Tilburg's Dutch Brown Ale
Bierbrouwerij De Koningshoeven B.V.

GuyFawkes from Illinois

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From old, undated notes. Poured from the bottle.

Murky brown color; barely see-through.

Strong khaki head; strong lacing.

Banana & clove nose; smells very Belgian. Hint of dark bread.

Medium mouthfeel.

Dark fruits & cloves; hint of banana. Again, very Belgian, but tasty.

I'd have another.

Oct 28, 2019

stevoj from Idaho

3.35/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Nice mildly sweet ale, clear brown with thin foamy beige head; aroma is malt and molasses. Taste is slightly smoky roast grains and brown sugar. Smooth and easy to drink.

Jan 08, 2016

Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

3.97/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

$ 2.59/11.2 oz bottle at Vintage Estates, Boardman, OH
Bottle marked 11:19 K26F12 at 40 degrees into snifter
Aroma of malt and yeast phenolics
Head average (4 cm), light brown, creamy, slowly diminishing to irregular layer
Lacing OK – partial rings and stalactites of mostly small bubbles
Body dark brown with reddish cast
Flavor begins sweet and malty; fades to just sweetness; no hops, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate medium to full, creamy, soft carbonation

A very pleasant brown ale, better (IMHO) bottled than on tap, at least here in the US.

Aug 07, 2014

superspak from Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy deep ruby brown color with a 1 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with some light streaming carbonation. Aromas of big raisin, plum, pear, apple, caramel, toast, brown bread, brown sugar, light chocolate, light nuttiness, herbal, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of dark/bready malt and fruity/earthy yeast ester notes; with solid strength. Taste of raisin, plum, pear, apple, caramel, toast, brown sugar, brown bread, light clove, light chocolate, herbal, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes od raisin, plum, pear, apple, caramel, toast, brown sugar, brown bread, herbal, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Nice complexity and solid robustness of dark/bready malt and fruity/earthy yeast ester flavors; with a very good malt/yeast flavor balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth and lightly slick/bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish as expected of 5%. Overall this is a nice Belgian brown ale. Good balance and solid robustness of dark/bready malt and fruity/earthy yeast ester flavors; and very smooth to drink. A nicely enjoyable offering.

Mar 03, 2014

LXIXME from New Mexico

3.82/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Small white to off white head leaves a decent but thinning lacing above a clear deep amber reddish colored beer.

A sweet caramelish nut aroma that leads into a nutty caramel sweet taste.

A medium bodied beer with a sweet nutty slightly dryish aftertaste.

The Dutch sure do love their sweets.

Oct 18, 2013

mjurney from Texas

4.69/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Appearance:
Ruby brown color, see through. I see lots of rising carbonation. Thick creamy head.

Aroma:
Rich, malty, nutty, roasted.

Taste:
Very rich and malty, banana bread, nutty, toffee, roasted malts, faint brown sugar. Hop bitterness is very mild, a little leafy. Finish is very clean, sweet, semi-dry. Body is medium, smooth, a little dry linger aftertaste.

Overall:
A world-class beer. Very delicious!!

Sep 02, 2013

bluejacket74 from Ohio

3.54/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

11.2 ounce bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a clear brownish/red color with about an inch light tan head. Head retention and lacing are both decent enough. The brew smells like nuts, dark fruit, cloves and a bit of licorice. Taste is pretty much the same as the aroma, but with the addition of some brown sugar and molasses. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick and coating with moderate carbonation. Got this one as a single from one of my friends. Not a bad beer by any means, but regardless if this a brown ale or a Belgian dark ale, I like other beers of each style better.

Aug 04, 2013

beyah from Maine

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Tried this Dutch brown ale at Ebenezer's Pub. It was a deep brown color. It had 1 finger of creamy brown head.

Slightly sweet, Malty with a nice drinkability. Had a moderate raisin or date flavor in the background. Very well balanced.

Mouthfeel is perfect for this style with moderate carbonation.

If I see this beer again I'll get it.

Jun 15, 2013

KYGunner from Kentucky

3.12/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

The body of this dark ale was a sweet and supple brown hue with a tidy light brown head.

The scent was almost undetectable. I struggled to find an aroma and caught whiffs of maple and malt.

The taste, as with the scent, was a struggle as well. Hints of maple syrup, light doses of malt and a tinge of sweetness accented a rather boring experience. I tackled this with a clean palate and high expectations but I was left quite flat.

