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Spéciale Belge
Brasserie Dupont sprl
- From:
- Brasserie Dupont sprl
- Belgium
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 5.75%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.69 | pDev: 11.38%
- Reviews:
- 18
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 20, 2016
- Added:
- Jun 04, 2012
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by 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
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, 2012A: 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.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by MusicaleMike from Pennsylvania
2.55/5 rDev -30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 2.5
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, 2013Served 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.
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
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, 2013Reviewed by impending from California
3.93/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2013750ml 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
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois
3.18/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
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
Spéciale Belge from Brasserie Dupont sprl
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
47 ratings
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