Pilaarbijter (Tripel Ale) Bruin (Red Cap)
De Brabandere
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Flanders Oud Bruin
Ranked #89 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #39,467 - Avg:
- 3.6 | pDev: 12.5%
- Reviews:
- 47
- Ratings:
- From:
- De Brabandere
- Belgium
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 3
- Gots
- 2
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
Notes:
Reviews: 47
| Ratings: 66
3.59/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
The Pilaarbijter brown poured out of the bottle with a big and tall foamy head. A lot of carbonation here. A light and translucent (almost clear) brown color, a shade over to the red side. At first, all I could smell was the malty yeast scents coming from this long-lasting head: an overpowering yeastiness. After the foam settled (after quite some time), perhaps a little cherry sweetness mixed in with the malty scents.
It tasted fairly sweet — a bit sweeter than I expected — mixed with that roasted chestnut flavor that I really like in browns. Very typical of browns here. Maybe again also hints of cherries, and then with a little bitterness — but not too much — on the finish. The carbonation was lost on the head, however, as this beer went flat very quickly.
After several sips, my main impression was that this 6.5% ABV beer is very easy to drink: Maybe too easy to drink. The flavors are there, but they’re less bold than in other browns. This is a mild brown, a bit thin -- it even seemed “watered-down” to me. This is a beer that would pair easily as an accompagnement to a meal, but is perhaps less impressive as a standalone beer. Quite drinkable, however, and surely a pleasure for those who like sweet brown ales!
(NOTE: Though the page here says 7% ABV, my bottle marketed for northern Europe is clearly marked 6.5%.)
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look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
The Pilaarbijter brown poured out of the bottle with a big and tall foamy head. A lot of carbonation here. A light and translucent (almost clear) brown color, a shade over to the red side. At first, all I could smell was the malty yeast scents coming from this long-lasting head: an overpowering yeastiness. After the foam settled (after quite some time), perhaps a little cherry sweetness mixed in with the malty scents.
It tasted fairly sweet — a bit sweeter than I expected — mixed with that roasted chestnut flavor that I really like in browns. Very typical of browns here. Maybe again also hints of cherries, and then with a little bitterness — but not too much — on the finish. The carbonation was lost on the head, however, as this beer went flat very quickly.
After several sips, my main impression was that this 6.5% ABV beer is very easy to drink: Maybe too easy to drink. The flavors are there, but they’re less bold than in other browns. This is a mild brown, a bit thin -- it even seemed “watered-down” to me. This is a beer that would pair easily as an accompagnement to a meal, but is perhaps less impressive as a standalone beer. Quite drinkable, however, and surely a pleasure for those who like sweet brown ales!
(NOTE: Though the page here says 7% ABV, my bottle marketed for northern Europe is clearly marked 6.5%.)
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3.97/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at La Trappe, San Francisco. Served in a 25 cl Tulip Glass.
Appearance: Ruby-red to brown clear beer, with a light tan 1/4" dense head. Lots of persistent lacing all over the glass.
Smell: Slightly musty, oak, some vanilla.
Taste: Roasted malt mixed in with some woody/oak flavors, sweet malt (again a hint of vanilla) and some sourness at the finish.
Mouthfeel: Smooth at first, but lingers a bit sticky on the teeth. Nice thickness and light carbonation.
Overall / Drinkability: Nice looking beer, but with my first few sips I wasn't sure. However, as I drank more of it, it grew on me and I ended up having another glass. While I ended up sipping on it over the dinner, I found by the end of the first glass I could have easily downed it and definitely wanted another glass to savor a bit more. So drinkable in regards to the fact that you want to enjoy it, slowly, over a longer period than a 25 cl glass can provide.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at La Trappe, San Francisco. Served in a 25 cl Tulip Glass.
Appearance: Ruby-red to brown clear beer, with a light tan 1/4" dense head. Lots of persistent lacing all over the glass.
Smell: Slightly musty, oak, some vanilla.
Taste: Roasted malt mixed in with some woody/oak flavors, sweet malt (again a hint of vanilla) and some sourness at the finish.
Mouthfeel: Smooth at first, but lingers a bit sticky on the teeth. Nice thickness and light carbonation.
