Double Barrel Dubbel
Brewery Ommegang

Nice, Enjoyed this a lot. Poured into an Averbode large Tulip.
Big Flavour, Big Colour, and I drank it in a Big Glass.
Verging on a Tripel, with the richness, the thickness and colour, but immensely great to drink. The barrel flavours take away some of the sweetness I would expect with Belgians, but that is a delicate balance and they have succeeded IMO.
All around, would grab a case if I could but at 7.00/btl (Can) it will be an infrequent treat.

Mahogany color. Medium-sized, off-white head . Toasted malt, dark fruits, vanilla, and oak in the aroma. Moderately sweet, well-balanced taste . Notes of bourbon/brandy in the aftertaste.

 

 

 

12 oz bottle, born on 7/22/20, poured into an Omme Gang tulip glass at 49 degrees F:
L - caramel in color with a hazelnut head that lingered
S - roasted malt, toffee, bourbon
T - wonderful blend of bourbon, brandy, toffee, roasted malt
F - medium mouthfeel and carbonation
O - very good, great taste and flavor

 

On tap at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY.

This one pours a reddish brown color, with a small head, and not much lacing.

This smells like vinous dark fruit, caramel, simple syrup, vague spices, and bourbon.

This has a lot of potential to it, but it seems the brandy (cognac?) barrels on this have lent a bit too much fruity sweetness to this one, offsetting the balance for me a bit. There is some nice caramel and chocolate here, with a touch of spice, but there's just just too much dried fruitiness here.

This is medium bodied, with no real booziness to it, and a decent enough drinkability.

I wanted a bit more out of this one, but I still enjoyed it and was happy to have ordered it.

Tawny reddish amber pushing brown pour with slight haze from dregs - scant khaki head.
Toffee, dark fruit, slightly vinous nose - nutty, molasses, spice round out aroma.
Sweet caramel malt, dark fruit, nutty with molasses and just a touch of vinous tartness; bourbon warms at back.
Full sweet mouthfeel - moderate carbonation - warming mildly boozy sweet end.

 

 

 

 

2019 release, drank 1/2021. Deep mahogany with lingering half finger tan head, nice lacing. Nose is full of dark fruits, raisins, and touch of coco powder. Taste up front is blast of raisins, dates that are drizzled in bourbon which fades into a nice caramel and soft cocoa, ends with a slight citrus zest and spice with a cool dryness. Cocoa remains on the palate with a long, and i mean long finish with maybe just a touch of ash. Medium body. Excellent beer, barrel is not in your face by any means, but instead adds to the complexity.

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle 7/22:
Looks a tad ruddy initially, like the barrels clouded things a tad (though later it looks like it might’ve been some chill haze, but still a dark leaning medium brown). For an 11% beer (apparently higher octane in 2020), a fair froth firms on the pour. Creamy beige head looks like it’ll generate some lacing, but I’m sipping a tad slow to find out.

Initial aromas aren’t forward, but sit in the fall to earthy spice range with perhaps a hint of toast. The barrel melds nicely, I think perhaps adding to the spice, some brown sugar, and a slight bit of leather. A little bit of grape-like tang comes with warmth, blending into a turbinado-sugared raisin note.

Feel is a bit lighter than expected given the look and ABV, but a bit more in line with a regular strength Dubbel. Fairly well carbonated with a bit of alcohol coming through, including a lingering tingle that turns a little numbing.

Taste is a bit more fruity than expected, but still has a base of the aspects from the nose - earthy, dry medium grain toast, light nutmeg to clove earthiness. I think the barrels add a little bite to generate the latter aspect. A bit of raw and/or light brown sugar. The fruit is that red wine grape leaning towards prune and plump raisin - with the base, a lightly spiced raisin bread isn’t too far off an impression.

I barely mentioned specific barrel notes, but there’s a slightly woody, not quite tannic aspect in the mix. This lack of focus should not be inferred as a failure. The barrels are so well included, IMO, that they’re aiding in producing other impressions more than putting themselves out front - which impresses me. It’s still a little strong for a Dubbel, and I think that and the barrel may push it into pseudo-quad range.