Grimbergen Dubbel | Brouwerij Alken-Maes

3.63/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

4.28/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On tap, lovely chalice pour. Hazey reddish brown with a retentive, tan head.

Smells fruity with some light wisps of bread and chocolate. Bright and lively for the style.

Tastes quite nice, almost everything I look for in a dubbel. Plums and raisins in the front, more fruit and some bready yeast, finishing with refreshing fruit and some dry yeast.

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3.93/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

4.07/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

3.98/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into chalice. A Belgian ale with no head? Spots of lace. Nice ruby brown shade.

Nose is mostly grape, with some other dark fruits and underlying breadiness.

Taste: A dry bitterness over dark fruit, particularly figs. Notes of bitter chocolate and honey.

Mouth is a little thin, with some alcohol bite.

A fruitier dubbel, generally smooth and drinkable.

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4.05/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma is chocolate/cocoa, caramel malts and mild fruit. The flavor is fruit/berries, chocolate, caramel/malts and a mix of tart and sweet in the finish.

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4.18/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

3.12/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

4.31/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.24/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

3.52/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

3.56/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3.42/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

4.1/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz draft pour into a pint glass.
A bold clear mahogany colored body floats a virulent 1in. cream colored head that relaxes to a 1/8in. cover with lacing.
Aroma includes sweet roast malt, brown sugar, and spices.
Flavors match with anise spice and orange pith more distinct.
I am really surprised by this beer on tap in June. September would be more appropriate. This beer is right in my wheelhouse and is unexpected. I had never heard of Grimbergen. I was visiting a new restaurant. All indicators were pointing to a faux belgian dubbel. It now appears to be the real deal.
Who knew?

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3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4