Ølfabrikken Abbey Ale (Special Reserve)
Ølfabrikken

Ølfabrikken Abbey Ale (Special Reserve)Ølfabrikken Abbey Ale (Special Reserve)
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From:
Ølfabrikken
 
Denmark
Style:
Dubbel
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.08 | pDev: 9.31%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
34
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 18, 2014
Added:
Dec 14, 2007
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by LilBeerDoctor:
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

3.38/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Reviewed on 8/5/08. Bottle, bottled 11/30/2006. Pours a cloudy brown with a huge thick light tan head. Aroma of light fruits (apple, pear), and too many spices to name. Flavor is quite spicy (coriander, clove) along with light and dark fruits (prune, raisin). Some alcohol. A little soda-like quality to it. This beer reminds me a lot of Corsendonk Christmas Ale. It seems a little past its prime and I'm also not sure what makes this a dubbel as opposed to a Belgian strong ale. It was alright but nothing special.
7/4/7/3/14 (3.5/5)
Dec 23, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by KAF from Iowa

Aug 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

May 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by shagens from Wisconsin

May 01, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by t0rin0 from California

Dec 04, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by jophish17 from Georgia

Dec 14, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Nov 25, 2011
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From notes:

2006 vintage that my wife surprised me with for my birthday! Pours a dark ruby red/chestnut brown color that has dark amber edges and golden orange hues when held to a light source. Massive frothy off-white head that has incredible lacing, hardly fading at all throughout the entire glass. Large patches of soapy lacing left behind.

Earthy and spicy aroma with lots of peppery cinnamon, peppermint and clove along with some dark and citrus fruit character. Hints of plum, raisin, fig and date. Slightly medicinal smelling with slight cough syrup notes.

Full bodied with slight carbonation up front with plenty of sweet chocolate maltiness as well as hints of dark fruit, citrus, nut and spice. Hints of dark cherry, raisin, plum, fig and orange peel. Peppery with some clove and peppermint as well as some candy sugar and alcohol sweetness. Complex and well balanced with a well masked high ABV making this beer extremely quaffable. Recommended!
Dec 25, 2010
Photo of drpimento
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

4.47/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Opened bottle with a big "pop". Poured with a voluminous foamy frothy light tan head with flecks of sediment on fop and within the liquid. Color is lightly cloudy medium amber. Aroma is hugely caramel malt with some spice fruit and yeast. Flavor is very like aroma and not as sweet as I was supposing. Very nice. Well balanced too. Very good body and carbonation. Finsih is at first a little sweet and then tapers to slightly bitter. Easy drinking. As close to a Belgian abbey as I've ever had.
Jun 04, 2010
Photo of jgasparine
Reviewed by jgasparine from Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Poured from the bottle with a thin sustained head- light tan in color; little bits of lacing throughout. The body was an excessively carbonated clear (filtered) medium amber color, with little flakes of presumed yeast riding the bubble trains. Some people might find this sediment to be a turn-off... I did not.

S- Crakerlike pale and candy malts combine with aromas of candi sugar, abbey yeast esters, and some perceived spiciness in the nose. Can't quite put a finger on the spice...

T- A wonderful replicate of the nose, with candi sugar exploding midway on the palate with some stale hop bitterness and candy malt echoing through the finish. Some perceived spicy nuances are there throughout the drink- cinnamon and/or cardamom perhaps? Finishes somewhat dry. Very tasty.

M- A nice oily and somewhat creamy body. Overall a medium+ body with tremendous amounts of soft, non-bloating carbonation.

D- Goes down quite well... almost quaffable... glad to drink this bottle on my own, or split it with a friend.
Mar 30, 2010
Photo of prototypic
Reviewed by prototypic from Ohio

4.12/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Abbey Ale pours a dark rust color. It's mostly clear and light reveals burgundy highlights. There are some yeasty particles swimming about. Active carbonation produces a tan head that stands over three fingers tall. It's a little lighter (and clearer) than I'm used to seeing for the style. But, it's a nice looking beer all the same.

The nose is pretty impressive. Belgian yeast is very prominent. That's a big plus. Many non-Belgian breweries somehow whiff on that critical component. Dark fruit is noted. Raisin and plum add quality depth to the nose. Coriander and clove spices blend well. This is a rather deep, complex Dubbel. Herbal and earthy notes are secondary and subtle. Alcohol is mildly noticeable. All in all, this is a very good smelling beer. I'm impressed.

