Chimay Premiere (Red)

Chimay Premiere (Red), or "Rouge" 

7 % ABV, 19 IBU, Bieres de Chimay, Belgium. 

You know, I most certainly do love the beers of Belgium. I am very enamored of the Trappist styles, and count the Dubbel among my favorite styles of beer of all. This blog has notes on 34 Dubbels, most American interpretations, but a good lot of Belgians, including the Trappists, Westmalle, Achel, La Trappe, etc. But, not this one, nor anything from Chimay. 

Someone else noticed this and wondered why, but I can't give a good reason. I tried them all (almost, at least the ones easily found) and wrote about that experience on BeerAdvocate many years ago, but something wasn't right about what I wrote. That's why I vowed to write new reviews for this here blog, once I procured some new bottles. That went the way of all procrastination, until that someone who noticed the lack of Chimay in the Nib visited the retail store where I currently work and bought a bottle and gave it to me. Thank you, August, you are a prince among men. I really meant to get around to it, now I have incentive to do the thing I am doing now, (although, several months later) and after that, take the other two home to review, as well. 

Enough palaver, let's open that bottle...

Clear, deep auburn/ burgundy coloring, slim, brief brown head. 

In the nose: Sweet malt notes at first, caramel and toffee, cocoa, cola, slight spice. 

In the mouth: Arriving on the palate, it's a balanced affair, with caramel and toffee flavors rolling on the tongue. Major malt, minor hops, increasing flavors emerging. 

I think that my numbers on dubbels are faulty, in that I am not sorting certain beers as dubbels that I should be. I'll fix that. Looking on BeerAdvocate, this beer is #5 among all dubbels, the first four being Westveleteren 8, Unibroue's Maudite, Westmalle, and Ommegang, a ranking I'd agree with. The bottom half of the Top Ten goes: Rochefort 6, St. Bernardus Prior 8, Achel 8, Ommegang Double Barrel Dubbel, and St. Bernardus Pater 6. I've had them all. 

I'm surprised when I go through that list. Brother Thelonious is only #198? Something's fishy here!

To continue with the beer, we're getting some brown sugar, molasses, a touch of cocoa, a never ending sweetness that is adequately balanced. 

I'm going to cheat for a minute and consult Michael Jackson's Great Beers of Belgium, which is handily within arm's reach and say that he refers to it's fruity character and offers up: blackcurrant, nutmeg, vanilla? What's with the question mark, Mike, say it or don't say it! Black currant is possible, vanilla, yeah, I get it, and nutmeg? Sure, why not. Not exactly, but this is not wholly imagination, and also never an exact science. No one is really wrong, but some are more right than others. (And Mr. Jackson was probably the rightest among everyone.)

The spicy character is getting broader and wider, and the fruit unfolds. Dark malt flavors make their magic in the mouth, slowly unspooling. The alcohol isn't crazy high, but it is unraveling in a wonderful way. The sweetness gives way, and everything ends on a dry and delicious note. 

I'm enjoying this more and more as the bottle and the glass empty. More complexities arise, flavors ripen, taste emerges. Rounds off beautifully on the palate, ending on a graceful, serene note. 

This one is quite nice, though it certainly doesn't catapult into the upper echelon of my favorite dubbels. More of an acknowledgement that I was wrong to dismiss it for so many years. 

I will not share my notes of disappointment from 2004. I'll probably delete them. This beer didn't deserve my scorn. It may not be the greatest, but it's still pretty good. 

First sold in 75 cl (25.4 fl.oz.) bottles, it is noted for its copper color and as the first beer brewed by the monks of Chimay in 1862.

Topped with a creamy head, it gives off a light, fruity apricot aroma produced by the fermentation. The taste perceived in the mouth is a balance confirming the fruity nuances noticed in the fragrance. 

Its taste, which imparts a silky sensation to the tongue, is made refreshing by a light touch of bitterness. To the palate, the taster perceives a pleasant astringency which complements the flavor qualities of this beer very harmoniously.

This top-fermented Trappist beer, re fermented in the bottle, is not pasteurized.

Ommegang Double Barrel Dubbel

Ommegang Double Barrel Dubbel. "Velvety. Smooth. Majestic." Belgian-style dubbel ale brewed with spices. Aged in brandy and bourbon barrels. 

9.9% ABV. 20 IBU. Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY. 