May 04, 2013

FLima from Brazil

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Dark brown color with a two finger head that dissipates quickly.
Intense aroma of licorice, brown sugar and plums, that was a surprise. I would expect that from Belgian ales not for just a Brown Ale.
Likewise, nice fruity flavor but also refreshing. Hints of condiments, caramel and brown sugar.
Medium body with good carbonation with small bubbles.
Highly drinkable and with a great mouth feel, good option for who wants to try something different and flavorful, but not as intense as some Belgian Ales. And that is a unique personality.

Apr 19, 2013

Infamous7100 from Ohio

3.81/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: pours a crystal clear brown to dark orange with a very thin khaki head that is quick to dissipate.
S: after some agitating, notes of caramel and toffee are quick stand out. I am also picking up fruity notes that I would associate with Belgian dubbels or triples. Interesting.
T: a great blend of toffee, caramel and some nuttiness. The Belgian-like fruit and sugary notes are not as apparent in the taste as I believe it is masked by some roasted notes.
M: highly carbonated straight away but it eases into a nice and creamy body that is medium in nature. Finishes with a nice roasty sweet note.
O: Considering the low ABV and how smooth this brew drinks, it is a candidate as a session ale. A nice taste that I believe could serve as gateway for those afraid of a dark brew. Highly enjoyable.

Mar 23, 2013

macrosmatic from Florida

3.64/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. Poured from an 11.2 oz. bottle into a CCB pint glass.

A: Pours a nearly clear, medium reddish brown. Forms a one-finger white head, with visible carbonation on the low side.

S: Sweet caramel and big toffee aromas with underlying bready brown malts. No hop presence I could get out of the aroma.

T: Sweet toffee, brown malts, candied brown sugar, hints of candied apple fruitiness. This tastes like what I would imagine a Belgian Dubbel would taste like if it were fermented with a regular ale yeast rather than a belgian yeast - muted to no yeast fruit esters.

M: Thin body, decent carbonation sensation, and mild alcohol but more present than expected given the ABV.

O: Not objectionable, but nothing I'd go out of my way for to have again.

Feb 24, 2013

OtherShoe2 from Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown with a cream head that reduces to a skim. Nice spotty clingy lace.

Bready malt and some mild sugared aromas. Some fruit. Some fudge.

Brown bread malt, semi dry. Sugar comes up, but not super strong. Some bitter cocoa in the back, and bread crust. Not much bitterness, more malt. Finishes a bit malty dry .

Medium bodied. Good carbonation.

Very decent. Like it more as I get thru the glass.

Feb 16, 2013

RonaldTheriot from Louisiana

4.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Tilburg's Dutch Brown Ale has a thick, creamy, quickly-dissipating, beige head, some lacing left on the glass, and a deep brown (lighter at the edges) appearance. The faint aroma is of sweet, roasted barley malt and brown bread crust. Taste is of the same, with sugar, a slight hop bitterness, and brown bread dough present as well. The mouthfeel is medium, and Tilburg's Dutch Brown Ale finishes semi-dry, sweet, delicious, and highly drinkable. Overall, this is an enjoyable beer, and I recommend checking it out.

RJT

Feb 09, 2013

NuclearDolphin from Minnesota

4.29/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Tulip Glass

Appearance - Clear Dark Brown/Reddish color with a dirty white head. Head is quite fizzy and retains for about a minute or so before becoming a brownish film. Finishes quite clean.

Smell - Rum Raisin, Plums, Spices, Malts, Chocolate and Yeasts. Very sweet smelling beer and quite fruity for a brown ale.

Taste - Chocolate, Rum Raisin, Yeasts, and Hops. Very good taste and not too strong at the same time either; Very nice balance!

Mouthfeel - It's light bodied with some mild carbonation. Feels incredibly crisp to drink at the same time!

Overall - An excellent beer with some great flavor and drinkability. If you're looking for a tasty brown ale, this would be one of my top recommendations

Jan 22, 2013

scot_chale from Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Dark brown and burnt orange body with a thick layer of white pillowy head that doesn't fade easily.

S- All malt. Thick dark roasted malts give hints of caramel. To be honest, it smells like wort.

T- Tastes exactly as it smells, malty. The backbone of the malt base is the star.

M- Much thinner than it looks. I expected it to be heavy, but this one doesn't weigh you down.

O- Awesome beer, and my first Belgian Dark Ale. It's easy going, and a great example of what a great malt profile tastes like. I'd suggest this to those that are getting into beer as a novice, and want to know what these beer snobs mean when they say "malty".

Jan 15, 2013

OWSLEY069 from Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clean orange-ish to brown color with an off white head. In the aroma, Belgian like dark fruits and a nice roasted malt. In the taste, a small bite, light dark fruits, and a small spice. A small spice bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry caramel roast, and note of spice in the aftertaste. A bit thin and faint, but decent.

