Grimbergen Dubbel
Brouwerij Alken-Maes

FLima from Brazil

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brown color with red highlights and a thick thin head.
Aroma with notes of prunes, some chocolate, biscuit, a bit of banana and distant clove.
Flavor with notes of candied fruits, prunes, mild cocoa, creamy chocolate, a bit of toffee and faint pine. Dry aftertaste with a mild bitterness.
Medium to full body with appropriate carbonation.
Chocolatey Dubbel with some residual sugariness. In my opinion, it needs something to balance it further.

Oct 08, 2019

BigGold from Mississippi

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Had this Dubbel at The Bulldog, Baton Rouge, on draft into pint tumbler, and again the following day at The Chimes, on draft into nonic pint.

The Grimbergen Dubbel is malty and spicy, with caramel and a slightly-drying finish. There are better Dubbels, but Grimbergen is an exemplar of the style.

Jun 22, 2019

VABA from Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a dark hazy amber color with a decent head and lacing.
A-Aroma has plum and fig hints.
T-Taste follows the nose with well balanced plum and fig flavors.
M-A medium bodied well balanced, well carbonated and complex flavored beer.
O-A very good beer

Jun 15, 2019

GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.31/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Unknown vintage; drank 8/6/14 @ the Yarchives.

Purple/brown murkiness.

HUGE tan head; frothy tree rung lace.

Brown sugar & plum nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Root beer, ginger, brown sugar & plums in the flavor...a cinnamon bite on the lips.

A complex, delicious brew.

Apr 01, 2019

Sarah_Bearah from California

3.84/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

A true romantic would never pass on dessert or a nightcap, and this heady beer is both in one. Smooth dark chocolate greets you, dripping from notes of bright red fruit and candied morsels. The whole affair is laced with a distinct creamy texture from the fine carbonation that lends itself to a satisfying evening indeed.

Feb 05, 2019

opieo from Virginia

4.09/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I like this brew more than most it seems. It is a malty, sweet, toffee and slightly metallic from hoppy bitterness on the finish. I find it is at its best when it warms up to just under room temperature. Then it smooths out and loses the bitterness. Do not drink cold.

Jan 14, 2019

Martin194 from Iowa

3.64/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Look: Clear mahogany-red with a "solid" off-white head.

Smell: Sweet malts, brown sugar, molasses, dark fruits, maybe a bit of chocolate. Sort of a metallic hint.

Taste: Nice and sweet in the mouth, the dark fruits and malts come out nicely. The aftertaste wasn't quite as good; it goes from sweet to bitter, more of a roasty, coffee-esque flavor.

Feel: Medium body, low carbonation. A bit watery. Leaves a dry mouthfeel.

Overall: I don't think 3.5 is quite high enough for this, but 3.75 is just a bit too high. I'd give this beer about a 3.6. It leaves just a little to be desired, but it's a fine brew, worth trying out.

Jan 11, 2019

Snowcrash000 from Germany

3.67/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a clear, deep, dark mahogany coloration with an amber tint and a large, creamy head. Smells of bready, caramel malt, brown sugar and dark fruits: fig, raisins. Taste follows the nose, being dominated by sweet, caramel malt, brown sugar, molasses and dark fruits: fig raisins, with just a hint of toffee, chocolate and estery spice. There's also quite a strong mineral, almost metallic note to this. Finishes quite sweet, with some brown sugar and molasses lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a light/medium body and medium carbonation.

This is a decent enough Dubbel with a good balance, but slightly suffers from a somewhat light/watery body/mouthfeel and a just a little too pronounced mineral/metallic note.

Dec 11, 2018

elnachooo from Spain

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cerveza con cuerpo medio y alta carbonatación. En su aroma se destacan la malta y los frutos rojos. Al paladar es una cerveza dulce con una pequeña pizca de amargor.

Oct 19, 2018

Act25 from New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

At Bier Markt Montreal a must.
A) Brown, mahogany body with moderate head that laces and lasts.
S) Earthy, musty, with caramel, and fall grain fields, malt.
T Follows the smell, with an fall orchard, rich earth notes, and some metal.
F) Sweet, but not cloying, does not clean up as much as I would like in the finale.
O) Original, earthy but not my favorite dubble.

.

May 30, 2018

PSanger from Connecticut

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Nice beer. Not a ton of sweetness but nice balance between malt and caramel/sweet. I like this beer. Had it in draft during trip to Poland. Seems to be readily available

May 16, 2018

mike22ne from Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On tap.
Looks a clear amber brown with a thick tan head.
Smell and taste are good, though the aromas are not that strong. Belgian candi sugar, sweet raisin and cherry and caramel.
Feels smooth and sweet. Caramel sweetness in the body is followed with a somewhat drier finish.

