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Trappist Dubbel
Brouwerij Westmalle
- From:
- Brouwerij Westmalle
- Belgium
- Style:
- Dubbel
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #3,404 - Avg:
- 4.18 | pDev: 10.05%
- Reviews:
- 1,337
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- 5 minutes ago
- Added:
- Nov 25, 2000
- Wants:
- 252
- Gots:
- 621
Westmalle Dubbel (7%) is a dark red-brown beer with a rich, complex taste thanks to re-fermentation in the bottle. You pick up touches of caramel, malt and fruity esters reminiscent of ripe banana. The beer pearls beneath a covering of dense, cream-coloured froth. A lovely lace pattern forms on the inside of the glass once emptied. The long, dry finish of this balanced, mild Trappist beer will stay with you.
Trappist or Dubbel?
In 1865 the monks of Westmalle started brewing a dark Trappist beer in addition to their table beer. They adjusted the recipe in 1926, doubling the amounts of raw ingredients to produce a new, stronger beer. Dubbel is a logical name for this doubled beer, though it is more often simply called ‘Trappist’. To this day, the 1926 recipe is the basis for Westmalle Dubbel.
Westmalle Dubbel: bottle and tap
We are all familiar with Westmalle Dubbel in 33 cl bottles. But around 150 carefully selected Belgian cafés and restaurants serve this beer on tap from barrels containing 20, 30 and 50 litres. In the barrel, this living beer evolves differently to emerge with a slightly sweeter taste.
Westmalle Dubbel can also be purchased in 75 cl bottles. The beer matures in a different way in a larger bottle to produce a noticeably milder finish.
Trappist or Dubbel?
In 1865 the monks of Westmalle started brewing a dark Trappist beer in addition to their table beer. They adjusted the recipe in 1926, doubling the amounts of raw ingredients to produce a new, stronger beer. Dubbel is a logical name for this doubled beer, though it is more often simply called ‘Trappist’. To this day, the 1926 recipe is the basis for Westmalle Dubbel.
Westmalle Dubbel: bottle and tap
We are all familiar with Westmalle Dubbel in 33 cl bottles. But around 150 carefully selected Belgian cafés and restaurants serve this beer on tap from barrels containing 20, 30 and 50 litres. In the barrel, this living beer evolves differently to emerge with a slightly sweeter taste.
Westmalle Dubbel can also be purchased in 75 cl bottles. The beer matures in a different way in a larger bottle to produce a noticeably milder finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Libeertarian:
Reviewed by Libeertarian from Montana
3.91/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From notes taken 01/17/17:
On back of bottle it says best before 12/03/16. I won’t deny I neglected it for a while because I figured it would be basically the same for a year or two, given the higher ABV, although at 7%, this is on the lower end of the ages-well spectrum. What I am not sure of, is whether I should interpret that as March 12th (assuming European dating methods, it is a European beer after all) or December 3rd (assuming American dating methods, it is an imported beer after all). It is either almost a year past its best-by date or basically still fresh (a month and a half past “best”). If I had to guess, given that I purchased it in August of 2016, probably it is still relatively fresh, as opposed to it being fairly old when I bought it.
Deep copper appearance, darker than brandy, lighter than dark rum. Fairly clear but in this glass at least seems slightly metallic. That’s the first pour into this smaller goblet. Second pour contains an abundance of chunk and haze, it is almost entirely opaque, and brown. Head is loose and rocky on the sides, but on the surface and I suspect towards the center, considerably tighter and finer and more uniform, bubbly to frothy with only moderate retention. Smell is moderately roasty/toasty, with subdued phenols and suggestions of toffee, caramel, brown sugar, nuts, even banana. Not a very strong nose for what it is, and with just moderate warmth not even particularly boozy, but still makes me thinks it will be absolutely delicious. One of the most overtly and distinctly toasty beers I have ever had, straying neither too far into roasty nor caramelized sugar territory. Some of this is clearly from the malt, but there is little doubt the phenols come into play here as well. Apart from this we have some mild dark fruit tartness, some apple or pear, brewing spice, and a semi-bitter metallic/phenolic finish. I do prefer this style to be sweeter, heavier, boozier, but this is still very interesting and tasty. Medium-bodied I suppose, hard to tell with how effervescent and velvety it is. A tiny bit of warmth. I paid great attention to detail here, and as much as I hate to sound plebeian, I have to say the American versions of this style I have had have overall been better, so far. There are certainly other Belgians that the Belgians themselves seem to do better.
Feb 09, 2017On back of bottle it says best before 12/03/16. I won’t deny I neglected it for a while because I figured it would be basically the same for a year or two, given the higher ABV, although at 7%, this is on the lower end of the ages-well spectrum. What I am not sure of, is whether I should interpret that as March 12th (assuming European dating methods, it is a European beer after all) or December 3rd (assuming American dating methods, it is an imported beer after all). It is either almost a year past its best-by date or basically still fresh (a month and a half past “best”). If I had to guess, given that I purchased it in August of 2016, probably it is still relatively fresh, as opposed to it being fairly old when I bought it.