Dec 29, 2012

Docrock from Illinois

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a tulip:

A- nice dark coppery brown color. nice creamy colored head that dwindles to a thin cap. lacing was average.

S - many subtle aromas but foremost is the caramel malt, a bit of molasses and fig which is very pleasant.

T- it is almost sweet but no overtly so. no apparent hop bitterness, just a clean malty body with the fig and maybe date and molasses aftertaste.

M - medium bodied with decent carbonation, a very smooth and drinkable beer.

O - very enjoyable, could easily see having several of these without even thinking about it. pretty well balanced even without a noticeable hop fingerprint.

Dec 23, 2012

Chewman

4.47/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Upon pouring; the colour was rich and amber with little to no head, I was concerned that maybe the quality had been compromised. However, to my surprise the flavour was complex and bold, quite smokey and very smooth going down. A top quality ale, I highly recommend.

Dec 13, 2012

Theshooster from Korea (South)

4.27/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tilburgs is a good beer with interesting flavor qualities. It is almost as if the brewery has mixed the complicated flavors of Flemish browns with a lighter bodied typical Dutch beer.

A - Dark brown, caramel color

S - Sweet, malty, spicy

T - Lightly spiced, caramel flavored

M - Full bodied, just right

O - My go to brown ale and the only one produced in Holland that I know of.

Dec 10, 2012

horshack7 from England

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A very dark brown with a light beige head on top.

Aroma: Figs, prunes, grape, faint apple and nutmeg even a touch of clove. Light pear in the tail end.

Taste: Quite sweet in the front towards a molasses side. Faint grape, prunes, figs with a touch of roasted hops and brown bread. The mouthfeel is smooth but it has a bready bite.

Notes: Top to bottom it's very drinkable and rather good for a cold night. Cheers.

Nov 23, 2012

Ryan011235 from Ohio

2.33/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a Delirium snifter on 11/13/12

Clear, dark brown with a rusty sheen. One and a half finger head drops rapidly, leaving a skim across the top and some lace that has clung from collar foam.

The aroma has a strong tanginess to it; some roast, but not enough to justify this much of the tangy. Underneath all that is a decent baked dark bread scent. Nutty overtones. Soft spice.

The flavor lacks the tanginess of the aroma, but there are a myriad of unpleasant flavors to take its place: bark, newspaper, cotton, even a hint of cough syrup way down in there. Spiced bread notes and herbal hops hardly make up for the bad. Fruity notions as it warms.

Medium feel with moderately lively/puffy carbonation; pretty standard. The finish is coating, though. Bummer.

Overall, not totally disastrous, but pretty rough. I'll probably have a few more drinks, but finishing the bottle isn't likely.

Nov 14, 2012

endovelico from Portugal

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Beautiful hazy mahogany color with garnet highlights and a tacit mocha head that holds a bit until it ends up being replaced by some slight lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Now, this is a treat. Medium high in intensity. Smells beautifully and boldly of caramel, chocolate, spices, raisins flaunting at the same time assertive herbal notes reminiscent of Lemon balm and Tilia.

Taste: Medium to medium high in intensity. Chocolate, alcohol, cooked peas, yeasty, caramel, coriander seeds, flowery notes. A bit disappointed considering how gorgeous the aroma is.

Mouthfeel: Medium full bodied. A bit too high of a carbonation for such a brew. Medium to medium low bitterness. Finishes a bit too dry.

Overall: (To style) I'm rating this as a Belgian dark ale or a Dubbel at the very least. Its kind of flat on the tongue and lacks depth. The carbonation is also a bit off, in my opinion. Still a great beer and in my opinion very sessionable.

Nov 11, 2012

kingjames1 from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a rich ruby brown, with a frothy tan head. The nose is dark fruits, chocolate, funky belgian yeast, wood. Taste is sour wood, bittersweet dark chocolate, a hint of light alcohol, and a touch of blonde roast coffee. Great brown ale - not sure what I think of it as a dark belgian though. Definitely has the belgian yeast funk, but really drinks like a brown ale. Good stuff though.

Aug 21, 2012

LiquidAmber from Washington

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from 7/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a dark, semi-opaque amber. Light tan head, no lacing. Mild aroma of sweet malts and some dark fruit. Flavor of sweet and light toasted malt, dark fruit. a bit of nuts. Light but pleasant flavors. Nice Bosch label. Maybe worth another try for the label and maltiness.

Aug 03, 2012