Monks' Dubbel Ale
Abbey Brewing Co. (Monastery Of Christ In The Desert)

In my goblet the beer the beer was a medium to dark brown with some red in it. There was a small tan head.
A dark fruit aroma. Some sugar.
Plums and raisins in the taste. A bit of candy.
Medium-bodied.
A little bit better than average.

On-tap at Monks' Corner Taproom, Albuquerque, NM

A: The beer is very dark reddish brown in color when viewed from afar, but when held up to a bright light it is clear dark red and has a moderate to high amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high light beige head.
S: Moderate aromas of dark fruits are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has flavors of dark fruits such as plums. Only a light amount of Belgian candi sugar is perceptible.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This dubbed is nice and fruity but isn't sweet compared to some of the other beers in this style.

Serving type: on-tap

I like Trappist beers like Rochefort and Chimay. This is not quite there, but it stands on its own. It had little carbonation, which I found odd. To describe it roughly, think of a Rochefort 6 with less bottle conditioning. And less flavor, but still good. It has a lovely rusty orange color and dark fruit, malt, mineral, cinnamon (?) aroma. The taste is similar with some subtle spice, but little phenolic, coriander flavor that sometimes over powers abbey beers. I like the price ($2.50 a 12 oz compared to $5.99 for a bottle of Rochefort) and that it is an American abbey produced beer. If I home brewed and made this, I would be a happy man. It isn't like the traditional Chimays and Rocheforts, but it rhymes well enough to please me!

 

 

 

05/06/2016

From a 12 ounce bottle, this is an amber/copper color with a slim white head. The aroma is estery...raisins and apples...with some rich dark malt as well. The taste has malt, spicy pepper flavors, some hops, and a bit of alcohol warmth. Full in body and satisfying.

 

 

12oz bottle. Poured out a dark brown color with a very small, off-white head of foam. It smelled of dark dried fruits, toffee and caramel. Sweet caramel and toffee with cherry.

 

 

Pours a hazy dark orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Thin streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, caramel, dark fruit, spice, and salt aromas. Taste is much the same with toast, caramel, dark fruit, spice, earth, and salt flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an average beer that is drinkable, but there is a mix of earth and salt in the taste that makes this one a bit of a chore to drink much of.

Serving type: bottle.

 

L-light brown, clear, no haze or yeast in bottle with minamal head.
S- rasin, fig, candy and gum.
T- medicanal, gum and clove yeast flavors. Dark fruit and light roasted malts.
M-medium body, light and velvety carbonation.
O- one of the better american versions of a belgo dubbel i have had. Bottle conditioning would really help this beer out.

Poured a very nice cloudy brown body with two and a half fingers of fluffy off-white head. Quite nice and true to style in appearance. Scents of raspberry upfront, with dark fruit, raisin, plum and prune, cherry, black cherry, apple, medium-light brown sugar, light alcohol, medium-light spicy Belgian yeast with notes of cinnamon, light bubblegum and light hard water. Overall impression of aroma is of a wonderfully fruity Dubbel that is rich, sweet and spicy in the background. Quite appealing and very nice. Flavor begins sweet with notes of apple, plum, prune and raisin with a bit of brown sugar. Middle is a medium-sweet with notes of candy, brown sugar, stronger flavors of prune and raisin, light floral hops and bitterness, light bubblegum, some apple and honey. Finish is medium-dry with notes of floral hops, light alcohol, raisin and prune. Aftertaste is floral hops, grainy malt, spicy Belgian yeast and light dark fruit. Overall impression of flavor is of a nice Dubbel that is very fruity and sweet upfront, but ends somewhat dry. As a result it is complex and very well done, though not the best example of the style. Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied with medium carbonation and a smooth, yet lightly prickly and chalky feel. Overall impression of mouthfeel is good for the style, true to form an drinkable. Overall this is a pretty good Dubbel. It has an amazing aroma, a slightly weaker flavor, but still good and a nice mouthfeel. A good Dubbel, well worth trying, though not the best.

 

750 ml bottle, capped but has an attached stopper. Don't see that too often. Served in a chalice, the beer pours a hazy copper/burnt orange color with a half inch light tan head. Head retention and lacing are both decent enough. The brew smells like dark fruit, caramel malt, candy sugar and a bit of sweet spiciness. I think the taste is pretty much just like the aroma, but there's also some bready/grainy malt noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's coating and a bit creamy with a good amount of carbonation. Overall I thought this was an OK brew, but there's nothing about it that's memorable. Actually, it got harder to drink the warmer it got. At just $6.99 a bottle it's certainly worth trying once, but I don't think I'd buy this again.