Overall / Drinkability: Nice looking beer, but with my first few sips I wasn't sure. However, as I drank more of it, it grew on me and I ended up having another glass. While I ended up sipping on it over the dinner, I found by the end of the first glass I could have easily downed it and definitely wanted another glass to savor a bit more. So drinkable in regards to the fact that you want to enjoy it, slowly, over a longer period than a 25 cl glass can provide.
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3.12/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pilaarbijter Bruin has a hazy, orange brown color with lots of floaties. The creamy head is beige and abundant. It slowly leaves a nice lacing on the elegant Pilaarbijter glass.
The aroma is dominated by roasted malts with a touch of tart and spicyness (cloves). Not really complex but not bad.
Tasting the beer is not surprising at all: more roasted malts, sweetness upfront and some bitterness in the rather long aftertaste. The syruppy mouthfeel and roasted taste make me think of a stout, certainly considering the very low level of carbonation.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pilaarbijter Bruin has a hazy, orange brown color with lots of floaties. The creamy head is beige and abundant. It slowly leaves a nice lacing on the elegant Pilaarbijter glass.
The aroma is dominated by roasted malts with a touch of tart and spicyness (cloves). Not really complex but not bad.
Tasting the beer is not surprising at all: more roasted malts, sweetness upfront and some bitterness in the rather long aftertaste. The syruppy mouthfeel and roasted taste make me think of a stout, certainly considering the very low level of carbonation.
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2.68/5 rDev -25.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Served on-tap at Cafe Samson in Nijmegen, Holland into a Bier van het moment tulip. Reviewed live.
A: Two finger slight tan head of nice cream, fair thickness, and average (~2.5 minute) retention. Colour is a semitransparent dark amber. Not at all brown in colour.
Sm: Amber malts is all me broken nose can pick up per the light strength of the aroma. All apologies, lads.
T: Amber malts, caramelized malt, and a bit of cream. Some bittering hops on the climax. Very simple. Not really bold and certainly not complex. A bit disappointing. Badly built and poorly balanced.
Mf: Too coarse. Wet. Very generic and not tailored to the flavours of the body.
Dr: Hides its relatively high ABV well, but is lacking in quality and even drinkability on account of the unwarranted coarseness. The price isn't bad in Holland, but it's still a beer I wouldn't havve again. It's very generic, but I wouldn't call it bad. Maybe fans of the style would appreciate it.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Served on-tap at Cafe Samson in Nijmegen, Holland into a Bier van het moment tulip. Reviewed live.
A: Two finger slight tan head of nice cream, fair thickness, and average (~2.5 minute) retention. Colour is a semitransparent dark amber. Not at all brown in colour.
Sm: Amber malts is all me broken nose can pick up per the light strength of the aroma. All apologies, lads.
T: Amber malts, caramelized malt, and a bit of cream. Some bittering hops on the climax. Very simple. Not really bold and certainly not complex. A bit disappointing. Badly built and poorly balanced.
Mf: Too coarse. Wet. Very generic and not tailored to the flavours of the body.
Dr: Hides its relatively high ABV well, but is lacking in quality and even drinkability on account of the unwarranted coarseness. The price isn't bad in Holland, but it's still a beer I wouldn't havve again. It's very generic, but I wouldn't call it bad. Maybe fans of the style would appreciate it.
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3.72/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured this baby into a goblet and it came out highly carbonated (as expected) sporting a nice white head. The nose was very wine like with apples, honey, and berries.
The taste is quite malty and fruity sweet up front (apples and dark cherries), then becomes dry juniper on the finish. The taste of this beer is quite good, but the finish is a little drab.
I enjoyed this beer quite a bit, but one can easily find beers of this style with quite a bit more substance. There's certainly nothing wrong with it, but I don't think I'd seek it out. There are better ales of this style that are more plentiful in this neck of the woods.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured this baby into a goblet and it came out highly carbonated (as expected) sporting a nice white head. The nose was very wine like with apples, honey, and berries.
The taste is quite malty and fruity sweet up front (apples and dark cherries), then becomes dry juniper on the finish. The taste of this beer is quite good, but the finish is a little drab.
I enjoyed this beer quite a bit, but one can easily find beers of this style with quite a bit more substance. There's certainly nothing wrong with it, but I don't think I'd seek it out. There are better ales of this style that are more plentiful in this neck of the woods.
