Hoodoo
Boom Island Brewing Company

 

Had on tap. Murky lighter brown with a small beige cap. Smells of eserty belgian yeast with citrus and flowers that accent the candi sugar and malt base. Taste brings light date into this, but also a whsiper of kiwi with a big yeast finish with a hint of booze but in now way is overwhelming. Feel is well balanced with the malt accommodating the yeast's desire to flourish, so smooth

 

11.2 oz bottle allowed to warm for 10 minutes, poured into a 20 oz tulip.

Dark brown color on first look, but this beer is lacking the vigorous carbonation expected of the style. As a result, the head is not very impressive - in fact, quite puny, and it dies to a thin cap and ring within a few minutes, eventually to a small island of small bubbles and hardly any ring at all. The color through a backlight is a murky reddish brown.

The aroma begins to validate the beer, however. While not strong, the aroma has the right notes of caramel and dark fruit. It is not spicy, though.

Mouth feel is moderately thin, with no effervescence at all, which results in a flat feel. This is a major downgrade for this beer. I notice some of the older reviews for this beer mention the abundant carbonation, and that the beer used to be packaged in the traditional cork and cage style. I wonder if the issue lies with a problem with their bottling, and trying to have a bottle-conditioned beer packaged in a bottling line inadequate to the task.

Taste is clearly dubbel-esque, with the bready caramel and dark fruits, although it is a bit subdued compared with the other standards of the style. Even so, on its own, it is a pleasant beer and enjoyable to drink.

However, as you may have surmised by now, it suffers by comparison to the outstanding beers that originated this style. Also, it is at least annoying to have this MN-brewed beer packaged in the smaller 330ml (11.2 oz) European bottle instead of the usual 12 oz American package.

 

 

Spicy and sweet notes on the nose. Clove and banana with hints of dark malt and fruit. Flavor starts off with dark dried plums and cherry quickly followed by chocolate and tobacco with a hint of sandalwood. Ends with a musty grape skin like finish.

I would put this up against any of the true Belgians. Hands down the best American interpolation of the style.

12oz brown bottle, sample from the brewery.

A beautiful looking brew. Quite aromatic with dried dark fruit, spicy medicinal phenols, rose water, dark bread, and treacle. Very smooth mouthfeel with a mild crispness, some body there but nothing too heavy. Lots of toasted grain on the palate with a mild dark sugar-like sweetness. Toasted bread crust, hints of ripe fig, mild broth, phenols, and a modest hop character and show a balanced palate. Some warmth from the alcohol and a lingering toasted graininess keeps this brew memorable. A very good rendition of a classic style.

 

 

Pours a murky dark iced tea color with a thin tan cap, minimal lacing. Aroma is dark fruits and a bit of vinegar. Flavor follows the nose, both sweet and a bit tart. Feel is medium bodied with adequate carbonation. Overall a nice enough beer.

 

Poured from an undated bottle, it is a cloudy unremarkable brown. Rich and earthy, the Belgian yeast aroma comes up from a light head which fades to a skin of light carbonation. Nice mouthfeel, medium dry multi-layered taste. The malts give a light smoked flavor then another hint of fruit and bready flavor. I agree that as a Dubbel, it's not quite there, but a well-crafted ale nonetheless. We like the clean finish. I would not go out my way to get this, but would pick up a bottle now and then.

a yummy americanized take on the style here, i liked this one a lot. its got a nice crimson to mahogany body with a tall tan head on it, looks rich and decadent, auburn in the light. smells less belgian and less sweet than many more traditional examples. it starts with raisin and a hint of smoke, more earthy and layered than i am used to, with the yeast way in the back. i also dont get a whole lot of additional non grain fermentables, no candy sugar or anything happening here from what i can gather, maybe a hint of molasses or something raw, but not much residual. the flavor is a lot like the nose, but i get more fruit, dried cherry, fig, even plums and red grapes before i get any of the yeast. mild spice to it, and it carries the smoke well, but its not all bubblegum and white wine and pepper like some of the belgian strains are, its more reserved, maybe fermented a little cooler, but i like its unique and subtle impact. the beer is dry for the style, very well carbonated, and as full bodied as they come. i appreciate it for being a little different, and i even like the kick of alcohol that creeps in as it warms. my first from these guys is a good one, but im not sure i could have much more than one. this is big beer.

 

 

 

On tap the the Republic in Minneapolis.

Clear but very dark brown body. Good head that has reasonable retention.

Unusual in that there's a fair amount of vanilla in the nose and flavor.
The aroma is a bit sweet and may bring a bakery to mind, but the flavor is a more bitter than sweet. Less fruity than average for style,

O: Recommended, if unusual version of the style.