Dubbel
Une Année

Using the season's baseball analogy, I've now hit for the cycle with Une Annee' (single/table/ale, dubbel, tripel and quad.)
Overall, I'm seeing a sophistication well beyond their young years. Partly this is because they focus on the Belgian tradition; partly because someone there is talented.

Their Dubbel is a good Looker and stays that way, ample foam around. Smells like a fine dubbel, lots of dark fruits, caramel malts and earthy yeast. Tastes? I'm more traditional; preferring a bit more brewer's sugar and a more syrupy texture. But the upside of Annee using different spicing (which I enjoy) is their Dubbel goes well with a herby/garlicky lunch (which I just had.) So, a good trade-off... that I intend to have again....

1/9/19 Well, I've had the Une Annee' tripel twice. And just found another dubbel on the remainder shelf at Woodman's Kenosha. So I thought I might be dealing with an after-prime bottle. (Also, most of these reviews are dated 42 months ago!) But, the bubbles are still impressive. And while I'd like more active protein swirling in the glass, the lack thereof is an indication of a too-aged bottle or maybe that the yeast is not as good as I once thought. Anyway, an enjoyable second dubbel that I hope Une Annee' brews again.
And while they mostly like to brew the Wilds, their other Belgian-inspireds are worth seeking out.

9/9/20 I've got the same batch as 18 months... and possibly before that. Still an impressive dubbel by Looks, although the Smells and Tastes are fading. I hope to find this somewhat more fresh again, so am starting my count over at Untappd.

A: Pours a dark brown color, with a dense and rocky beige head that forms. Retention lasts forever, and tons of lace. This is a looker.
S: Candied sugar and a fruit cake like aroma. Apples, plums, and bananas. Baked bread, toasted malts, and brown sugar. Fantastic.
T: Like the nose, candied sugar, brown sugar, apple skins..that are slightly tart which is surprsing but really nice. Plums and light fruit esters like bananas. Again, fruit cake is a good descriptor. Baked bread, toasted malts. This is great.
M/O: A medium to full body. Perfectly effervescent and smooth at the same time. The bottle conditioning works really well here. This has a big character, and one that is never unbalanced, slightly odd, and always in check. A joy to drink.

The tart apple skins gives this a slightly unorthodox character. Though still a fantastic example of the style that has a lot of nuance. Something I enjoy, and a really well done example of the style made by an American brewery, and the best I have had from this brewery so far.

500 ml bottle into chalice, no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours hazy deep ruby red color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a large amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big raisin, plum, pear, apple, white grape, light banana, pepper, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, nuttiness, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Incredible aromas with awesome complexity and balance of fruity/spicy yeast and dark/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big raisin, plum, pear, apple, white grape, light banana, pepper, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, nuttiness, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Good amount of herbal/earthy yeast spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of raisin, plum, pear, apple, white grape, light banana, pepper, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, nuttiness, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Incredible complexity and robustness of fruity/spicy yeast and dark/bready malt flavors; with an awesome malt/yeast balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. High carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly creamy/bready mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warmth lingering after the finish. Overall this is an insane dubbel style! All around amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast and dark/bready malt flavors; and very smooth and crisp to drink for the ABV. An insanely delicious offering,

 

 

 

Complex raisin like sweetness. Tart finish with tons of carbonation on your tongue. Excellent first beer from another hometown brewery!

 

 

 

The brewer has nailed the Belgian Dubbel style. Starts with a big dried fruit nose with hints of fruit cake. It pours deep brown under a 2” finely bubbled foam cap that reduces to a thick film and produces Belgian window lace. Wine notes mixed with dark dried fruit – especially figs and possibly prunes dominate the palate with support from come caramel, plum, grape, spice and fruit cake notes. An effervescent, very creamy, airy, moussey body flows over the palate with suprising lightness and grace. A world class beer.

Easily the best American dubbel I've had to date.