La Trappe Dubbel (Koningshoeven / Dominus)
Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Dubbel
Ranked #19 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #10,622 - Avg:
- 3.95 | pDev: 10.63%
- Reviews:
- 436
- Ratings:
- From:
- Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.
- Netherlands
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 74
- Gots
- 203
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Notes:
La Trappe Dubbel has a deep brown colour and attractive beige froth. The use of caramel malt gives it a gentle aromatic caramelised quality. It has a rich malty flavour with a touch of sweetness. Post-fermenting La Trappe Dubbel is a smooth drink, and yet has some real body and intense flavour to it.
Reviews: 436
| Ratings: 931
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Reviews by MrDell:
MrDell from Switzerland
4.62/5 rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark reddish brown. Huge hit of bananas on the nose also smells a little chocolaty. One finger head that dissappears fairly quickly. Taste starts off with the yeast flavour, followed by milk chocolate and bananas, finishes with sweet liquorice. I really enjoyed this dubbel, my only complaint would be that it would benefit from a little more body. Otherwise, Ive had mixed opinions on beers from La Trappe - love the quad, found the both the blond and the tripel to be sub-par and the bock is not my thing. Will definitely be having this one again though.
Aug 29, 2015
4.62/5 rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark reddish brown. Huge hit of bananas on the nose also smells a little chocolaty. One finger head that dissappears fairly quickly. Taste starts off with the yeast flavour, followed by milk chocolate and bananas, finishes with sweet liquorice. I really enjoyed this dubbel, my only complaint would be that it would benefit from a little more body. Otherwise, Ive had mixed opinions on beers from La Trappe - love the quad, found the both the blond and the tripel to be sub-par and the bock is not my thing. Will definitely be having this one again though.
Aug 29, 2015
More User Reviews:
rochefort8 from Denmark
4.69/5 rDev +18.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is my first review, but I have tried several trappist beers before. I view trappist beers as being the quintessential example of what a good beer should be, and this one is no different. I like sweet beers, and this one certainly is a sweet one.
Look: Pours a dark brown color with off-white 2 finger head. Nice head-retention, but does not match a blue chimay, but good nonetheless.
Smell: Classic belgian yeast, with semi-strong notes of banana. Notes of dark sugar and dates are apparent, but they hide behind the smell of banana. As the beer opens up, the sugar and date smell gets stronger, almost overpowering the banana smell eventually. Slighty boozy smell as well.
Taste: Banana, sugar, dates, prunes and that honey-like belgian yeast taste. Taste is a lot stronger than smell, which gradually dissipates over time.
Feel: Smooth and semi sweet-sticky mouthfeel. Gradually gets very smooth, as the carbonation dissipates - quite nice mouthfeel.
Overall: A good representation of a trappist dubbel-style beer. Comparing it to Westmalle, I find this one to be a lot sweeter and boozy, whereas the Westmalle feels more subdued and less sweet.
I may be biased, but I really like this one. It is a beer that should be sipped and savoured, while taking the time to sense everything it has to offer.
Mar 06, 2017
4.69/5 rDev +18.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is my first review, but I have tried several trappist beers before. I view trappist beers as being the quintessential example of what a good beer should be, and this one is no different. I like sweet beers, and this one certainly is a sweet one.
Look: Pours a dark brown color with off-white 2 finger head. Nice head-retention, but does not match a blue chimay, but good nonetheless.
Smell: Classic belgian yeast, with semi-strong notes of banana. Notes of dark sugar and dates are apparent, but they hide behind the smell of banana. As the beer opens up, the sugar and date smell gets stronger, almost overpowering the banana smell eventually. Slighty boozy smell as well.
Taste: Banana, sugar, dates, prunes and that honey-like belgian yeast taste. Taste is a lot stronger than smell, which gradually dissipates over time.
Feel: Smooth and semi sweet-sticky mouthfeel. Gradually gets very smooth, as the carbonation dissipates - quite nice mouthfeel.
Overall: A good representation of a trappist dubbel-style beer. Comparing it to Westmalle, I find this one to be a lot sweeter and boozy, whereas the Westmalle feels more subdued and less sweet.
I may be biased, but I really like this one. It is a beer that should be sipped and savoured, while taking the time to sense everything it has to offer.
Mar 06, 2017
seedyone from New York
3.83/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
05/01/14 On tap. Really nice and toasty flavor, nothing sweet on the caramelized side, just a solid, well balanced brew. Leave all expectations behind & try this. If nothing else you'll have a true point of reference as to what is good & bad. If you find fault, be prepared to defend your opinion, if you like it...well..just enjoy it like I did.
Jun 28, 2014
3.83/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
05/01/14 On tap. Really nice and toasty flavor, nothing sweet on the caramelized side, just a solid, well balanced brew. Leave all expectations behind & try this. If nothing else you'll have a true point of reference as to what is good & bad. If you find fault, be prepared to defend your opinion, if you like it...well..just enjoy it like I did.
