Lindisfarne
HammerHeart Brewing Company

 

 

these guys are just incredible! one of the most unique breweries anywhere, and this is one heck of a beer, the first smoked dubbel i think i have ever seen. its mahogany in color and has a short but dense little tan head on top. the aroma is smoke first, but its more subtle than it is in many of their other beers the belgian yeast in this also really jumps out, fruity rather than spice, with banana and red apple right there. the flavor is awesome because the smoke isnt so much that it crowds out the classic malt flavors we look for in a good dubbel. this is loaded with raisin and dried berries and molasses and the toasted richness that makes the style. subtle smoke, burnt toast, honey or candy sugar, soft clove or allspice, and brown sugar. wonderfully complexity on this, a scaled back smoke just makes it a little less sweet, a bit more earthy, and enormously original. fuller bodied and smooth, not way high on the carbonation, but there is enough. super enjoyable beer, and not a palate ruiner like some of the other super heavy smoked beers they do. how are these guys not getting more love from the beer geeks with stuff this clever?!

 

750 ml mini growler from the brewery. Poured into a Hammerheart tulip glass.

Appearance: Color is dark brown with a hint of ruby. Moderate amount of bubbles and a solid finger of off white head that settles into a thin creamy patch.

Smell: A toasty and fruity Belgian Dubbel aroma with a scent of spices and dark fruit. Belgian yeast with a scent of pepper, clove, cinnamon along with some funk. Malt scent of biscuit, toffee, caramel, grains, toast, and slight smoke. Dark fruit scent of fig, prune, dark grape, raisin, and dates. Also some fruit hints of apple, banana, and pear. Sweet hints of candied sugar. A really nice aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, a toasty, fruity, and spicy Dubbel taste with notes of dark fruit and spice. Belgian yeast with some clove, pepper, and cinnamon with some funk. Malt notes of biscuit, grains, toast, smoke, toffee, and caramel. Big dark fruit presence with notes of prune, fig, raisin, dark grapes, and dates. More fruit notes of apple, pear, and banana. Sweet taste of candied sugar. A very good Belgian taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Fairly chewy and slick. Alcohol heat is moderate.

Overall: A really good take on a Belgian Dubbel. Great mix of yeasty spice and dark fruit notes. Closer to the Trappist brews than most American versions.