Kleinmanneken
Urban Chestnut Brewing Company - Midtown Brewery & Biergarten

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is a miss. its a red orange goblet of mostly flat sugary unfermented wort. it smells like a dubbel, but the first sip reveals way too much candy sugar, and not enough yeast, or not enough time, one or the other or both. its so sugary and sweet, its alcoholic though too, and very hard to drink as a result. its filling and underwhelming. I like Belgian style beers to be brightly carbonated and light on the palate, this one is anything but on both counts. some fresh fruit notes pull it out of the brutal category, but this is not something I want to try more than a sip or two of. I am hoping that since this has just a few reviews that its a work in progress, but as it stands, I would steer clear. one thing I admire about urban chestnut though, is that they really go for it. their beers are either wild successes or severe catastrophes, with very little middle ground. there is something to be said for that...

 

On tap @ the brauerei

Murky medium brown with a petit receding khaki head. Smell isn't too easily decernable, yet some brown sugar foremost, then a whisper of clove & allspice. Taste is really exceptional and glowingly more appreciable throughout the drink. Increasing subtlety that is malt centric and piqued with gusts of dates, sweet cream, vinous, spicy hops, tangerine marmalade, and more undecernable yet, all in the utmost subtlety that emerge slowly. Mouthfeel is light and seemingly wheat heavy, followed by a rich yet exceedingly smooth mouthfeel (biscuit? Special b?). I haven't reviewed much lately because its a pain in the ass, but felt compelled to review this one.

 

 

Enjoyed on-tap @ Urban Chestnut Brewing Company in St. Louis, MO for $5. Tapped from the Blue/Orange Wooden Tap Handle into a 0.3L Goblet.

Aroma- Very spicy and rich aroma. Sweet and has a hint of banana in the background. Not much hop aroma coming to the nose but not important.

Appearance- Received with a 1 finger head that has average retention. Has a dark amber color body that is deep but good clarity. Leaves great lacing on the goblet.

Flavor- Starts almost exactly like the aroma! Spicy and rich but then has a light sour finish at the end. Very low bitterness. I'm not sure if Dubbels should have this sourness behind them...

Mouthfeel- Medium Bodied, High Carbonation, Smooth, but then has spice on the finish.

Overall Impression- Enjoyed this Dubbel but it had too much spice and sour attributes within... Didn't have the malt or light sweetness I was looking for. Will be giving a try in the future again and wouldn't persuade anyone to pass this one up.

Beer is lightly carbonated , just not quite clear bright amber color. Aroma is yeasty and sweet- fruity syrup, almost nectar. Tastes less sweet than aroma, but still quite fruity- raisins. Medium bodied, moderate etoh. Warming in finish. Tart finish.

Pours a clear, red/amber color. Great retention and great lacing. 2/3 inch head of an off-white color. Smells of sweet malt, yeast, hint of hop, hint of pale malt, hint of spice, and a hint of wheat. Fits the style of a Belgian Dubbel. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, yeast, slight pale malt, hint of hop, hint of alcohol, and hint of citrus. Overall, the sweetness is almost cloying, but otherwise good appearance, aroma, body, and mouth feel.