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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:
- Today at 12:20 AM
- 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 Siriusfisherman:
Reviewed by Siriusfisherman from New Hampshire
4.2/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Beautiful dark reddish purple, good amount of an off-white head.
Smell: Strong fruit character, dark fruits and that aspect to the aroma that many refer to as 'grape bubblegum'. The sweetness is wonderful and is complimented greatly by the bready yeast character of the beer.
Taste: The flavors burst forth, strong and sweet tones of dark, goopy fruits are very noticeable. There is also an excellent yeast character involved that gives the sweetness some backbone. To add to the mix, there is a wonderfully subtle bitterness that never really catches your attention, but instead compliments and rounds out the beer into superb balance.
Mouthfeel: That wonderful champagne like carbonation that is characteristic of many belgian trappist ales. It stings slightly at first, but then clears the way and allows the flavors to come forth. The breadiness that I mentioned earlier also plays a role in giving the beer a more robust feel.
Overall: Pretty much a flawless example of what these Trappist monasteries put forth in their splendid dubbels. It has everything that this kind of beer is supposed to have, and adds a nice twist with a more grapey character than you would normally see. It goes wonderfully with cheese and by itself, very easy to enjoy. About the only bad thing I could say about this beer is that it is not the very best I have had, but with that said it is certainly up there with many other great ales.
Dec 27, 2011Smell: Strong fruit character, dark fruits and that aspect to the aroma that many refer to as 'grape bubblegum'. The sweetness is wonderful and is complimented greatly by the bready yeast character of the beer.
Taste: The flavors burst forth, strong and sweet tones of dark, goopy fruits are very noticeable. There is also an excellent yeast character involved that gives the sweetness some backbone. To add to the mix, there is a wonderfully subtle bitterness that never really catches your attention, but instead compliments and rounds out the beer into superb balance.
Mouthfeel: That wonderful champagne like carbonation that is characteristic of many belgian trappist ales. It stings slightly at first, but then clears the way and allows the flavors to come forth. The breadiness that I mentioned earlier also plays a role in giving the beer a more robust feel.
Overall: Pretty much a flawless example of what these Trappist monasteries put forth in their splendid dubbels. It has everything that this kind of beer is supposed to have, and adds a nice twist with a more grapey character than you would normally see. It goes wonderfully with cheese and by itself, very easy to enjoy. About the only bad thing I could say about this beer is that it is not the very best I have had, but with that said it is certainly up there with many other great ales.
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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