Cuvée Delphine
De Struise Brouwers

Cuvée DelphineCuvée Delphine
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From:
De Struise Brouwers
 
Belgium
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #135
ABV:
11%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,157
Avg:
4.24 | pDev: 9.91%
Reviews:
254
Ratings:
712
Status:
Active
Rated:
Yesterday at 03:28 AM
Added:
Jan 07, 2009
Wants:
  235
Gots:
  163
This beer takes its name from Delphine Boël, the unlawful daughter of King Albert II. She has struggled for acknowledgment in both her professional and private lives, so we decided she deserves a tribute fit for a princess. Cuvée Delphine is our Black Albert, carefully matured on Four Roses bourbon barrels for 12 months. Mrs. Boël has kindly allowed us to use her artwork for its label, which speaks for itself.

In a sea of sickly sweet and heavy bourbon aged stouts, we wanted Cuvée Delphine to shine brightly as a pinnacle of balance and restraint. Only with a base beer as potent as Black Albert could we manage to make the aging process shine. Notes of oak and slight vanilla pair extraordinarily well with the familiar coffee and brown sugar notes from the Black Albert. The subdued alcohol ties it all together in a lush, mellow experience. Cuvée Delphine will set you free.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JamesStreet:
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Rated by JamesStreet from Louisiana

4.34/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Jun 26, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.53 by chrismattlin from Ohio

Yesterday at 03:28 AM
Photo of NCSapiens
Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana

4.31/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Elegant and restrained use of bourbon barrels compliments the roast and chocolate notes of the outstanding base beer. Very well crafted.
Mar 17, 2024
Photo of bluejacket74
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio

4.34/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
330 ml bottle, bottle date 14/12/2021, best before +5 years afterward. Label says 13% ABV. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with not quite an inch tan head. Head retention and lacing are both good. I like the aroma, the brew smells like dark fruit, brown sugar, vanilla, bourbon and a bit of chocolate. Taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of some oak, dark bread and coffee flavors. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's slick and a bit syrupy with a moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was a pretty good brew, definitely worth picking up if you get the chance!
Mar 16, 2024
 
Rated: 4.06 by RoyalKaiju from Kentucky

Jan 15, 2024
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Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

4.02/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark as a stout should be. Tan head. Nose is dried fruit and charr. Taste was chocolate. Good smooth mouth feel. Easy drinker with nice warmth on backend.
Jan 14, 2024
Photo of Ushouldbeworkinh
Reviewed by Ushouldbeworkinh from England

3.53/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Looks dark, pours a rather aerated light brown head. Smell is a bit muted for me. Nothing really sticks out, very standard. Slight metallic smell and taste. Feel is to fizzy and thin for my liking. 2019 vintage aged in 4 roses bourbon barrel, may not have aged very well.
Dec 30, 2023
Photo of Kgoldsbe
Reviewed by Kgoldsbe from Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This 13% yummy monster is incredibly good and dangerous. You definitely don’t think that it comes in at 13% abv. It is layered with so many different flavors. At first, its perfect toasted malt hits you and then you get a perfectly balanced bitter taste of the hops followed by a barrel aged caramel sweetness. This beer is amazing paired with dessert when you don’t have to drive.
Dec 29, 2023
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Reviewed by BGDrock from Canada (ON)

3.91/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
Deep dark brown, almost black body, delivering a short sized and short lived mocha head.
The nose is mild, chocolate cake, a touch of rum or bourbon aged fruitiness, raisin.
Flavour is a sophisticated blend of rich dark chocolate, bitter roasted malt, rye bread, bourbon barrel fruit & wood, molasses; almost flat carbonation, with a medium body that makes it feel less substantive than you'd expect for the style; the sticky feel of residual sugars are there, but restrained, this is more balanced than many imperial stouts, with a semi dry finish; lovely length, the cocoa and molasses carrying through, and almost no sign of alcohol.

If this was more carbonated, I might be in love - finally an IS that isn't sickly sweet and cloying, well balanced.
Nov 11, 2023
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Reviewed by janubio from Spain

5/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Bottle from Más que Cervezas, served at home in a snifter glass.
Just poured and it smells like heaven.
Served in a snifter glass a t home. Black colour, small brown head that disappears quickly, just a line of lacing.
Aroma of barrel, varnish rubber, bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, raisins, red fruits, licorice.
Full body, creamy sticky texture, flat carbonation. Sweet finish.
Taste i sweet, bourbon, coffee, wood, rubber, chocolate, vanilla raisins, red fruits, licorice and pepper.
Wonderful.
Sep 23, 2023
Photo of puboflyons
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire

4.12/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a . bottle dated 19/05/20 with a BB date of 04/08/22 + 5 years. Sampled June 30, 2023.

The appearance is a dark brown to near jet black color with a retained being head that fades to a ring.

For the aroma, I am immediately noting a red wine or red grape characteristic with the dark roasted malts, Graham crackers, and cocoa arriving a second later. Low booze on the nose.

Medium to full mouthfeel.

