Kasteel Donker | Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.
Brewed by:
Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.
Belgium
vanhonsebrouck.be
Style: Quadrupel (Quad)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 10-14-2001
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 920 | Reviews: 404
4.11/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A-Pours a very hazy dark opaque chocolate color with slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has abundant fruity hints, mainly raisin and plums
T-The taste follows the nose with a very noticeable plum flavor
M-A medium bodied beer with a good amount of carbonation
O-A well made fruity beer
282 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A-Pours a very hazy dark opaque chocolate color with slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has abundant fruity hints, mainly raisin and plums
T-The taste follows the nose with a very noticeable plum flavor
M-A medium bodied beer with a good amount of carbonation
O-A well made fruity beer
282 characters
4.49/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A sort of root beer clear brown color with a slightly creamy thick feel. Champagne like carbonation that worked perfect for this beer. Aroma was malt, candied dried fruit, some yeast. Taste was very similar, a bit sweet but again really worked well for this beer. If a fan of Belgian ales than this is definitely worth a try
324 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A sort of root beer clear brown color with a slightly creamy thick feel. Champagne like carbonation that worked perfect for this beer. Aroma was malt, candied dried fruit, some yeast. Taste was very similar, a bit sweet but again really worked well for this beer. If a fan of Belgian ales than this is definitely worth a try
324 characters
4.49/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
11 c from cellar. 15 months in cellar. Pours a deep cola color. Minimal head. Verry smooth on the toungue. Wonderful taste, with underlying alcohol. Minor mouth burn. Overall great taste. \i have to buy more since I am down to my last 10 bottles.
253 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
11 c from cellar. 15 months in cellar. Pours a deep cola color. Minimal head. Verry smooth on the toungue. Wonderful taste, with underlying alcohol. Minor mouth burn. Overall great taste. \i have to buy more since I am down to my last 10 bottles.
253 characters
4.2/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful to look at, a thick, dark reddish brown with a quarter inch of almond colored foam, then surprisingly an almost nondescript smell ( a typical Beer-shipped-from- Europe aroma) gives way to an almost syrupy yet(barely) not too sweet flavor of raisin and prune chocolate subtly carbonated. The alcohol comes through in away that perfectly counterpoints the sweetness. I drank this from a Garre glass. It definitely needs to be drank a the proper temp. Too cold the flavors won't gel. My raring is deceptively low due to the mild aroma. This is a must experience quad. So happy it came my way!
600 characters
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Beautiful to look at, a thick, dark reddish brown with a quarter inch of almond colored foam, then surprisingly an almost nondescript smell ( a typical Beer-shipped-from- Europe aroma) gives way to an almost syrupy yet(barely) not too sweet flavor of raisin and prune chocolate subtly carbonated. The alcohol comes through in away that perfectly counterpoints the sweetness. I drank this from a Garre glass. It definitely needs to be drank a the proper temp. Too cold the flavors won't gel. My raring is deceptively low due to the mild aroma. This is a must experience quad. So happy it came my way!
600 characters
4.25/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.68/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
11.2 oz. bottle
Pours dark maroon red brown with a creamy khaki colored foam head. Smells like red apple, grapes, pear, plum, cherry, banana, apricot, dried fruit, peppery clove spice, chocolate, toasty caramel malts, toffee, brown sugar, molasses, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like sweet rich toasty caramel malts, toffee, brown sugar, molasses, chocolate, red apple, grapes, pear, plum, dark cherry, banana, apricot, dried fruit, peppery clove spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium bodied, creamy smooth with moderate low carbonation. Overall a really nice quad.
603 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
11.2 oz. bottle
Pours dark maroon red brown with a creamy khaki colored foam head. Smells like red apple, grapes, pear, plum, cherry, banana, apricot, dried fruit, peppery clove spice, chocolate, toasty caramel malts, toffee, brown sugar, molasses, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like sweet rich toasty caramel malts, toffee, brown sugar, molasses, chocolate, red apple, grapes, pear, plum, dark cherry, banana, apricot, dried fruit, peppery clove spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium bodied, creamy smooth with moderate low carbonation. Overall a really nice quad.
603 characters
4.24/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very good Quad. Poured from a stubby 330 ml bottle into my Chimay goblet. Dense mahogany brown color with a thin cream colored head. The head faces quickly to a covering of the glass which remains for a good while. There are spots of filmy lacing on the glass. Aroma is rich, dark fruit raisins and cherries and malt. Flavor is rich, dark fruit, malt, candi sugar and Belgian yeast. Slightly sweet, malty fruit flavor. Mouthfeel is rich and fairly smooth with the alcohol presence more warming than hot. I had this beer for a year and the aging probably helped mellowing it. In all, a veary tasty Quad.