Clouded, burgundy hued, slim, brief, magenta-toned head.

In the nose: Boom! Wow! Fruit at first, then the barrels, brandy takes hold, bourbon creeps in, cherries, vanilla, oak, caramel, and a dubbel lurks below. Mmm. Ah.

In the mouth: Grape, berries, cocoa, caramel, bittersweet. Alcohol starts in early and stays strong. Boom, boom, boom, boom! A few more sips in and the dubbel below (how I miss Ommegang Abbey Ale!) reveals itself, that special Special B malt character that I adore. Fruity, nutty, chocolatey, and all things Belgian, all at once. Bit of molasses. The very definition of Yum a Dum Dum. Rich, luxurious, delicious, complex, and ...just, damn. 

Unfortunately, this is my last bottle. I may have to leave the safety of the retail store where I currently work and look for some establishment that still has some. It's just the best. Wow meets wow. 

This luxurious brew begins with a big, beautiful Abbey Dubbel which then heads to our cellar, where it's gracefully aged for six months in a mix of bourbon and brandy casks. This blend of barrels adds an additional layer of flavor and complexity to what is already an incredibly layered drinking experience. The result is a beer worthy of slow-sipping, and deep contemplation. A beautiful fusion of dark fruit, caramel, molasses, and bourbon. Sip and enjoy, but be warned, Double Barrel Dubbel may result in a spiritual awakening. 

Sisyphus Barrel-aged Dubbel Trubbel

Sisyphus Barrel-aged Dubbel Trubbel. 8% ABV, 40 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Deeply crimson colored, utterly opaque, slim, short-lived, beige-ish head.

In the nose: all kinds of big and rich, major doses of dark fruit, plums aplenty, and more from raisins, dates, and let's not forget grapes. Wow, this one has it all, true believers. Depth and complexity all in a row.

In the mouth: Massive malt flavors, rich wine barrel additions. Long lasting flavors, full bodied. So many flavors. Take all those notes from aroma and plop them on the palate. Beautiful blend of red wine barrels and one of my favorite Belgian styles, the abbey triple. This is flat-out tasty. As heck.

I am digging this big-time. Yummy. Delicious. And intoxicating. Oh, yeah.

So, sorry. Don't go looking for this now. It was part of the 4th anniversary line-up. Not on tap now, or ever again. Or, at least, not for a long time. Who knows?


Aged 10 months in Red Wine Barrels.

Forager Johnny C's Brown

Forager Johnny C's Brown. Belgian Dubbel. 8% ABV. 18 IBU. Oak fermented Belgian style Abbey Dubbel brewed with local Minnesota buckwheat honey. Brewed and packaged by Forager Brewery, Rochester, MN.

Thoroughly brown color, slim cocoa-tinged head, looking the part.

In the nose: dark malt sweetness hits first, followed by cocoa, caramel, toffee, too. Dark fruit notes, as well, dates and plums aplenty. Medium bodied, long malty finish. Persistent flavors, here. And all the classic dubbed flavors, too, Delicious.

Deep brown with off-white head. Spiced caramel malt sweetness layered with dried dark fruits, and Belgian bread aromas. Sweet malty flavors dominate with mellow Belgian spices. This Trappist style ale is rich and smooth with a warming alcohol buzz.

Flat Earth Dubbel Agent

Flat Earth Dubbel Agent. Belgian-style abbey dubbel ale.
Saint Paul's Flat Earth Brewing Company, St. Paul, MN. 7.1% ABV.

So, there are times that I get samples from breweries that don't have the usual packaging designs. These are beers in the initial stages that haven't been pushed through production. Or, in this case, are beers that are at the taproom, or available for sale to bars, but won't be sent out to stores. Not yet. It's a better way to get a taste than taking a growler around to various accounts and giving everyone a couple of ounces. There are times that I share my notes on these, and this is one of them.

Clear, caramel-colored, slim whitish head.

In the nose: sweet, malty, dark fruit, fig and raisin, lightly spicy, delightful. Nice. I'm digging it.

In the mouth: more of the same. Dark fruits, spices, sweet-ish and malty. Has the telltale flavors of the Belgian dubbed, but lacks the depth. Medium-bodied, easy drinker for those into the style, like me.

Ultimately, I chose not to buy a keg of this because we already had a locally brewed Belgian dark ale on tap, and I didn't want to build up a collection of these beers. Them's the breaks.