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4/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A good and honest brown old Flanders. I bought this one in Gent a few weeks ago. This is an old style beer and i loved it.
Poured in my Struise glass the beer itself is darkred to brown. Big big broken white head with some carbonation.
Good and sweet smell. Tasted some sugar, burned malt and very faint the yeast.
A very nice and drinkable beer!
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A good and honest brown old Flanders. I bought this one in Gent a few weeks ago. This is an old style beer and i loved it.
Poured in my Struise glass the beer itself is darkred to brown. Big big broken white head with some carbonation.
Good and sweet smell. Tasted some sugar, burned malt and very faint the yeast.
A very nice and drinkable beer!
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3.46/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Gold and hazy. Starts with a great head and it continually leaves good lace on the glass.
The smell is distracting as I can detect a slight plastic smell.
The flavor is an improvement--no plastic here. There are notes of sweet orange with a light bitterness. The body is spot on. A nice Belgian Brown.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Gold and hazy. Starts with a great head and it continually leaves good lace on the glass.
The smell is distracting as I can detect a slight plastic smell.
The flavor is an improvement--no plastic here. There are notes of sweet orange with a light bitterness. The body is spot on. A nice Belgian Brown.
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3.11/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: Pours out a lightly hazed, brown body with a tall, foamy, off-white head. I wasn't particularly thrilled with the Bavik Blonde, so I'm having trouble mustering up much enthusiasm for the Bruin iteration.
Smell: The base of malts presents gives off wafts of toast and brown sugar, which is fine and all, but it just doesn't grab me. Secondary notes of overripe fruit and alcohol mist.
Taste: Simple, humble brown malts with some tastes of toasted grains, nuts, and brown sugar. Dark, lightly sour fruitiness present. Earthy, spicy hops with no more than a light bitterness. Mild trace of alcohol. Plain, tempered flavors of sugar, spice, booze, and fruit until you hit the altogether crisp finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation.
Drinkability: A step up from it's blonde brother, but that's not saying too terribly much. Some might say you can't even begin to spell bruin without "ruin".
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: Pours out a lightly hazed, brown body with a tall, foamy, off-white head. I wasn't particularly thrilled with the Bavik Blonde, so I'm having trouble mustering up much enthusiasm for the Bruin iteration.
Smell: The base of malts presents gives off wafts of toast and brown sugar, which is fine and all, but it just doesn't grab me. Secondary notes of overripe fruit and alcohol mist.
Taste: Simple, humble brown malts with some tastes of toasted grains, nuts, and brown sugar. Dark, lightly sour fruitiness present. Earthy, spicy hops with no more than a light bitterness. Mild trace of alcohol. Plain, tempered flavors of sugar, spice, booze, and fruit until you hit the altogether crisp finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation.
Drinkability: A step up from it's blonde brother, but that's not saying too terribly much. Some might say you can't even begin to spell bruin without "ruin".
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3.21/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
11.2 oz into a bottle
A - Pours a dark brown, to almost a red amber color. Extremely hazy. Head formation extremely strong, leaves behind a 1/2" head. Dirty white in color.
S - An orangish, sour, and almost acidic note on the nose. Very potent belgian notes here, with some yeasty backdrop.
T - Starts with that orange almost oxidized note - sour, acidic like orange juice. Mid-stream starts to show some sweetness and lots of buttery esters. No hops to be found. Some bready yeast bite starts to show in the aftertaste. Seems to have the hint of champagne instead of beer.
M - Moderate beer body, but certainly a potent carbonation profile. Little retained sensation on the tongue.
D - Moderate to low drinkability - highly filling with all the carbonation. ABV is OK, but a hair difficult. Lastly, the flavors just do get a bit old.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
11.2 oz into a bottle
A - Pours a dark brown, to almost a red amber color. Extremely hazy. Head formation extremely strong, leaves behind a 1/2" head. Dirty white in color.
S - An orangish, sour, and almost acidic note on the nose. Very potent belgian notes here, with some yeasty backdrop.
T - Starts with that orange almost oxidized note - sour, acidic like orange juice. Mid-stream starts to show some sweetness and lots of buttery esters. No hops to be found. Some bready yeast bite starts to show in the aftertaste. Seems to have the hint of champagne instead of beer.