The flavor profile is nearly as good. Raisin and plum flavors kick it off and resonate throughout. It is very spicy. In fact, I believe it's a tad too spicy. Pepper, clove, and coriander flavors are strong and are just a little overbearing. Belgian yeast is very much in the mix and adds much to the flavor profile. I believe that's why I like it as much as I do. That flavor pulls it together a great deal. It has an interesting leafy-like, herbal flavor that emerges late. It's alright, but doesn't add much. Alcohol is noted, but isn't warming or hot. It finishes spicy with a tangy, dark fruit flavor.

Abbey Ale has a really nice, smooth medium body. Carbonation is active, but it somehow feels relatively light. This would be a dream with a little more body. Drinkability is good. I really like the flavor. But, the intense spiciness grows a little tiring as the bottle descends. At 8.5% abv, it's not too imposing, especially for a Dubbel. Nonetheless, a 750's just about the perfect size.

I'm always a little skeptical with non-Belgian attempts at Belgian styles. This Danish take on a Dubbel is an impressive one. In fact, it's damn near spot-on. There's a lot to love about Abbey Ale. Personally, I think it's just a tad too spicy for the style, but that's its only real shortcoming. Nonetheless, it still has a really nice flavor. I'm happy to report that Ølfabrikken nailed the Belgian yeast aspect. I don't know if this beer is still around. I've had this bottle for quite some time and there don't appear to be many reviews. If you happen to spot a bottle, pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
Nov 15, 2009
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Rusted apricot with a big splash of cherry juice and light showers of fine yeast. What are presumably larger clumps of yeast slowly sink to the bottom of the glass. The pastel gold crown is expansive, fluffy and creamilicious. Impressive persistence more than makes up for a less than extensive lace display.

If the aroma is an accurate guide, Olfabrikken has done their homework when it comes to the Belgian dubbel style. Each deep sniff delivers an abundance of medium-dark fruit and an intriguing musky spiciness that isn't entirely due to Belgian yeast esters (see below).

Olfabrikken was thoughtful enough to list the beer's ingredients on the label, something that I wish more breweries would do. If you don't speak Danish, here is the translation: vand (water), bygmalt (barley malt), hvedemalt (wheat malt), majs (maize), sukker (sugar), gaer (yeast), korriander (coriander) and humle (hops).

Abby Ale is tremendously tasty and is as good as all but the best Belgian versions. It does taste a bit different, probably due to the coriander, an ingredient not often found in beer of this style. Belgian brewers definitely aren't purists, and it looks like Danish ones aren't either. 'Whatever tastes good' works for them and it sure as hell works for me.

The flavor profile includes brown bread, English toffee, fig preserves, a mixture of golden and dark raisins, tobacco leaves, clove and coriander. The sweet-bitter-spicy balance is perfect and the beer is as complex as they come. I haven't had too many dubbels better than this one.

The brewers came close, but they haven't quite figured out how to match the Belgians when it comes to mouthfeel. No worries, no one else has either. It's at least medium-full, but doesn't have the creamy expansiveness that would have garnered the next highest score.

Olfabrikken Porter is one of the best beers on the planet. Abbey Ale, while not that good, is an outstanding elixir that I'd love to drink again and again. Here's hoping that rumors of retirement are completely unfounded. The world needs a kick-ass Danish dubbel like this one.
Jul 08, 2009
Photo of CrellMoset
Reviewed by CrellMoset from Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Olfabrikken Abbey Ale, courtesy of and split w/ dkachur. Thanks! Been looking to try this one for a while, but I've never had a chance to pick it up. My portion poured into a snifter.

Appearance: Pours a hazy amber/brown-bodied brew, wearing a fizzy yet fluffy one-finger, fast-fading head that leaves a definite presence throughout, never fading beyond a quarter-finger. Absolutely replete with floaties at the finish of the pour.

Aroma: Slight alcohol note is what strikes me first, which takes the score down a little, but it's followed by series of pleasant notes, very dubbel-like: cherries, bread crusts, raisins, and a handful of spicy clove and coriander overtones.

Taste: Rather spicy, full of cloves and medicinal phenols, over a base of brown sugar and wholesome bready notes, complimented by cherries, raisins, figs, and banana notes. On the whole, very nice.

Mouthfeel: Thick - perhaps a little too thick for the style - complete with slightly prickly carbonation. On the whole, I'd classify this one as "subdued."

Drinkability: A solid, drinkable dubbel, and one I'm glad to have tried. Abv% is not too out of the league of this beer, and though it's perceptible in the nose, it's less so in the mouth. Though there are a few areas where this beer falls a little short, it's - on the whole - enjoyable.
Jun 30, 2009
Photo of rallison
Reviewed by rallison from California

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Almost 3 years old.

Nice ruby amber pour with a creamy white head that never fully disappears and comes back on command with a little swirl. Very nice.