Jun 28, 2014
Houborg1 from Denmark
3.92/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Jul 19, 2016
3.92/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Jul 19, 2016
Kulrak from Australia
4.29/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark ruby brown with a decent amount of creamy tan head that fades away to a thin layer fairly quickly. Smells yeasty and sweet, hints of raisins and chocolate and a tiny bit of berry. The taste is very similar to the smell, sweet, a little chocolatey, raisiny, some berry and lots of maltiness. The mouthfeel is heavy and slightly fizzy, but mostly creamy. Overall, it's a very drinkable and tasty belgian-style dubbel. I'll be getting this again.
Aug 20, 2007
4.29/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark ruby brown with a decent amount of creamy tan head that fades away to a thin layer fairly quickly. Smells yeasty and sweet, hints of raisins and chocolate and a tiny bit of berry. The taste is very similar to the smell, sweet, a little chocolatey, raisiny, some berry and lots of maltiness. The mouthfeel is heavy and slightly fizzy, but mostly creamy. Overall, it's a very drinkable and tasty belgian-style dubbel. I'll be getting this again.
Aug 20, 2007
jrallen34 from Illinois
2.98/5 rDev -24.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
11.2oz bottle poured into my Gouden glass...A medium brown, amber in the light. a boring tan head of only about a finger, falls quickly, bad lacing...A really light aroma, plums, sugar and alcohol, not complex enough for me...The taste is really boring, a watered down cherry coke, dark fruits, and alcohol...An amazingly light feel.
This is just lacking all respects.
Nov 17, 2010
2.98/5 rDev -24.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
11.2oz bottle poured into my Gouden glass...A medium brown, amber in the light. a boring tan head of only about a finger, falls quickly, bad lacing...A really light aroma, plums, sugar and alcohol, not complex enough for me...The taste is really boring, a watered down cherry coke, dark fruits, and alcohol...An amazingly light feel.
This is just lacking all respects.
Nov 17, 2010
WormGod from New York
4.21/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Oct 24, 2017
4.21/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Oct 24, 2017
DrJay from Texas
3.97/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Corked and cages 750mL bottle. Clear deep brown with a bit of a reddish hue. A generous cap of dark beige foam fell quickly to a thin ring and left a few islands of bubbles floating on top of the beer. Malty aroma, bready, toffee, light dried fruit character, slight alcohol, but fairly mild overall. Bitterness was higher than I was expecting, but still on the low side. Malt sweetness and toffee up front, followed by fruit, cherry, plums, sugar. Light alcohol in the finish. Carbonation was higher than average, which gave it a lighter texture. Slight warmth. Pretty tasty overall.
Aug 23, 2009
3.97/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Corked and cages 750mL bottle. Clear deep brown with a bit of a reddish hue. A generous cap of dark beige foam fell quickly to a thin ring and left a few islands of bubbles floating on top of the beer. Malty aroma, bready, toffee, light dried fruit character, slight alcohol, but fairly mild overall. Bitterness was higher than I was expecting, but still on the low side. Malt sweetness and toffee up front, followed by fruit, cherry, plums, sugar. Light alcohol in the finish. Carbonation was higher than average, which gave it a lighter texture. Slight warmth. Pretty tasty overall.
Aug 23, 2009
dpnelson1978 from Minnesota
3.78/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
750ml bottle into Duvel tulip.
$8.99 / ea.
S: Ripe red fruit with just a little citrus. No hops.
A: Dark brown body with just a hint of red. Not that hazy, but just doesn't penetrate. Medium body with a medium tan head, and no lacing.
T: Very smooth, with well blended -OH. Toffee, sweet red fruit, and some chocolate. I don't care for the taste on the back end.
M: Medium carbonation and medium body.
D: Not too heavy, not too sweet, and not too bitter. Price might catch up to you but this beer is none too shabby.
O: Not as good as the Trippel (in my opinion) but would do it again.
Nov 01, 2009
3.78/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
750ml bottle into Duvel tulip.
$8.99 / ea.
S: Ripe red fruit with just a little citrus. No hops.
A: Dark brown body with just a hint of red. Not that hazy, but just doesn't penetrate. Medium body with a medium tan head, and no lacing.
T: Very smooth, with well blended -OH. Toffee, sweet red fruit, and some chocolate. I don't care for the taste on the back end.
M: Medium carbonation and medium body.
D: Not too heavy, not too sweet, and not too bitter. Price might catch up to you but this beer is none too shabby.
O: Not as good as the Trippel (in my opinion) but would do it again.
Nov 01, 2009
Tbulling from Nebraska
3.3/5 rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Nov 26, 2016
3.3/5 rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Nov 26, 2016
connecticutpoet from Connecticut
3.97/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one was a cloudy, rich amber beer without much head. But there was some good lacing, which bode well for the experience.