M - Moderate beer body, but certainly a potent carbonation profile. Little retained sensation on the tongue.
D - Moderate to low drinkability - highly filling with all the carbonation. ABV is OK, but a hair difficult. Lastly, the flavors just do get a bit old.
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3.23/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Sandwiched this one in between a dubbel and a quad thinking it was a triple...silly me, trusting the label. Pours a reddish-brown hue with a thick, pillowy light tan head. Fairly line-bubbled foam fades a bit fast to a nice sheen and leaves a wall of lace on the glass. Unusually dark for a triple, but now that I see it classified as a Oud Bruin here, many more things about this one make a bit more sense.
On the nose I get green olives, sugary alcohol, strawberry/cherry bubblegum and some black pepper. A pretty complex and unique smelling beer.
Kinda thin feeling and pretty fruity in the mouth. Surprisingly malty and bready. Taste is not as complex as the smell and I wish the yeast gave the brew a bit more character. Overall I was a bit disappointed with this one, but then again, I was expecting a tripel.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Sandwiched this one in between a dubbel and a quad thinking it was a triple...silly me, trusting the label. Pours a reddish-brown hue with a thick, pillowy light tan head. Fairly line-bubbled foam fades a bit fast to a nice sheen and leaves a wall of lace on the glass. Unusually dark for a triple, but now that I see it classified as a Oud Bruin here, many more things about this one make a bit more sense.
On the nose I get green olives, sugary alcohol, strawberry/cherry bubblegum and some black pepper. A pretty complex and unique smelling beer.
Kinda thin feeling and pretty fruity in the mouth. Surprisingly malty and bready. Taste is not as complex as the smell and I wish the yeast gave the brew a bit more character. Overall I was a bit disappointed with this one, but then again, I was expecting a tripel.
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3.3/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This one pours an enormous head that last for a big while.
Dark cloudy brown colour
Smell of dark fruits, raisins, cherries, chocolate and some wet earth. Rough earthy flavour, taste of fruits, specially cherries, with caramel notes and spices. Interesting, but there's something that it lacks that I can really define. Have to try another one.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This one pours an enormous head that last for a big while.
Dark cloudy brown colour
Smell of dark fruits, raisins, cherries, chocolate and some wet earth. Rough earthy flavour, taste of fruits, specially cherries, with caramel notes and spices. Interesting, but there's something that it lacks that I can really define. Have to try another one.
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3.7/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured with a big, big frothy, foamy tan head. Didn't decant and it had lots of yeastoids. Color is a dark hazy brown. Aroma was light, malty, yeasty, and a bit fruity. Flavor was similar but with lots of caramel and toffee. Champagnesque carbonation. Yeasty, taffy, bittersweet finish. Not bad. Could easily drink more.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured with a big, big frothy, foamy tan head. Didn't decant and it had lots of yeastoids. Color is a dark hazy brown. Aroma was light, malty, yeasty, and a bit fruity. Flavor was similar but with lots of caramel and toffee. Champagnesque carbonation. Yeasty, taffy, bittersweet finish. Not bad. Could easily drink more.
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2.97/5 rDev -17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured a cloudy dark amber with a large tan head. Lots of carbonation here.
Smell of raisin, perhaps a little coffee as well. Alcohol was present but mild.
Tasted the alcohol more than I was expecting, along with dark fruits and a bit of what seemed like tobacco.
Mouthfeel was somewhat thick, maybe overly so for my taste.
Not the most drinkable beer. I was a little disappointed with this, hoping for maybe a bit more balanced flavor.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured a cloudy dark amber with a large tan head. Lots of carbonation here.
Smell of raisin, perhaps a little coffee as well. Alcohol was present but mild.
Tasted the alcohol more than I was expecting, along with dark fruits and a bit of what seemed like tobacco.
Mouthfeel was somewhat thick, maybe overly so for my taste.
Not the most drinkable beer. I was a little disappointed with this, hoping for maybe a bit more balanced flavor.
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3.8/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: pours a cloudy, very dark reddish brown with a 3 finger, rocky off-white head that has great staying power. Leaves a patchy lace.
S: tart fruitiness, ripe cherries and a touch of brown sugar malt. A bit of cotton candy as well.