The aging has treated this beer well. Extremely mellow with a nice creaminess in the mouthfeel (once some of the high carbonation has worn off). Very pleasant integration of raisins, caramel, brown sugar and spices going on. Virtually no alcohol presence. Very, very drinkable.

Wish I had picked up a few more of these. Highly recommended - a very nice, aged dubbel.
May 23, 2009
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.37/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
I cellared a bit, and took out expecting a more drinkable beer. Looks: on the lighter side, with suspended bits and a tinted colour, white head. Aroma was spicey and yeasty. Taste was sweet and spicey and yeasty but not that well integrated. ABove average mouthfeel. Not too drinkable.
Mar 11, 2009
Photo of aerozeppl
Reviewed by aerozeppl from New York

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Poured a nice looking brown copperish color. 3 fingers of white head when I poured it.

S: A really nice and strong mustiness. Almost smells like soil. That is what I look for in a Belgian style ale. Some dark fruit with a ton of the yeast shinning through. A slight hint of toffee in the end. I don't think that really describes what I am smelling though.

T: I love the taste their yeast imparts on their beers. Note to self buy a bottle and harvest some. Just a nice smooth mix of dark fruit with a nice malt sweetness at the end. A little bit of caramel as well. This reminds me more of an American take on the style than anything else.

m: Medium body with tons of carbonation.

D: Very drinkable. Goes down very easily. I find all of their beers possess a common smoothness. Just really nice. Complex beers that don't seem overwhelming when you are drinking them.
Feb 12, 2009
Photo of AKBelgianBeast
Reviewed by AKBelgianBeast from Alaska

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a deep brown color with major ruby hughes when held to the light. A nice off white head lingers for some time, and leaves ok lacing.

Nose is full of dark fruit and some spices. Belgian yeast notes are strong, and some slight caramelly aniseishness. whoa.

Taste is actually quite good! Many a dark fruit in here. At first all you get is carbonation, as this one is a bit overcarbonated. Then an array of dark plummy raisiny and date like dark fruits slides across the palate. Some Caramel and Toffee come about just before the finish. More dark fruits. Dark candy sugars abound here as well. A nice Anise like licorice lick just before the finish. This is borderline BSDA. The finish is nice and crisp, a bit dry, and leaves good caramelized fruit and sugar residue on the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is good, but significant overcarbonation is present. Thickness is right where it should be.

Drinkability is pretty solid here. The abv is fairly unnoticeable, aside from the richness of the taste. For a dubbel, this one is docked a bit on drinkability, but if it were me, i might call this a BSDA.

Overall a very pleasant and enjoyable brew from Olfabrikken. Their porter will forever be their shining star, but they do make other brews that should get more notice. This is a quality belgian style dark ale. Nice rich flavors, but this one is defenitely a sipper. A good brew from those Danish crazies at Olfabrikken.
Jan 09, 2009
Photo of Kraken
Reviewed by Kraken from Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes.

Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into a Fin Du Monde tulip glass. Gentle pour evokes a scrumptious three finger head with incredible staying power. As the head slowly recedes it leaves a thick layer of lace behind. Color is a dark brown cider.

Nose- Poured a little cold. Raisins, some golden apples. Subtle notes of coco, light coffee, and sweet caramel.

Palate- Notes of dark fruit, dates, light raisins, coco, coffee, caramel. Pleasant underlying sweetness. Very supple and smooth with a creaminess about it. High alcohol is only apparent in the bone dry finish.

Mouthfeel- Creamy yet very dry.

Drinkablilty- Very smooth a true sipper.

This is by far the best dubbel that I have ever had. Seek out!
Dec 30, 2008
Photo of bkilpatr
Reviewed by bkilpatr from Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a Chimay glass. 12/06/08. Bottle is corked & caged. Looks like a production date of 30/11-2006 on the bottle.

Pours a deep ruby-mahogany color with about two fingers of light tan head. The head dropped slowly to a thin layer, nice retention. Lots of little floaties in the beer. Aroma is malty and spicy, with some caramel, raisin, fig, and a bit of alcohol.

Taste is very nice. Lots of sweet malt, caramel, and molasses. Plenty of dark fruit, raising, fig, date, plum. Candied sugar, brown sugar, and Belgian yeast flavors are also present. Very slight alcohol presence. Nice and sweet and fruity.

Feel is very smooth and creamy due to the high amount of carbonation. Slight warming from the alcohol. Drinkability is very good. It goes down really smoothly and the alcohol is pretty well hidden.

Overall, a very good dubbel. Very tasty and easy to drink.
Dec 06, 2008
Ølfabrikken Abbey Ale (Special Reserve) from Ølfabrikken
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 34 ratings