The aroma was of strong malt with a slight mustiness that was not unpleasant.
The taste was very similar... mostly of strong malt, but a slight mustiness to it as well. It was very warming as it went down.
This was the second beer on La Trappe night... and a good one, as it was a step up from the Enkel.
Nov 22, 2004
3.97/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one was a cloudy, rich amber beer without much head. But there was some good lacing, which bode well for the experience.
The aroma was of strong malt with a slight mustiness that was not unpleasant.
The taste was very similar... mostly of strong malt, but a slight mustiness to it as well. It was very warming as it went down.
This was the second beer on La Trappe night... and a good one, as it was a step up from the Enkel.
Nov 22, 2004
AAG from New York
3.63/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
May 28, 2018
3.63/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
May 28, 2018
Zombiefeynman from Ohio
4.19/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jul 15, 2016
4.19/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jul 15, 2016
foamyhead from Denmark
3.78/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The beer looks brown, but when you hold it up against the light, you see that has a nice deep red colour. It pours a firm beige head, that holds quite well.
In the nose I sense a sweet, spicy yeasty beer, and a touch of alcohol.
A medium to full-body beer with a soft taste of cream caramel and some bitterness in the end. Overall it is harmonious and has some strength. Nice soft and round beer, that fills my mouth well.
Worth trying again :)
Jun 14, 2004
3.78/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The beer looks brown, but when you hold it up against the light, you see that has a nice deep red colour. It pours a firm beige head, that holds quite well.
In the nose I sense a sweet, spicy yeasty beer, and a touch of alcohol.
A medium to full-body beer with a soft taste of cream caramel and some bitterness in the end. Overall it is harmonious and has some strength. Nice soft and round beer, that fills my mouth well.
Worth trying again :)
Jun 14, 2004
Craig-er from New Hampshire
4.02/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A big fan of Trappist Dubbel’s. Beautiful large bottle with a cork. No date on label. Poured into a chalace Westmalle glass that I purchased in Amsterdam. The fluffy white head faded quickly. The color is a rich looking dark brown. The taste is semi-sweet, nice carbonation and bread flavors. Overall a great example of the Trappist style.
Aug 25, 2018
4.02/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A big fan of Trappist Dubbel’s. Beautiful large bottle with a cork. No date on label. Poured into a chalace Westmalle glass that I purchased in Amsterdam. The fluffy white head faded quickly. The color is a rich looking dark brown. The taste is semi-sweet, nice carbonation and bread flavors. Overall a great example of the Trappist style.
Aug 25, 2018
nogoodreason from Missouri
3.95/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Deep opaque brown with a red hue. Head is fluffy and eggshell colored. Retention isn't great, but the lacing is beautiful.
Smell: Good, malty smell with traces of alcohol apparent, somewhat earthy with a little bit of grain smell. More alcohol towards the end.
Taste: Rich, with some good yeasty aspects... it's complex, and the flavors are sublte so nothing is jumping out at me. Then there's a bit of toffee, a little bit of cocoa, a lot of rich bready tastes. The first couple of finishes have a mild musty character that's a little unpleasant. As the bottle warms, the finish becomes rich and bready... like pumpernickel, with a good bit of toffee. Again a hint of alcohol in the finish.
Mouthfeel: Smooth and fairly light... carbonation is light but present, makes this feel quite nice. Not drying or astringent.
A good, solid Dubbel. Not quite up there with the Westmalle and definitely not in the same league as the Westvleteren, but still an enjoyable brew. I will definitely purchase this again. I'm anxious to try their Tripel.
Aug 20, 2004
3.95/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Deep opaque brown with a red hue. Head is fluffy and eggshell colored. Retention isn't great, but the lacing is beautiful.
Smell: Good, malty smell with traces of alcohol apparent, somewhat earthy with a little bit of grain smell. More alcohol towards the end.
Taste: Rich, with some good yeasty aspects... it's complex, and the flavors are sublte so nothing is jumping out at me. Then there's a bit of toffee, a little bit of cocoa, a lot of rich bready tastes. The first couple of finishes have a mild musty character that's a little unpleasant. As the bottle warms, the finish becomes rich and bready... like pumpernickel, with a good bit of toffee. Again a hint of alcohol in the finish.
Mouthfeel: Smooth and fairly light... carbonation is light but present, makes this feel quite nice. Not drying or astringent.
A good, solid Dubbel. Not quite up there with the Westmalle and definitely not in the same league as the Westvleteren, but still an enjoyable brew. I will definitely purchase this again. I'm anxious to try their Tripel.
Aug 20, 2004
retor_vinot from Russian Federation
2.99/5 rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Dec 07, 2016
2.99/5 rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Dec 07, 2016
La Trappe Dubbel (Koningshoeven / Dominus) from Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
931 ratings
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