T: nice ripened, tart fruit flavour with a warming alcohol sensation, slight floral hoppiness with a sweet touch of yeast on the finish.
M:light and very crisp, well-carbonated and a smooth, dry, tart finish.
D: This is a nice and interesting beer. The colour is fantastic and tartness of the fruit really makes it an enjoyable beer to sip. The alcohol is well hidden and provides for the slightest of warming sensations as the beer slides down your throat. I would buy this beer again - I would also like to try their blonde.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: pours a cloudy, very dark reddish brown with a 3 finger, rocky off-white head that has great staying power. Leaves a patchy lace.
S: tart fruitiness, ripe cherries and a touch of brown sugar malt. A bit of cotton candy as well.
T: nice ripened, tart fruit flavour with a warming alcohol sensation, slight floral hoppiness with a sweet touch of yeast on the finish.
M:light and very crisp, well-carbonated and a smooth, dry, tart finish.
D: This is a nice and interesting beer. The colour is fantastic and tartness of the fruit really makes it an enjoyable beer to sip. The alcohol is well hidden and provides for the slightest of warming sensations as the beer slides down your throat. I would buy this beer again - I would also like to try their blonde.
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3.55/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Pours to a hazy reddish brown color that with a light tan head that explodes out of the glass, but then quickly settles down to a skim through mid-glass.
Aroma is a tad muted, but is mostly a mix of hoppy citrus fruits and malty sour dark fruits. Mouthfeel is tangy-sweet, alomost like a dumbed down Flemish Sour. Flavor follows the fuit theme, and the finish is a fairloy confusing mix of smooth dark ale and the wackiness of a Flemish Sour.
An interesting beer.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Pours to a hazy reddish brown color that with a light tan head that explodes out of the glass, but then quickly settles down to a skim through mid-glass.
Aroma is a tad muted, but is mostly a mix of hoppy citrus fruits and malty sour dark fruits. Mouthfeel is tangy-sweet, alomost like a dumbed down Flemish Sour. Flavor follows the fuit theme, and the finish is a fairloy confusing mix of smooth dark ale and the wackiness of a Flemish Sour.
An interesting beer.
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3.03/5 rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Sorry but this following comment is in french :
Appearance : bière brune de fermentation haute, robe brun-rouge, la mousse s'éfface vite, effervescence moyenne
Smell : arômes de café et de caramel
Taste and mouthfeel : mince en bouche, légérement piquante
Drinkability : une bière d'abbaye correcte dans le style Belgian dubbel
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Sorry but this following comment is in french :
Appearance : bière brune de fermentation haute, robe brun-rouge, la mousse s'éfface vite, effervescence moyenne
Smell : arômes de café et de caramel
Taste and mouthfeel : mince en bouche, légérement piquante
Drinkability : une bière d'abbaye correcte dans le style Belgian dubbel
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3.5/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Opaque brown with a big head this beer smells a bit like a dunkel. The taste is moderate with a semi sweet mid changing to a drier finish. A nice brown that is easy drinking but really very complex. I like it but it is not beer to stick in the memory.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Opaque brown with a big head this beer smells a bit like a dunkel. The taste is moderate with a semi sweet mid changing to a drier finish. A nice brown that is easy drinking but really very complex. I like it but it is not beer to stick in the memory.
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3.22/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Served in the brewery glass at Smokeless Joe's.
A: Deep amber-brown; off-white head, no retention or lace.
S: Dark fruit and spice, with slight hints of funk from the yeast.
T: Raisins, spice, brown sugar, caramel, cider, hints of phenols; modest bitterness. The slight sourness makes it seem like its more 'off' than an actual Flanders oud bruin.
M: Moderate body has some residual sugar, but the finish is still slightly dry.
D: Approachable, but not engaging.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Served in the brewery glass at Smokeless Joe's.
A: Deep amber-brown; off-white head, no retention or lace.
S: Dark fruit and spice, with slight hints of funk from the yeast.
T: Raisins, spice, brown sugar, caramel, cider, hints of phenols; modest bitterness. The slight sourness makes it seem like its more 'off' than an actual Flanders oud bruin.
M: Moderate body has some residual sugar, but the finish is still slightly dry.
D: Approachable, but not engaging.
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4.2/5 rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Sampled @ Palm Tavern in Milwaukee.