Deep copper appearance, darker than brandy, lighter than dark rum. Fairly clear but in this glass at least seems slightly metallic. That’s the first pour into this smaller goblet. Second pour contains an abundance of chunk and haze, it is almost entirely opaque, and brown. Head is loose and rocky on the sides, but on the surface and I suspect towards the center, considerably tighter and finer and more uniform, bubbly to frothy with only moderate retention. Smell is moderately roasty/toasty, with subdued phenols and suggestions of toffee, caramel, brown sugar, nuts, even banana. Not a very strong nose for what it is, and with just moderate warmth not even particularly boozy, but still makes me thinks it will be absolutely delicious. One of the most overtly and distinctly toasty beers I have ever had, straying neither too far into roasty nor caramelized sugar territory. Some of this is clearly from the malt, but there is little doubt the phenols come into play here as well. Apart from this we have some mild dark fruit tartness, some apple or pear, brewing spice, and a semi-bitter metallic/phenolic finish. I do prefer this style to be sweeter, heavier, boozier, but this is still very interesting and tasty. Medium-bodied I suppose, hard to tell with how effervescent and velvety it is. A tiny bit of warmth. I paid great attention to detail here, and as much as I hate to sound plebeian, I have to say the American versions of this style I have had have overall been better, so far. There are certainly other Belgians that the Belgians themselves seem to do better.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida
3.7/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.75
This was a very interesting beer to down...
On the one hand, it looked great and tasted great, but on the other, it's scent was somewhat meh to me and the mouthfeel was super carbonated. It was so carbonated that it essentially detracted from the overall experience, even after I let it warm a bit. Overall, it's still a good beer, just not one that "tingled" my toes...
Feb 11, 2024On the one hand, it looked great and tasted great, but on the other, it's scent was somewhat meh to me and the mouthfeel was super carbonated. It was so carbonated that it essentially detracted from the overall experience, even after I let it warm a bit. Overall, it's still a good beer, just not one that "tingled" my toes...
Reviewed by Mr_Brown from Pennsylvania
3.88/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
forgot to rate it as I drank it. This review might be not very accurate.
L: beautiful brown color, nice foam.
S: nutty, sweet.
T: sweet nutty taste. A bit like sweet wines. Caramelized malt.
F: thin body, easy to drink, some linger in the aftertaste, port like feeling.
O: I can feel it's a superior dubbel, but not a big fan of nuttiness, caramelized malts and sweetness.
Feb 04, 2024L: beautiful brown color, nice foam.
S: nutty, sweet.
T: sweet nutty taste. A bit like sweet wines. Caramelized malt.
F: thin body, easy to drink, some linger in the aftertaste, port like feeling.
O: I can feel it's a superior dubbel, but not a big fan of nuttiness, caramelized malts and sweetness.
Reviewed by KomodoDragon from Virginia
4.14/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
beautiful copper color, so darn clean. small head, efficient lacing.
So many rich scents, banana, clove, toast, caramel, herbal hops.
Many rich flavors. robust sweet caramel malt. Breadiness, some fruit, dried figs or even apricots. Hefty carbonation hides the transition flavors to the finish, which is long and lingering, accompanied with some more sticky sweetness. Almost port like sweetness.
Nice and complex, and super well crafted. A lot going on, and more to explore with each sip.
Jan 18, 2024So many rich scents, banana, clove, toast, caramel, herbal hops.
Many rich flavors. robust sweet caramel malt. Breadiness, some fruit, dried figs or even apricots. Hefty carbonation hides the transition flavors to the finish, which is long and lingering, accompanied with some more sticky sweetness. Almost port like sweetness.
Nice and complex, and super well crafted. A lot going on, and more to explore with each sip.
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington
4.29/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Very frothy ruby-brown brew with beige foam in the big Duvel tulip. Aroma of dark fruit and raisins in the nose. Rich and lively on the tongue. The taste is warm and dark with a woody fragrance. Deeply malty with a delicious roasted flavor enhanced by the yeast. The sweet candy note is restrained but essential along with the dates and figs. A great historic brew to sip and savor. These Belgian brews are seeming like bargains given the quality and the silly prices of even average U.S. craft brews. From the 330 ml bottle purchased on the West Coast. Apparently bottled Feb 08 2023.
Nov 26, 2023Reviewed by nasal from Illinois
4.29/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Fantastic rich brown beer. Raisiny. Not one of my favorite beers of all-time, but a fantastic beer. Funky flavors come out when it warms up, so don't drink this straight from the fridge.
Oct 15, 2023
Trappist Dubbel from Brouwerij Westmalle
Beer rating:
93 out of
100 with
3077 ratings
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