Black Diamond Winter Ale
Black Diamond Brewing Co.
- From:
- Black Diamond Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dubbel
- ABV:
- 7.2%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.52 | pDev: 8.24%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 8
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 09, 2015
- Added:
- Dec 09, 2008
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington
3.53/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Quite a lot of carbonation on the tongue but not a lot of head. Attractive brownish ruby color in the chalice. Fairly rich with some Belgian flavors. A little sharp and lacking the long complexity of the better Dubbels. Not much hoppiness, as you'd expect for the style. More of the caramel taste but with a tart zing, and all the champagne bubbles. A little chestnut taste and finally some bitterness in the aftertaste.
A lighter version of the style, not so flavorful but thoroughly drinkable. From the 22 oz bottle bought at Beer Revolution in Oakland.
Feb 01, 2012A lighter version of the style, not so flavorful but thoroughly drinkable. From the 22 oz bottle bought at Beer Revolution in Oakland.
Reviewed by tvv375ia from Iowa
3.06/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.06/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
poured from 12oz bottle into pint glass
A-nice fire brick red with about a 2 finger head that fades to a slight ring with a little lacing
S-some roasted carmel malt and a little musty smell
T-much like the smell some carmel a little dark fruit with some wet hay hops
M-ok carbonation with medium body
O-don't know if this was an old one or not but don't think I will search this out to find out
Dec 29, 2011A-nice fire brick red with about a 2 finger head that fades to a slight ring with a little lacing
S-some roasted carmel malt and a little musty smell
T-much like the smell some carmel a little dark fruit with some wet hay hops
M-ok carbonation with medium body
O-don't know if this was an old one or not but don't think I will search this out to find out
Reviewed by chumba526 from Oregon
4/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appears dark brown with a small layer of white foam.
Smells like brown sugar, raisons and prunes and a bit like roasted malts.
Tastes of mild chocolate, subdued flavors of brown sugar, and a bit of raison fruitiness. I also get almost a mint herbal taste to the beer as well. It is well balanced it is not overly sweet like many beers of this style.
The carbonation seems to be about moderate. The subdued sweetness makes this quite drinkable for the style.
Overall a nice rendition of a style that is not one of my favorites. Worth trying a very good beer.
Jul 12, 2010Smells like brown sugar, raisons and prunes and a bit like roasted malts.
Tastes of mild chocolate, subdued flavors of brown sugar, and a bit of raison fruitiness. I also get almost a mint herbal taste to the beer as well. It is well balanced it is not overly sweet like many beers of this style.
The carbonation seems to be about moderate. The subdued sweetness makes this quite drinkable for the style.
Overall a nice rendition of a style that is not one of my favorites. Worth trying a very good beer.
Reviewed by Halcyondays from California
3.6/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. bottle,
A: Pours a clear dark red with a solid but light white head, good retention, nice looking in a goblet.
S: Prune city, dried dark fruit, some medicinal character.
T: Phenolic and estery mix immediately. Then comes in the raisin and prune fruity candi sugar flavours. Light in the finish with a note of chocolate.
M: Medium-bodied the finish is fleeting and thin for me. Semi-boozy.
D: A solid stab at the style. Does not have the great concentration and pure candi sugar flavours I like in this style, but it's surely a dubbel and a rather inexpensive one compared to everything out there. Quite liked it in the end.
Jan 08, 2010A: Pours a clear dark red with a solid but light white head, good retention, nice looking in a goblet.
S: Prune city, dried dark fruit, some medicinal character.
T: Phenolic and estery mix immediately. Then comes in the raisin and prune fruity candi sugar flavours. Light in the finish with a note of chocolate.
M: Medium-bodied the finish is fleeting and thin for me. Semi-boozy.
D: A solid stab at the style. Does not have the great concentration and pure candi sugar flavours I like in this style, but it's surely a dubbel and a rather inexpensive one compared to everything out there. Quite liked it in the end.
Reviewed by popery from California
3.3/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.3/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Boozy and over sweet. This beer was a disappointment, and I have no idea what it has to do with the holiday season. The aroma is alcohol, caramel malt and a mess of Belgian phenolic/fruit character. There are some interesting fruit notes, raisins, apricots, grapes, in there that might be appreciated, but I'm not a huge fan of dubbels. The beer is a reddish copper with little head. The flavor is sweet and boozy with some bitterness, but it doesn't really come together. Ok beer but not great for a winter seasonal or the style.
Dec 06, 2009
Reviewed by Trappissed from California
3.59/5 rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Not a very impressive appearance. No head, with some lacing. Visible carbonation, dark ruby brown color. Smell is strong of spices and malts. Dark fruits and caramel.
In the taste I am getting those same spices and some doughy bread. Dates and figs. Considerable sweetness. More candied sugar flavors as it warms. Slightly disappointing medicinal yeast aftertaste. First offering I've had from this brewery and while not great, it is certainly decent.
Dec 03, 2009In the taste I am getting those same spices and some doughy bread. Dates and figs. Considerable sweetness. More candied sugar flavors as it warms. Slightly disappointing medicinal yeast aftertaste. First offering I've had from this brewery and while not great, it is certainly decent.
Reviewed by Zorro from California
3.38/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear red colored ale with a medium sized light brown colored head that doesn't last.
Smell is sweet and spicy with a Belgian yeast aroma. Strong ginger and clove aroma with a lesser vanilla and oak aroma.
The taste starts out semi-sweet and spicy. Spice priceless the tongue, hope that isn't real ginger in this. Gets sweeter as you drink it and vanilla shows up.
Mouthfeel is Good.
An OK winter warmer but there are many better ones. Worth $7 a Six Pack but not the $10 I paid for this.
Dec 21, 2008Smell is sweet and spicy with a Belgian yeast aroma. Strong ginger and clove aroma with a lesser vanilla and oak aroma.
The taste starts out semi-sweet and spicy. Spice priceless the tongue, hope that isn't real ginger in this. Gets sweeter as you drink it and vanilla shows up.
Mouthfeel is Good.
An OK winter warmer but there are many better ones. Worth $7 a Six Pack but not the $10 I paid for this.
Reviewed by aforbes10 from Iowa
3.73/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.73/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a reddish brown, like red brick but darker. Short layer of creamy tan bubbles. Laces fairly tightly. Plummy, malty nose with obvious alcohol, though not overwhelming. Taste is a nice sweet malt and plums/prunes with black cherries and a slight ethanol punch. Flavor is rich and clean and tasty. Smooth and medium to full bodied. velvety and a bit creamy. Drinks very well. I hadn't heard of this brewery until now but i may search for some more of its brews.
Dec 09, 2008
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