Meester Dubbel
Brouwerij De Meester

 

330 ml bottle into chalice, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy dark reddish brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lasts. Nice dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big raisin, plum, fig, date, apricot, red apple, peppercorn, light banana/clove, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness/chocolate, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, dark/bready/light roasted malts, candi sugar, and light earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big raisin, plum, fig, date, apricot, red apple, peppercorn, light banana/clove, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness/chocolate, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate peppery yeast spiciness and herbal/grassy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of dark fruits, apricot, red apple, peppercorn, light banana/clove, caramel, brown sugar, brown bread, toasted biscuit, light nuttiness/chocolate, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, dark/bready/light roasted malts, candi sugar, and light earthy hop flavors; with an awesome malt/bitter/spiciness balance; and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, and lightly sticky/chalky balanced mouthfeel that is awesome. Zero warming alcohol for 8%. Overall this is a fantastic dubbel! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, dark/bready/light roasted malts, candi sugar, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/spicy/drying finish. Very rich and complex malts, with perfectly balanced yeast and candi sugar flavors; and some mild backing hop presence. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing style example.