Abbey | New Belgium Brewing
Brewed by:
New Belgium Brewing
Colorado, United States
newbelgium.com
Style: Belgian Dubbel
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our award-winning Abbey stays true to tradition with an authentic Belgian yeast, six malts and a guarded recipe.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 03-02-2002
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 2,323 | Reviews: 811
4.19/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.73/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.09/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.46/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Very complex. It’s difficult to describe this beer, many flavors, but no single flavor is overwhelming. An amazing beer the flavor and after taste is wonderful
163 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Very complex. It’s difficult to describe this beer, many flavors, but no single flavor is overwhelming. An amazing beer the flavor and after taste is wonderful
163 characters
4.25/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours a nice finger head. Color is a deep red walnut.
S: Malt, chocolate, brown sugar, and some dark fruit that I can't quite make out.
T: Deep bitter maltiness, toffee, coriander, and cloves. The spices give this beer a unique flair while the maltiness gives it weight.
O: Fantastic interpretation of the style. Nice alternative to the stalwarts.
353 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours a nice finger head. Color is a deep red walnut.
S: Malt, chocolate, brown sugar, and some dark fruit that I can't quite make out.
T: Deep bitter maltiness, toffee, coriander, and cloves. The spices give this beer a unique flair while the maltiness gives it weight.
O: Fantastic interpretation of the style. Nice alternative to the stalwarts.
353 characters
4.11/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear deep brown with purple tints. Good amount of tan head that has some staying power, nice lacing. Aroma is dark fruit. Flavor is sweet ripe dark fruits, raisins, plums and dates. Sweet caramel malts. Feel is rather thick and lightly carbonated. Over all a very drinkable ale.
287 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear deep brown with purple tints. Good amount of tan head that has some staying power, nice lacing. Aroma is dark fruit. Flavor is sweet ripe dark fruits, raisins, plums and dates. Sweet caramel malts. Feel is rather thick and lightly carbonated. Over all a very drinkable ale.
287 characters
3.73/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look - Nice copper / dark amber color - really translucent, but not crystal clear. Only a 1 finger head from a 12 oz. Head dissipated rapidly and a ring of bubbles continued on. Hoped for more carbonation - My favorite Belgian Dubs have really large bubbles and are pretty frothy.
Smell - Some bubble gum and some odd aromas of chemicals and melting plastic. Not super aromatic, but some caramel and plum come through as well.
Taste - A quick taste of Bubble Gum - then you get a blast of Belgian yeast goodness and caramel sweetness. There may have been a quick Hop bite there at first, but drops off quickly. There is some plum/prune, tobacco, clove, and caramel. Very flavorful, but there are a few hints of that chemical smell that I mentioned earlier, in the taste as well. Some slight metallic hint here and there as well. It isn't overpowering, but subtly there.
Feel - Medium bodied - carbonation drops off way too soon - would have earned an extra point for me if it stayed bubbly.
Overall - I have know about this beer for years and just now tried it for the first time as a single. I live in Colorado and it's hard to believe this is my first. It is decent and I would buy it again.... it would take me a while to do a 6-pack though. I don't think I would drink a second one back to back.
1,324 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look - Nice copper / dark amber color - really translucent, but not crystal clear. Only a 1 finger head from a 12 oz. Head dissipated rapidly and a ring of bubbles continued on. Hoped for more carbonation - My favorite Belgian Dubs have really large bubbles and are pretty frothy.
Smell - Some bubble gum and some odd aromas of chemicals and melting plastic. Not super aromatic, but some caramel and plum come through as well.
Taste - A quick taste of Bubble Gum - then you get a blast of Belgian yeast goodness and caramel sweetness. There may have been a quick Hop bite there at first, but drops off quickly. There is some plum/prune, tobacco, clove, and caramel. Very flavorful, but there are a few hints of that chemical smell that I mentioned earlier, in the taste as well. Some slight metallic hint here and there as well. It isn't overpowering, but subtly there.
Feel - Medium bodied - carbonation drops off way too soon - would have earned an extra point for me if it stayed bubbly.
Overall - I have know about this beer for years and just now tried it for the first time as a single. I live in Colorado and it's hard to believe this is my first. It is decent and I would buy it again.... it would take me a while to do a 6-pack though. I don't think I would drink a second one back to back.
1,324 characters
4.15/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm updating my review.