Two bottles were tasted, and both had excessive carbonation. The first bottle cascaded foam from the bottle for a good minute or two. The second was opened very slowly, and was poured immediately over the glass.
The color was a deep crimson brown, creamy foam formed an irregular surface. Smell was dark malt, slightly musty/sweet.
Taste was creamy, malty and balanced. Some pepper, caramel, dark fruit and earthy flavors. Not especially sour or even tart. Very smooth going down, quite drinkable.
This was a nice overall Belgian Brune, with more Dubbel characterisics than Oud Bruin.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Sampled @ Palm Tavern in Milwaukee.
Two bottles were tasted, and both had excessive carbonation. The first bottle cascaded foam from the bottle for a good minute or two. The second was opened very slowly, and was poured immediately over the glass.
The color was a deep crimson brown, creamy foam formed an irregular surface. Smell was dark malt, slightly musty/sweet.
Taste was creamy, malty and balanced. Some pepper, caramel, dark fruit and earthy flavors. Not especially sour or even tart. Very smooth going down, quite drinkable.
This was a nice overall Belgian Brune, with more Dubbel characterisics than Oud Bruin.
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3.76/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lot of lace, with a big soapy head on cloudy brown. Served in the matching glass by the brewery, at Smokeless Joe's. A sharp aroma, something in the sour Flemish that stings the nose bit it's not very high ABV. chocolate malts, it's malty with a carmel and citrus Coco-Cola aftertaste, but with added spice, and then..a flemish sour finish. Or, like a Belgian yeasty dunkel.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lot of lace, with a big soapy head on cloudy brown. Served in the matching glass by the brewery, at Smokeless Joe's. A sharp aroma, something in the sour Flemish that stings the nose bit it's not very high ABV. chocolate malts, it's malty with a carmel and citrus Coco-Cola aftertaste, but with added spice, and then..a flemish sour finish. Or, like a Belgian yeasty dunkel.
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3.6/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served in a mini Chimay goblet at Lucky Baldwin's.
Smell has some of the funky sourness - nice little hint as to what you're in for. Taste definitely has tartness, but is more subtle than a Duchesse, for example. Has certain oakey quality. Earthy flavors, with some caramel malts to balance it. Mouthfeel is pretty well carbonated, although not entirely satisfying - could use a little more body or something. Drinkability is good.
This is a nice, but not exceptional, example of the style. I'd take another glass of it if offered, but might not buy it again. Still, I can recommend this.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served in a mini Chimay goblet at Lucky Baldwin's.
Smell has some of the funky sourness - nice little hint as to what you're in for. Taste definitely has tartness, but is more subtle than a Duchesse, for example. Has certain oakey quality. Earthy flavors, with some caramel malts to balance it. Mouthfeel is pretty well carbonated, although not entirely satisfying - could use a little more body or something. Drinkability is good.
This is a nice, but not exceptional, example of the style. I'd take another glass of it if offered, but might not buy it again. Still, I can recommend this.
595 characters
4.32/5 rDev +20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Explodes out of bottle, took 5 minutes to pour, fades slowly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Murky amber color, ton of yeast in bottom of bottle. Strong carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Raisin nose. Flavor is sweet and sour raisins, smooth easy to drink, this small bottle is not enough. $3.19 for a 330ml bottle from John's Market Place Tigard, Or.
356 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Explodes out of bottle, took 5 minutes to pour, fades slowly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Murky amber color, ton of yeast in bottom of bottle. Strong carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Raisin nose. Flavor is sweet and sour raisins, smooth easy to drink, this small bottle is not enough. $3.19 for a 330ml bottle from John's Market Place Tigard, Or.
356 characters
3.26/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
33cl brown bottle with red cap, best before 06/2009, drank 12/2006.
Maybe I should have left this for a year or two, because it wasn't as good as I was expecting.
Poured into my 'Straffe Hendrik' bowl glass, its Redwood brown colour sparkled in the light, the half inch thick off white head slowly fell away even though the bubbles kept on coming.
Sour, vinagerous, acidic aroma, not the normal beer smell what-so-ever. As the beer warmed a little, a sweeter scent came forth, cooking apples.
The taste brings you back to what you wanted, a good Belgian Brown. Tart and strong, with a bite to the throat, made me burp, which makes me think I should have drank it at a later date (like 2008).
