is a really neat yeast complexion in here too, short of doughy, but raw in a similar way. the roast on the malt is intense, and there is a sweeter element in here too. the coffee is rich and earthy, and while it doesnt still smell much like it, it certainly is there in the taste, although im not sure i could pick out the special and pricey kopi coffee in this through the beer, which i am okay with, its beer before coffee. notes of raisin and tobacco in there too, no oxidation at all even over time, and a very very lively mouthfeel for the style, totally unique. this is exquisite beer, and it makes me want to go out and find all the de molen beers i possibly can in the market, one of a kind again from these guys!