Dubbel
Jobber's Canyon Restaurant & Brewery

On draught at the Crescent Moon.

Highlights of reddish orange accent the cloudy amber-brown. Not a lot of head here, maybe an inch on top of this pint glass, but it lasted no longer than it took to walk to a table from the bar. Lacing only on the side of the glass I'm drinking from. Appearance score was reduced from a 4 b/c of the weak head - there are no dubbels I'm aware of that retain so little foam.

The smell side is a bit lacking as well, the yeast is dominant as there is no evidence of a malt presence in this beer. The yeast is slightly fruity, slightly bready. I'm okay with the light hop presence. To compound, the aroma is quite weak, although it emerges a little bit as it warms up.

The flavor takes up those yeasty notes from the nose and adds just a hair of spiciness, which is welcome and quite pleasant. Buried within is the malt presence I wasn't getting before, the sweet caramel (or maybe butter toffee) notes unfold with the aroma as this beer de-chills. Again, domination by yeast characteristics, not unpleasant but different for the style. 7.3% abv is almost untasteable, very well done in that respect.

The weak head translates to a buttery smooth mouthfeel, not hugely full but not sorely lacking in depth. A little chocolate malt comes in with the second wave of flavors, again, welcome complexity, and does good things for the presence in the outh. This is a fairly sweet beer, I would gladly take a bigger alcohol presence if the malt profile was bumped up. I also adjusted the drinkability, upward this time, since I realized that I finished the beer before finishing the review. As far as a "dubbel" I don't know. It is a chocolate malt-based brew with ester yeast flavors that comes in at a high abv, but that's where the similarity ends between this and a beer of maximal complexity like the Westmalle or St. Bernardus 8. This is Belgium Lite.

Hazy, bronze in hue with some coppery-brown and peach highlights; the color is eye-catching. One finger of off-white head; but because of the small snifter it was served in the foam couldn’t expand past that. Head retention was poor, especially for a Belgian-style ale. The foam fell rapidly to a soapy collar. Equally as sad was the lack of lacing. Too bad the head related aspects of the appearance weren’t better because I do like the depth of the liquid. On the whole, this Dubbel looks nice.

The nose is a bit empty at first. There are some fruity, yeasty notes in the background. The yeast does speak clearly in this beer, no doubt. However, the aromas are sorely lacking in malt. I need more maltiness for a Dubbel, this concerns me about the direction the palate will take. Low potency, not very rich or chatty; sure, it smells Belgian but not a Dubbel. It is a kin to a dark Saison or a dark Wit. Inviting, at face value.

I have had this beer before, in other forms. It is scary similar to Upstream’s “Belgian Dubblel” and way too similar to “Walnut Saison” from the Walnut Brewery. In fact, these three beers must have used the same yeast. The other two beers did have malt in the mix. Sadly, JC’s Dubbel only offers the spicy, fruity, yeast pleasantries. I get only hints of caramel, chocolate malt. Yes, the alcohol is very well-hidden. So is the malt. That is not a good tradeoff. Sure, there is good taste but it lacks soul. Spicy finish but clean. I want to like this beer but I can’t. I have drank it on multiple occasions and I will have it again but only at happy hour (for $2).

Medium in body, maybe a tickle smaller; low carbonation, relaxing… it allows the sweetness to linger nicely. While thin, the mouthfeel is decent, well, it is workable anyway.

It is easy to drink. Should a Dubbel be easy to drink? Maybe this is a slutty Dubbel? I got to the bottom of the glass too fast. I guess, she is worthy of a one nightstand. Like I said, I went back for seconds but my expectations had already been lowed. I guess I am just a sucker for anything Belgian. This is not a special beer. Sampled on location.