Ughhhh. I originally reviewed this beer during its glory years. I was in love with this beer. It was my little secret. Best bang for the buck beer in America. Then they changed the recipe. It's like a completely different beer. I forgot what the original beer tasted like but I knew I liked it more. This beer to me tastes more like a Belgian dubbel than the original. But that's not in a good way. Read my original review below. There was a banana and bubble gum: two flavors known in Hefeweizens. Now this beer is prune/plum heavy what you normally taste in a traditional Belgium Dubbel. It's still a great beer but its not legendary anymore. This tastes more like an authentic Belgium dubbel made by belgium monks which is both a huge compliment and a negative to me. How about you guys at New Belgium offer the original recipe and offer this new recipe too. They are practically two different beers. I appreciate how this beer transformed into a very close representation of a classic Belgium Dubbel but the original recipe was so damn tasty. It was unique and delicious.
MY ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW:
An amazing American version of a Belgium beer. There is SO much that this beer gets right. The beer pours beautifully with at least a two finger head, it has a beautiful shade of redish brown liquid, and it has a GREAT mouth feel (it isn't watered down). It feels like an authentic Belgium beer (that costs about $6+ a bottle). This beer is priced perfectly, wow, so much bang for the buck! I can get it for $1.50 a bottle. It has 7% abv too! The alcohol is masked: you can feel the warmth of it but not really a taste of alcohol.
The taste is of malt, banana, bubble gum (you can taste it when you burp :-D ), pepper, and yeast.
This is one of the best bang for your buck beers in America. I'm in love with this stuff.
1,849 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm updating my review.
Ughhhh. I originally reviewed this beer during its glory years. I was in love with this beer. It was my little secret. Best bang for the buck beer in America. Then they changed the recipe. It's like a completely different beer. I forgot what the original beer tasted like but I knew I liked it more. This beer to me tastes more like a Belgian dubbel than the original. But that's not in a good way. Read my original review below. There was a banana and bubble gum: two flavors known in Hefeweizens. Now this beer is prune/plum heavy what you normally taste in a traditional Belgium Dubbel. It's still a great beer but its not legendary anymore. This tastes more like an authentic Belgium dubbel made by belgium monks which is both a huge compliment and a negative to me. How about you guys at New Belgium offer the original recipe and offer this new recipe too. They are practically two different beers. I appreciate how this beer transformed into a very close representation of a classic Belgium Dubbel but the original recipe was so damn tasty. It was unique and delicious.
MY ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW:
An amazing American version of a Belgium beer. There is SO much that this beer gets right. The beer pours beautifully with at least a two finger head, it has a beautiful shade of redish brown liquid, and it has a GREAT mouth feel (it isn't watered down). It feels like an authentic Belgium beer (that costs about $6+ a bottle). This beer is priced perfectly, wow, so much bang for the buck! I can get it for $1.50 a bottle. It has 7% abv too! The alcohol is masked: you can feel the warmth of it but not really a taste of alcohol.
The taste is of malt, banana, bubble gum (you can taste it when you burp :-D ), pepper, and yeast.
This is one of the best bang for your buck beers in America. I'm in love with this stuff.
1,849 characters
3.79/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle bb 2/17/19 poured into Westmalle goblet at fridge temp 7% ABV. The beer pours bright medium brown in color with blonde highlights and light khaki head. The head settles to a skim coating and pencil thin ring. The aroma is toasted bread, red grapes and herbal hops. The taste is dark, but not bitter, malt with red grapes and herbal hops. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied, highly carbonated and dry in the finish. There is some bitterness that keeps the beer from ever leaning sweet. Overall, good. Not sure it's a traditional dubbel after the recipe change, but enjoyable.
598 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle bb 2/17/19 poured into Westmalle goblet at fridge temp 7% ABV. The beer pours bright medium brown in color with blonde highlights and light khaki head. The head settles to a skim coating and pencil thin ring. The aroma is toasted bread, red grapes and herbal hops. The taste is dark, but not bitter, malt with red grapes and herbal hops. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied, highly carbonated and dry in the finish. There is some bitterness that keeps the beer from ever leaning sweet. Overall, good. Not sure it's a traditional dubbel after the recipe change, but enjoyable.
598 characters
4.07/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From the 12 oz. bottle. Best By 27 Jan 2019. Sampled on September 8, 2018.