Pretty good!

Mar 19, 2018

Samlover55 from New York

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

11.2oz into goblet
Bb 1/19
L- pours a dark brown with a reddish hue, inch thick tan foamy head
S- doughy, yeasty aroma, dark fruits with notes of fig
T- chocolate, dark fruit, with a fruit pudding finish
F- light bodied, average carbonation, creamy feel, extremely drinkable
Overall a well balanced beer, that is not sweet at all

Feb 16, 2018

rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.47/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Man I remember this beer from back in the day when I thought BevMo was the most badass beer retailer around (i.e. the late 90s). Pours out a dark red and brown color, 1/3" off white head. Aroma of sweet oktoberfest like malts, marzeny and shit then a wave of mild dark, not overripe fruits.

Taste is relatively easy going, like an amber ale with a mild belgian yeast. Pretty approachable really. Has a bitterness that isn't from the hops but from that yeast that keeps dropping dark fruit references around your mouth. There is even some brown malt like dry chocolate in the mouth feel at the tail end.

I guess this one is balanced, the yeast isn't too pungent, the sweetness and dark fruit bitterness notes temper one another. Decent stuff, although its usually more than $10 a six pack.

Oct 05, 2017

HenryPorter7777 from Oklahoma

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Belgian dubbed ale. Pours a dark brown with fine lacing start to finish. Medium to light body and carbonation.Toasty, malty, caramel, spices, chocolate, and coffee overtones: nothing overbearing, more hints and whispers in its presentation. Pairs well with a variety of foods, especially pub styles. 6.5% ABV.

Oct 04, 2017

pootz from Canada (ON)

3.64/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

330 ml bottle - pours dark amber-brown with a substantial meringue tan cap - aromas are spicy, toffee, toasted grains and light leafy grassiness, some fusel is detectable. Rounded mellow character - flavor is toasty with light caramel tones some hazel nut, just enough hops in the background to avoid sweetness becoming prominent, clean toasty lightly bitter finish - tasty satisfying

Jul 05, 2017

mynie from Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +11.7%
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.

Jun 14, 2017

Dinglehacker from Oklahoma

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
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.

Mar 20, 2017

jzlyo from Iowa

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
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.

Mar 16, 2017

GrumpyGas from Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +7%
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?

Jun 30, 2016

BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

4.17/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From the tap, it pours mahogany with a nicely sized head. Enjoyable lightly malty and sweet scent, followed by a malty with a bit of fruitiness flavor. Curious what will happen to this now that I have heard the brand was sold...

Mar 08, 2016

Beginner2 from Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've probably had this three times over the last decade.
It has some character in the nose, but its distinction comes from its fruit medley palate.
It also has low carbonation, allowing the fruit and malt to linger.
I regard this is as a two season table beer (October thru March) as it doesn't try to do too much and let's the food speak. However, Grimbergen's Dubbel does not cut through the grease and cleanse the palate as a good saison does... which is usually my go-to to accompany a meal. But, this dubbel does its job.

Reviewed in "Michael Jackson's Great Beers of Belgium".

Feb 18, 2016

Gajo74 from New York

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Brown and mahogany color, big head and creamy lace that retains very well throughout.
Earthy, almost potato like (first time I've ever detected that in a beer), in the nose. Dark fruits, grain and a strong orange zest aroma on the back end. A slight metallic aroma brings down the score slightly. (Perhaps it was the tap line at the place I had it at)
Sweet taste, malty and fruity, particularly figs. The sweetness is balanced just enough by a peppery feel. Sweet finish with raw grain.
Very smooth and creamy. Soft carbonation. Light bodied for a Dubbel and very drinkable. Overall, I thought this was quite tasty and easy drinking. At 6.5% ABV, I wonder whether one could refer to this as a session Dubbel.

Oct 08, 2015

drmeto from Germany

3.86/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

L:
-pours a clear ruby with a medium to big,frothy,beige head
-high carbonation visible
S:
-grainy,sour cherries,caramel,brown sugar,orange zest
T:
-plums,raisins,dates,slight caramel,cherries,candi sugar,herbs
F:
-light to medium body
-medium carbonation
-faint alcohol warming
O:
Compared to other Dubbels there is no real Belgian Yeast character to this.This reminded me more of an english strong ale than a Belgian Dubbel.
Overall it's very good though.

Jul 27, 2015

josanguapo from Spain

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From Mercadona. In Tongerlo glass. Playing Memoria. A bit dull, although a bit above the average spanish macro beer. Avg 3.11

3 Jun 2018. In Grimbergen glass. After lunch. As in the case of their blonde, it seems that time fits it well. I find it better than remembered, with more body and nice caramel sweetness

Jul 09, 2015