Maredsous 8 - Brune
Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV

jimmah120 from Minnesota

4.21/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

330ml bottle marked best before 02/2020. It's 08/2020 now, for reference

I crack it and it's boozy and fruity smelling, with a hit of wood and red wine butt-funk. Looks like root beer, not much head. Taste is stiff and wooden, but with a backend filled with a depth of flavor: root beer, cola, chocolate is hinted at, dark fruits, booze.

This one is a ripper, I think a little underrated on here

Aug 06, 2020

ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

4.17/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

11.2oz bottle poured into a goblet.

A: Mahogany color with red/orange hues. One finger of beige head settles a but, but retains at an eighth of an inch. Pencil thin ring of lacing.

S: Crusty brown bread, molasses, thin ribbon of caramel, dates, figs, and raisins. Lots of phenol action in the form of clove and black pepper. Whiff of alcohol.

T: Crusty and bready. Nutty. Big brown molasses impression, and flavors reminiscent of spiced rum too. Bit of caramel and cola. Stewed fruits. Dates, figs, and even some plum and red fruit. Dry spicy, with tastes of black pepper, big clove, and all spice being pretty prominent. Spicy alcohol is quite apparent too, though not hot. Lots of cola and spice on the finish.

M: Big, rich feel. Sense of weight is immediately lifted by stiffly scrubbing carbonation. A slight sense of stickiness is similarly sandblasted away. Round and chewy. Warming alcohol.

O: Quite good. A big and brawny dubbel with great dimension and complexity. Well worth seeking this one out if you’re jonesing for the style.

May 25, 2020

JonnoWillsteed from England

3.27/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle conditioned.
L- Pours with very slight haze, with minor sediment left in the bottle. 2mm ultra-fine off-white head, holds well.
S- Slightly spicy, but something potentially sour there as well.
T- The flavour is quite pungent with some sourness, I get some coffee notes too.
F- When I see Belgium /Benedictine Tradition/8% I associated with something rich, perhaps a 'winter warmer' type of beer. But this comes with some moderate sourness. The ABV% is well camouflaged.
O- I don't need a sour note in my beer of choice, something I wouldn't expect from a Belgian brown. The lable says it's 'refermented in the bottle'. Something I really can't figure out, it also states it's brewed in the 'Benedictine tradition', yet the ingredients include glucose syrup.
330ml bottle. BB: 08/2020

Nov 10, 2019

jdurey from Korea (South)

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Leffe chalice from the bottle. Opaque brown with thick tan head that looks mesmerizing and won’t quit. A bit of chocolate in the nose and there’s the familiar dubbel smell. The first taste reveals caramel notes. A very drinkable beer considering the high abv. Feels full but not overly so. A bit of bitterness in the aftertaste. Overall the best beer of this style I’ve had.

Sep 13, 2019

detgfrsh from Texas

4.29/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From a bottle dated best before 9/2018. Deep brown color with a finger of tan head. Lovely caramel malt and raisin smell. Medium feel. Rich bready malt flavors with boozy raisins on the finish. Excellent!

Sep 07, 2019

Spike from England

4.04/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

330ml bottle at Zhilam Hostel, Kangding, Eastern Tibet.
L: Hazy, red/brown with a massive, lumpy, long-lasting, khaki coloured head.
S: Big dose of sweet malt.
T: Robust, dark toffee & spiced fruit flavours. Gentle bitterness. Very sweet.
F: Rich, full-bodied & mouth-coating.
O: Lovely, smooth, Belgian bruin. A surprising, pleasant find in the back of beyond.

Jul 10, 2019

edhardy22 from England

4.38/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Burgundy/Brown Colour and pours a very strong creamy head.
Sweet fruity and caramel aroma, fig in particular.
Bitter twist but with lots of malty notes.
Beautiful smooth carbonation and mouthfeel.

Really delicious brune definitely worth a try

May 11, 2019

Shanex from France

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle poured into a Chimay chalice, leaving a solid 2 inches head after an aggressive pour.

Look: red, no lacing, the foam fades quickly enough. Certainly looks good all around. Let’s see how this smell...