Attractive looking dark amber brown color under a slowly fading, foamy tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma of sweet Belgian malts, graham cracker, dark fruit, molasses, and a subtle earthy hop profile.
The mouthfeel falls into the medium range but it has a creamy texture.
Sweet malted taste coupled with a slight peppery bite toward the end. Lingering finish.
436 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
From the 12 oz. bottle. Best By 27 Jan 2019. Sampled on September 8, 2018.
Attractive looking dark amber brown color under a slowly fading, foamy tan head. Some lacing.
Aroma of sweet Belgian malts, graham cracker, dark fruit, molasses, and a subtle earthy hop profile.
The mouthfeel falls into the medium range but it has a creamy texture.
Sweet malted taste coupled with a slight peppery bite toward the end. Lingering finish.
436 characters
3.83/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Darkish brown color. Tastes sweet and somewhat cocoa like followed by some bitter tastes. Reminds me of some brown ales.
122 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Darkish brown color. Tastes sweet and somewhat cocoa like followed by some bitter tastes. Reminds me of some brown ales.
122 characters
4.11/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz. bottle poured into a Chimay chalice.
L---Deep, dark reddish brown color. If it wasn't so dark, it would be clear. Thick, light brown head with moderate retention and very nice lacing.
S---Malts are obviously in the forefront. Sweet (dark fruits?).
T---Molasses. Dark fruits (cherry, fig, plum). Sweet & malty. No real hop presence.
F---Thinner than expected for the style and ABV. Still a coating drink. Very well carbonated.
O---A quality knock-off of a Belgian Dubbel. If I didn't know, I would have believed it was from Belgium.
556 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz. bottle poured into a Chimay chalice.
L---Deep, dark reddish brown color. If it wasn't so dark, it would be clear. Thick, light brown head with moderate retention and very nice lacing.
S---Malts are obviously in the forefront. Sweet (dark fruits?).
T---Molasses. Dark fruits (cherry, fig, plum). Sweet & malty. No real hop presence.
F---Thinner than expected for the style and ABV. Still a coating drink. Very well carbonated.
O---A quality knock-off of a Belgian Dubbel. If I didn't know, I would have believed it was from Belgium.
556 characters
4.18/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
It's good but a bit on the thin side as one could easily tell its not brewed in Belgium. But overall, a nice tasting dubbel that's easy to find, easy to drink and easy on the wallet. I've bought it before, and will buy it again.
230 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
It's good but a bit on the thin side as one could easily tell its not brewed in Belgium. But overall, a nice tasting dubbel that's easy to find, easy to drink and easy on the wallet. I've bought it before, and will buy it again.
230 characters
4.29/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Oh boy it's good. Exceptional body, with solid yet balanced malts taking the fore. This excellent beer is hearty, and what I tend to see as unpleasantries with dubbels are toned down greatly. Wonderful beer from a company often on the line between good and great.
263 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Oh boy it's good. Exceptional body, with solid yet balanced malts taking the fore. This excellent beer is hearty, and what I tend to see as unpleasantries with dubbels are toned down greatly. Wonderful beer from a company often on the line between good and great.
263 characters
4.23/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.28/5 rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
This used to be a highly rated beer for me and then a recent retry turned that around. I can only hope I got a bad bottle. Pours nicely into a chalice glass, great dark red body and the aroma is earthy, dark cherry. The taste is chocolate and raspberry but with a metallic tinge to it. Very off putting. Detracts from the original dubbel taste.
348 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
This used to be a highly rated beer for me and then a recent retry turned that around. I can only hope I got a bad bottle. Pours nicely into a chalice glass, great dark red body and the aroma is earthy, dark cherry. The taste is chocolate and raspberry but with a metallic tinge to it. Very off putting. Detracts from the original dubbel taste.
348 characters
4/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bought a 6-pack $8.88 Don Quijote
Smells faintly like a tootsie roll
Dark clear amber color
Medium mouthfeel
Medium carbonation
Chocolate roasted malts flavors, spices
Overall a good beer at a decent price. Would buy again.
224 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bought a 6-pack $8.88 Don Quijote
Smells faintly like a tootsie roll
Dark clear amber color
Medium mouthfeel
Medium carbonation
Chocolate roasted malts flavors, spices
Overall a good beer at a decent price. Would buy again.
224 characters
Abbey from New Belgium Brewing
Beer rating:
4.01 out of
5 with
2,323 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.