Spéciale Belge
Brasserie Dupont sprl

Spéciale BelgeSpéciale Belge
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Brasserie Dupont sprl
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Pale Strong Ale
ABV:
5.75%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 11.38%
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
47
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 20, 2016
Added:
Jun 04, 2012
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mdaschaf:
Photo of mdaschaf
Reviewed by mdaschaf from Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had on tap at Monks. Review from notes.

A: Pours a brown/copper/amber color with a small off-white head with decent retention. Some thin, but sticky lacing forms down the glass.

S: There is some faint dark fruit upfront with lots of caramel and candied sugar rounding it out. A bit of Belgian yeast as well.

T: Lots of caramelized malt up front mixed with a bit of bready malt in the middle. The Belgian yeast is a bit more prominent, faint candied sugar and fruit.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, rather smooth with a slightly dry finish.

O: Pretty good BSPA, seemed a bit darker than most in the style, almost more inbetween BSPA and BSDA.
Jul 19, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by bobv from Vermont

Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by CharlesK from Pennsylvania

Sep 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by jim_carignan from Massachusetts

Mar 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Griffith from Connecticut

Jan 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by mick303 from Canada (ON)

Nov 28, 2013
Photo of MusicaleMike
Reviewed by MusicaleMike from Pennsylvania

2.55/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 2.5
Brewed specifically for Philly Beer Week 2012 with Olivier Dedeycker (Brasserie Dupont), Chris "Lappy" LaPierre (Iron Hill Brewing) and Tom Peters (Monk's Cafe). Dedeycker went through old family brewery journals and found a recipe that he wanted to try out, called "Special belge" which had its heyday in the 1930s. For this new iteration, the three brewers added some smoked pilsner malt from a local, reputable "malterie."

Served in a stemmed glass, Dupont Special Belge possesses a certain radiance, showing off a deep amber body that dances with carbonation, easily lifting the cream-colored foamy head up and up. Very lively carbonation is certainly appreciated for the saison style. The body itself is quite hazy, but that might clear up as it warms. There is certainly a lot of sediment at the bottom of the bottle, but I was careful to not add any of that to the glass.

The initial whiff had me worried. It was filled with the scent of green apple, or acetaldehyde. Deeper in the aroma, I pull out light smokiness.

The initial perception of this beer is a quick hit of acidity on a effervescent medium bodied beer. As it rolls across the tongue, the smoked pilsen malt stands out, as well as a return of that dreaded green apple! The finish is on the drier side, and there is a mild, lingering smokiness in the aftertaste. There is a light sourness to this beer, which I know does not belong here. I find the body and carbonation level to be right on, but the taste is not where it should be. That smoked portion is great, while the light tartness throughout and the acetaldehyde detract from the beer.

It's quite unfortunate that this beer is flawed. The green apple thing doesn't actually bother me all that much, and I quite enjoyed drinking this beer. I loved the smokiness, the light tartness, the effervescence, and the appearance. But knowing what I do, I feel like this beer was rushed out the door to get it to Philadelphia in time for PBW'12. That is most likely what happened in this scenario....and so, for being a flawed beer, it gets a bad score.
Nov 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by ste5venla from California

Nov 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Oct 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

May 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by BeerNDoggerel from Illinois

May 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by BartMcStout from Belgium

May 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by samEBC from Belgium

Apr 27, 2013
Photo of jibbyvonjibb
Reviewed by jibbyvonjibb from California

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Amber color. Caramel, butterscotch. Signature Dupont barnyard funk. Light smoked character. Plums. Refreshing acidity. Dry with a touch of caramel sweetness. High carbonation. Overall, a delicious, highly drinkable beer. I may even prefer it to the original Dupont, but I'd prefer to have both as an option.
Apr 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Haybeerman from Colorado

Mar 31, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by t0rin0 from California

Mar 30, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by mportnoy from Pennsylvania

Mar 17, 2013
Photo of impending
Reviewed by impending from California

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
B+

750ml into a tulip. Pours a crystal clear deep amber copper, dense orange cream colored head thick as lather, clumping froth as it recedes. gorgeous

Pleasant aroma of yeasty sweet goodness atop a honey mustiness that is shy of old sock. Nice phenolic backbone.

Flavor is full of honey and unsweetened apricots. Very little dry, little bitter becomes apparent only with warmth. The musty in the scent lacks presence in the flavor until room temp. Medium bodied lively creamy mouthfeel.
cheers
jd
Mar 03, 2013
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Iron Hill Chestnut Hill. Pours a medium amber color with a good off-white head and some heavy lacing on the way down. The nose is a bit bready with some hop dryness. Very light pepper. A bit leafy. Light pepper and floral. Very slight bubblegum. Light body; dry finish. More malty than I expected, though still fairly dry. Really interesting all around.
Dec 15, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by Boilerfood from Indiana

Dec 10, 2012
Spéciale Belge from Brasserie Dupont sprl
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 47 ratings