610 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very good Quad. Poured from a stubby 330 ml bottle into my Chimay goblet. Dense mahogany brown color with a thin cream colored head. The head faces quickly to a covering of the glass which remains for a good while. There are spots of filmy lacing on the glass. Aroma is rich, dark fruit raisins and cherries and malt. Flavor is rich, dark fruit, malt, candi sugar and Belgian yeast. Slightly sweet, malty fruit flavor. Mouthfeel is rich and fairly smooth with the alcohol presence more warming than hot. I had this beer for a year and the aging probably helped mellowing it. In all, a veary tasty Quad.
610 characters
4.5/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look is mahogany brown nice head based on pour, lots of lacing on the glass.
Aroma is packed with an amazing dark fruits grape or vinius notes ,deep rich malt wheat notes.
Taste is huge dark fruits very right dark cherries and a nice malty finish.
Mouth feels very nice.
Overall this is a great beer has been one of my favorite for sometime. I find it very appealing in all seasons has a year-round offering. Have enjoyed this on a hot summer day just as much is drinking it today on a very very cold day.
506 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look is mahogany brown nice head based on pour, lots of lacing on the glass.
Aroma is packed with an amazing dark fruits grape or vinius notes ,deep rich malt wheat notes.
Taste is huge dark fruits very right dark cherries and a nice malty finish.
Mouth feels very nice.
Overall this is a great beer has been one of my favorite for sometime. I find it very appealing in all seasons has a year-round offering. Have enjoyed this on a hot summer day just as much is drinking it today on a very very cold day.
506 characters
4.15/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330 ml stubby brown bottle served in a Belgian snifter.
Pours with very little head despite a vigorous pour, yet a durable partial coat and ring somehow appears and lingers on and on. Clear dark mahogany body.
Loads of dark dried fruit aromas. The flavor is sweet -- too sweet IMO -- but not so sweet as to impede consumption, largely because some subtle but countering bitter shows up in the finish and aftertaste. Hints of green apples with the dark dried fruits. High ABV is well hidden.
494 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330 ml stubby brown bottle served in a Belgian snifter.
Pours with very little head despite a vigorous pour, yet a durable partial coat and ring somehow appears and lingers on and on. Clear dark mahogany body.
Loads of dark dried fruit aromas. The flavor is sweet -- too sweet IMO -- but not so sweet as to impede consumption, largely because some subtle but countering bitter shows up in the finish and aftertaste. Hints of green apples with the dark dried fruits. High ABV is well hidden.
494 characters
3.51/5 rDev -14.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.28/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Great beer smooth and can knock u on ur butt.
45 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Great beer smooth and can knock u on ur butt.
45 characters
3.99/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drinking a Kasteel Donker at B Cafe, NYC, my go to Belgian place.
Poured into a goblet, it displays a rich dark mahogany color with a creamy tan head. The head is not as massive as other quads, but it does yield a sticky lace.
In the nose there is the sweetness of raisins, prunes and plum, along with the inviting sensation of freshly roasted dark bread. Light spice and a touch of cocoa lightly ornament the overall aroma.
In the mouth there is a dark fruit and dark candi sugar, even cola like sweetness. Full bodied and fluffy with a gentle carbonation. As I drink it, I also begin to pick up cherries and light citrus peel, which are soon reflected in the flavor. There is also a sense of dark marmalade or jam that is balanced by a finish that is lightly peppery and even with a touch of hops bitterness. As for the alcohol, it is definitely there, however, it is pushed to the background and never boozy.
Rich, dense and complex. A robust malt texture that alternates between dark bread and biscuity. Highly aromatic and dynamic; I should add that as I’m finishing it, I pick up new aromas, mainly biscuit, grass and licorice.
It is not my favorite quad ever considering the ones I rate above it are not as sweet. However, it is finely crafted, tasty and dynamic; well deserving of its high rating.
1,314 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Drinking a Kasteel Donker at B Cafe, NYC, my go to Belgian place.
Poured into a goblet, it displays a rich dark mahogany color with a creamy tan head. The head is not as massive as other quads, but it does yield a sticky lace.
In the nose there is the sweetness of raisins, prunes and plum, along with the inviting sensation of freshly roasted dark bread. Light spice and a touch of cocoa lightly ornament the overall aroma.
In the mouth there is a dark fruit and dark candi sugar, even cola like sweetness. Full bodied and fluffy with a gentle carbonation. As I drink it, I also begin to pick up cherries and light citrus peel, which are soon reflected in the flavor. There is also a sense of dark marmalade or jam that is balanced by a finish that is lightly peppery and even with a touch of hops bitterness. As for the alcohol, it is definitely there, however, it is pushed to the background and never boozy.
Rich, dense and complex. A robust malt texture that alternates between dark bread and biscuity. Highly aromatic and dynamic; I should add that as I’m finishing it, I pick up new aromas, mainly biscuit, grass and licorice.
It is not my favorite quad ever considering the ones I rate above it are not as sweet. However, it is finely crafted, tasty and dynamic; well deserving of its high rating.
1,314 characters
4.24/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.78/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Kasteel Donker from Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.
Beer rating:
4.12 out of
5 with
920 ratings
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