Smell: raisins and hints of caramel, not unusual of many Dubbels. What does it taste?

Taste: caramel-sweetened bread, spice, dark fruits. Very tasty and thick.

Overall: I definitely love this one, Maredsous other offerings have never disappointed me. While it doesn’t reach the excellence of - said Westmalle Dubbel (#1 in the style in my book) it’s still is a delicious beer and worthy of your bucks, euros or pounds.

Mar 25, 2019

The_Bujon from Ireland

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This beer looks awesome, in fact probably best looking beer I have sampled. Chestnut body, creamy head, pure velvet. Lacing is absolutely sublime, head all the way to the end.

Aroma is slightly sweet n sour. Sweet fig mixed with a sour yeast...can't wait to taste.

Taste is lovely, slight bitter twist, but mainly coffee and malt, a treat.

Feel is a touch effervescent for a bruin, but not in any way detrimental, and aftertaste is just lovely.

Overall, head and shoulders the best in class for me. Can't think of another dubbel or bruin which even comes close....8% of pure magic. A must try beer.

Feb 23, 2018

lwillitz from Wisconsin

3.84/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

25.4-oz bottle into Stella Artois chalice

A - 3 fingers khaki foam over transparent body of copper, high visible carbonation, very nice lace

S - nutty and grainy, hint of dark fruit; not doing much for me

T - caramel-sweetened bread, spice, dark fruits

M - creamy medium body, high carbonation

O - I'm not particularly familiar with the style. This one is a bit dry for me, but the complexity of the taste is enjoyable.

Sep 07, 2017

SpongeHop from Belgium

3.16/5  rDev -22%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

L - Dark red-brown, clear, with solid beige foamy head.
S & T - light brown bready malts, candi sugar sweetness. Not much else. Quite disappointing considering the 'world class' score on here...
F - nothing off.

O - a very forgettable beer. Very little to no complexity. Quite flat in terms of flavor tones. Just a lot of malt and candi sugar. There's nothing really 'off' about it, but it's just so generic and commercial-tasting I think I'm gonna pass on Maredsous beers from now on.

Wouldn't recommend this one.

Aug 19, 2017

Lu26 from France

3.48/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brilliant and foamy dark beer. Walnut-like smell.
The taste is more cocoa-like. There is a good balance between the bitterness, the sweetness and the ABV.
Nice beer.

Jul 11, 2017

Bruno74200 from France

4.18/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I really liked this one. A lot on the chocolate and the caramel. Good balance. The hop presence is quite nice. It's a bit estery but not as some other belgian dar ales. Very nice

May 26, 2017

citizencane from Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours dark ruby red with solid lasting Head into bottle. Taste is of bready malts, a slight hint of caramel and clove. Also a touch of tart wood and cherry in the background. Feels refreshing and a touch heavy. Not bad but not too memorable.

May 16, 2017

mothmanscott from Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy, dull brown that becomes deep amber with red highlights when held to the light. Produces 2 fingers of creamy, tan, moderately lasting head that leaves clumpy rings & strings of lacing. Aroma is sweet, bready dark roast, dark fruits, Belgian yeast & a hint of spice. Taste is sweet brown bread, dark cherries, nuts & a little wet hay hit. Dark fruits & spice pop up in the latter half of the sip which finishes faintly bitter. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium plus carbonation, creamy & smooth.

Mar 06, 2017

Tomesco from Canada

3.71/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance - A dark mahogany red.

Smell - Dark malts and raisin.

Taste - A breadyness with hints of caramel.

Mouthfeel - Thick and coats the mouth with a medium body.

Overall - A decent dubbel. Some interesting flavours but nothing memorable.

Mar 06, 2017

GreesyFizeek from New York

3.73/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On tap at Victoire in Rochester, NY.

This one pours a moderately dark brown, clear, with a small head, and no lacing.

Smells kinda weak, but what's there is nice, caramel, raisin, and breadiness.