Even though I enjoyed this beer, I think an older one would be a whole lot better.
789 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
33cl brown bottle with red cap, best before 06/2009, drank 12/2006.
Maybe I should have left this for a year or two, because it wasn't as good as I was expecting.
Poured into my 'Straffe Hendrik' bowl glass, its Redwood brown colour sparkled in the light, the half inch thick off white head slowly fell away even though the bubbles kept on coming.
Sour, vinagerous, acidic aroma, not the normal beer smell what-so-ever. As the beer warmed a little, a sweeter scent came forth, cooking apples.
The taste brings you back to what you wanted, a good Belgian Brown. Tart and strong, with a bite to the throat, made me burp, which makes me think I should have drank it at a later date (like 2008).
Even though I enjoyed this beer, I think an older one would be a whole lot better.
789 characters
3.29/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The aroma holds sweet candy sugar and fruit notes with a rich sweet maltiness and mild dirt/dust notes. The body is a cloudy and ruddy brown and holds a massive three finger thick tan head that is both bubbly and diminishing. Low intensity flavor on the initial sip. There are some muted apple notes and mild fruit peel tinged sweetness. It feels spent like it once had flavor and couldnt hold onto it. The carbonation is tongue tingling, but not out of control and the lacing is non existent with foam left from sips quickly sliding down the inside of the glass. Ho-hum.
573 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The aroma holds sweet candy sugar and fruit notes with a rich sweet maltiness and mild dirt/dust notes. The body is a cloudy and ruddy brown and holds a massive three finger thick tan head that is both bubbly and diminishing. Low intensity flavor on the initial sip. There are some muted apple notes and mild fruit peel tinged sweetness. It feels spent like it once had flavor and couldnt hold onto it. The carbonation is tongue tingling, but not out of control and the lacing is non existent with foam left from sips quickly sliding down the inside of the glass. Ho-hum.
573 characters
4.04/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Red cap 11.2oz bottle of Pilaarbijter with a picture of a crazy guy biting a pole on the label, to which I'm not even going to comment. Pours into my tulip glass a murky dark brown with some red streaks. A big arid bubbly light tan head shoots up and then leaves as quickly as it came. Aromas begin with dark, sour fruits right off the bat along with a brown sugar, caramel sweetness. A bit of mustiness is there with a hint of oxidation. Big yeast tones and a touch of dark cherry. Quite a nice aroma.
First sip brings a sweet caramel covered bready maltiness with warm brown sugar and some raisins. Dark fruits weave into the brew with a hit of sourness midway through. Musty, earthy yeast with a touch of woody oak in there as well. Finishes with a nice lingering sweetness on the end. Pretty tasty brew overall.
Mouthfeel is a touch on the lighter side with explosive carbonation that rushes all over the palate with each sip. Overall drinkability is pretty good...I would mind putting back another and the abv is low enough to where that wouldn't be a problem. Bought this on a whim awhile back in Kentucky and I'm glad I did...hopefully I'll run across this one or the gold cap again sometime.
1,205 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Red cap 11.2oz bottle of Pilaarbijter with a picture of a crazy guy biting a pole on the label, to which I'm not even going to comment. Pours into my tulip glass a murky dark brown with some red streaks. A big arid bubbly light tan head shoots up and then leaves as quickly as it came. Aromas begin with dark, sour fruits right off the bat along with a brown sugar, caramel sweetness. A bit of mustiness is there with a hint of oxidation. Big yeast tones and a touch of dark cherry. Quite a nice aroma.
First sip brings a sweet caramel covered bready maltiness with warm brown sugar and some raisins. Dark fruits weave into the brew with a hit of sourness midway through. Musty, earthy yeast with a touch of woody oak in there as well. Finishes with a nice lingering sweetness on the end. Pretty tasty brew overall.
Mouthfeel is a touch on the lighter side with explosive carbonation that rushes all over the palate with each sip. Overall drinkability is pretty good...I would mind putting back another and the abv is low enough to where that wouldn't be a problem. Bought this on a whim awhile back in Kentucky and I'm glad I did...hopefully I'll run across this one or the gold cap again sometime.
1,205 characters
Pilaarbijter (Tripel Ale) Bruin (Red Cap) from De Brabandere
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
66 ratings
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