The taste is toffee, cream, sweet, a tad ashy, with more alcohol in the mouth. This one is a sipper.
Jun 30, 2023
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.92/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Blind-tasted
L- Pours with one of the darkest heads I've seen recently. The beer is black, even held to the light no glint of underlying colouring appears. 5mm fine-bubble foam cap, holds well given the ABV%
S- A minor deep roasted note plus a hint of alcohol. Looks like it should be more pungent - maybe my nose is having an off day...
T- Rich, deep molasses, a naked alcohol note. The finish is piquant on the palate powerful hops that have a slightly numbing impact on my tongue turbo-charged by the drying aspect of the %.
F- The first sip was quite rich, but my palate adjusted quickly. I suspect this beer is loaded with carbs as it poured so quietly (viscosity). It's big, bold, heavy and not one to be rushed - a slow sippin' beer.
O- Very well put together, it's a big beer for sure. Might suit winter better than 'flaming June', and would be an ideal candidate for sharing. Very pleasant indeed and I'd happily enjoy it again.
330ml bottle £6.10 bought from Trembling Madness in York. Now checking the bottle for further info: Interestingly it's described as a 'Belgian Stout Ale'. Unfiltered/unpasteurised, Contains malted barely & wheat. 'Vintage 2020 BB: 01/02/23+5yrs'.
Material change from description listed above, ABV% per the bottle lable is 13%
Jun 26, 2023
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Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
375ml bottle dated 4/8/22.

Pours almost opaque black with a short-lived head of tan. Minimal retention or lacing. Big bourbon in the nose with vanilla, chocolate following through. On the fuller side of medium bodied with a tacky, slickish mouthfeel. Boozy and rich on the palate. Bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, Kahlua. Finishes warming and sweet.
Jun 14, 2023
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Reviewed by MadMadMike from France

4.34/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
10 ounce draught hit at No. 3 Craft Brews in Cape Coral, FL. I waited until it warmed up to experience.
The deep brown Stout brings a bit of foam that sank quick.
Aroma of bourbon, oak, cocoa powder, some vanilla, dark roast malt and coffee.
Taste is lux.,. balanced nuances of barrel, chocoloccino, bourbon, just enough vanilla to be smooth, and toffee. Good alcohol bite ties it all together.
Mouth is creamy and full. Way low carbonation.
Overall, getting a tap hit of this beauty is a great thing. Really nice!
Apr 23, 2023
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.31/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From the 11.2 fl oz bottle in a snifter. This unique little brew pours a red tinged
muddled deep brown with a moderate head of light brown foam that subsides
to a thin ring with faint lacing. Nose of moist oak, dark cocoa, subtle char, subtle
bourbon, light leather, soy sauce hints, and faint vanilla. Flavors are a surprise
with mellow bourbon, oak, dark chocolate, faint char, leather, tobacco, brandy,
subtle soy hints, candy sugar notes, and brewers licorice. Mouth feel is medium
full tilting towards full, smooth, light soft carbonation, lightly coating, lightly warming
hiding the 13 percent abv on this incarnation of this brew rather well, and a lightly
dry finish.

Overall; complex, unique, and a welcome experience

Cheers
Apr 08, 2023
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Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania

4.27/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours very dark brown, approaching black, with a slight ruby hue. The finger-and-a-half of tan head is relatively short lived before settling into a soupy cap and brown that leave sloppy lacing.

Cocoa, almond, toffee, vanilla and root beer in the nose.

Leather, cocoa, distant vanilla and almond show up front in the taste, followed by some gentian root, wood and firm char with hints of licorice and umami lingering through the aftertaste.

Remarkably creamy feel with extremely tight, soft carbonation.

Great depth, complexity and grown-up flavors in this. The mouthfeel is impressive, too.
Sep 14, 2022
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Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

4.31/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Minimal head production, even from a strong pour. Decent retention.

Very strong aroma, featuring bourbon, coffee, roast, banana, toffee, nuts, caramel, molasses.

Excellent delivery on the palate. Silky smooth, clearly strong but with barely any heat, despite the ABV and a full year spent in the barrels. Bourbon and mild to moderate sweetness up front, with a bitter roastiness that really only builds on the back half of the sip. Tasting notes match the nose remarkably well: caramel, toffee, nuts, banana, oak, bourbon, coconut, coffee, dark bread, nuts.
Aug 26, 2022
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Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is a nice change from the sea of saccharine sweet stouts around today. Roasty almost to the point of ash, with cocoa, leather, molasses, and earthy vanilla. There is a hint of a vinous twang at the finish. More wood than booze from the barrels which works well with the base beer. Nice way to end a great day.
Aug 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by RMW66 from Australia

Aug 12, 2022
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Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

4.32/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A 330ml bottle, 2019 vintage, bottled on 17th November 2021, with a best before date of +5 years. Poured into a snifter glass.

Appearance: Black in colour with a thin brown head that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving some spotty lacing.

Aroma: Light roast, coffee, lots of dark fruit, fig, prunes, raisins, dates, vanilla, bourbon, with a light ashy note in the background.

Taste: Roasted malts, coffee, milk chocolate, moderate sweetness, dark fruit, prunes, dates, bourbon, vanilla, and a touch boozy.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.

Overall: An excellent enjoyable sipper with good aroma and flavours. I think I prefer the base Black Albert just a tiny bit more, but this was still good.
Jul 03, 2022
Cuvée Delphine from De Struise Brouwers
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 712 ratings