This is definitely a tiny bit watery, which is unfortunate. There's no booziness, which is nice, but I'd wish for a bit more rich maltiness here. There's light caramel, a definite fruitiness, and a good breadiness, but it all seems a little reticent to me.

This is medium bodied, with a watery finish and a decent level of carbonation for the style.

This certainly isn't bad, but it doesn't do a whole lot to actually stand out.

Mar 04, 2017

Bombelsky from Poland

4.12/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

330 ml bottle poured into a snifter. Reddish brown and hazy. Nice off-white, frothy head. Lasting with excellent lacing. Malty notes upfront and plenty of berries. Some chocolate notes. Medium sweet malty notes and bit of sugar sweetness. Light bitterness. Medium bodied and creamy. Soft carbonation. Spicy phenols. Long lasting, medium dry finish.

Too much of berries for a dubbel...

Feb 13, 2017

pattysykes from Australia

4.07/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from 33cl bottle. Darkish brown with a fluffy beige head that settles down to a thick lacing. Aroma is of burnt sugar, cherries and plums and fresh-baked bread. Quite sweet and malty, Warm aftertaste, but surprisingly low alcohol taste for the ABV. Medium-full body. Nice beer.

Feb 04, 2017

Jsteez from Utah

4.46/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Nice tan cream head that dissipated to a thin creamy surface. Mostly a darker brown with perhaps some copper highlights when held to light; carbonation present. Good head retention when shaken back and forth. Smelled of burnt brown sugar, nuts, some brown bread, figs, and cherries. The taste is somewhat similar to the nose, with some variations: burnt brown sugar, spiced bread, slight sweetness going in and a dry slight alcohol taste in the backend; the most dominant flavor throughout was cordial cherries; a medium bodied brew that was easy to drink; smooth. A nice holiday sipper! Cheers

Jan 02, 2017

Zalmo from Wisconsin

4.6/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I had the tall boy bottle and really enjoyed this one. My favorite dubbel so far, small sampling, but I'd buy this one again. I was looking for a sweet finish and this did not disappoint. A dried plum or raisin flavor, a good amount of caramel, and a warm boozy finish, and who doesn't like a warm boozy finish? On to 4 more dubbels, not sure which ones yet.

Oct 05, 2016

TH28 from Florida

3.97/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is a murky, muddy brown with minimal off white foam cap. Aroma is raisin, clove, wood, whiskey, vanilla, and chocolate. Taste is cherry, caramel, raisin, with woody notes on the backside. Bitterness is just enough to balance the rich malt. Mouthfeel is medium with slight creaminess and a high carbonation and noticeable alcohol warmth. Finishes with some lingering dark fruit and caramel maltiness.

Aug 12, 2016

Ferb from Missouri

4.83/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I like Belgian dark and strong dark ales very much. This beer is near the top of the category for me. Maredsous Brune pours a lovey rich brown/red, mysteriously murky and inviting with a thick chunky off white head and aromas of fig and artisan bread. The taste echos the aroma with crusty bread and dark fruits with some yeast driven esters that mimic gentle citrus fruits with little to none of the clove flavors that are in some Belgian abbey ales. The taste evolves in your mouth and improves as it slowly warms. This is one of my favorites along with Rochefort 6 and 8 and Chimay Red.

Aug 06, 2016

DoubleMalt from New York

4.04/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Dark reddish brown color with a light tan head that recede to remain just covering the top of the beer. Nice lacing remains.
The smell is of dark cereal malts; the taste is of dark plum, raisin and malt, with a peppery yeast finish.
The beer is medium to full bodied thanks in part to the high carbonation that releases with each sip.
Overall, an very enjoyable Belgian ale.

Jul 24, 2016

manfromanotherplace from New York

4.3/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- huge head on this, dark amber colour on the beer.head sticks around too.

S- dark fruits and booze but pretty subdued nose overall.

T- as it smells but much bolder on the taste. This is a borderline quad on the taste, the usual suspects for a fine belgian, dark fruits, booze and caramel .superb

F- rich, thick and coats the mouth

O- the best dubbel ive tried to date.absolutely superb.

Jul 23, 2016