By the way, I pronounce "dubbel" as "double", not, as I sometimes hear, "DOO-bell" or "Doo-Bull". I think I'm right and I'm sticking with it. The same people who say "dooB-Ull" also pronounce "triple" as "Trip-EL." Drives me nuts.

Oliphant / Brewing Projekt Hero Squad

Oliphant Brewing and The Brewing Projekt present…

Hero Squad Collaboration Team Up. A Bright Red Belgian-style Ale with Currants and Mosaic Hops. 6% ABV.
In brewing, it’s called a collaboration. In comics, it’s a team-up. Here he have them both. The Brewing Projekt, established in 2015, is a concern I've never heard of until now, located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. These cans are not available in Minnesota, unlike the crowlers from Oliphant themselves, but my friends over there slipped some cans across the border for me, those sweethearts.

Solid redness, very hazy, slim white head.

In the nose: lightly fruity and floral. Some citrus notes. Sweet and lovely. Very nice.

In the mouth: Plump and bulbous. A sweet thing in the mouth, but balanced and ending on a dry note. Medium bitterness, lush malt, very clean and a pleasure to drink. Sweet malt kept in check and provides delights.

Good beer and you can sure as heck drink it.

On the label: “The acid storm was fierce….Unrelentless. Mr. Glass was transported through the rain portal. Gem boy meditates. In his quartzite heart drums the book’s rhythms. The book of forgotten power….the book of fire. Together they are quasi-dimensional time heroes. Together they are….”

It’s strange for me to say such a thing, but maybe they’ve read one too many comic books over there at Oliphant. I’m kidding, of course. I want to see them go even further with the weird stuff.

Oliphant Toraifosu Belgian-style Dubbel Ale

Oliphant Toraifosu Dubbel Ale. 8.9% ABV.

I can't recall what Toraifosu refers to, although I did ask Matt the last time I saw him. Something. It's got to be something. But, how about the beer?

Dark brown, rich, full, flowering head of creamy-toned head.

In the nose: sweet, creamy, nutty. Caramel and toffee, with Belgian yeast, Special B malt. Vanilla, cocoa, ...just nice. Nothing but nice.

In the mouth: Smooth, sweet, caramel and toffee, cocoa and dark fruits. Delicious. Medium bodied. Long, sweet finish. Little hops. Very true to style. I didn't like this the first time I tried it at the taproom. That was then, this is now. Now, I'm digging it. Digging it big time. So much chocolate, and so much smooth. Richness aplenty. And that ineffable quotient of wow. Mmmm.....wow! Love it.

Tasty, toasty, rich and chocolatey. Mmmm...I said I loved it, right? So delicious. Just flat out yum.

Tallgrass Explorer Series Sweet Tooth

Tallgrass Sweet Tooth, Salted Caramel Belgian-style dark ale brewed with salt and brown sugar. 9.2% alc. by vol. Brewed and canned by Tallgrass Brewing, Manhattan, Kansas.

Clear, reddish hued, slim white head.

Aroma: there's the caramel malt, and there's the Belgian Special B, that sweet stuff, with the Belgian twist. Nice.

In the mouth: More big sweetness hits the lips. Not getting the salt, yet....oh, wait, sure, there it is. Very much in the vein of a dubbel, not as full and rich as a Belgian version, though. This is okay. It's alright. It drinks down real good, and the booziness please me, but it lacks a certain finesse, a little grace, shall we say. It's alright, it ain't bad, but....eh....

New Belgium Lips of Faith Wild 2 Dubbel

New Belgium Lips of Faith Wild 2 (Squared) Dubbel, Ale brewed with Schisandra. 8% Alc. by Vol. This is one I've had before, on tap, earlier this year, and another bottle I picked up at Casanova's in Hudson, WI, weeks ago. I don't know what a schisandra is, but that won't deter me none.

Appearance: Dark brown color, with ruby highlights, cocoa-tinged head, starts big and drifts down.

Aroma: Complex and arousing aromatics, a blend of fruit, spice, berries and cola and clove. Fruit gets funkier, it turns a little wilder. Dark malt holds down the scene, hardly a peep out of hops.

Taste: Medium body, leaning on the lighter side. Mellow flavor. Fruit remains strong, funky, wild factor is still there, but …hm. It's a bit uneventful. Flavor slides off in the finish, disappears without a trace. Sweetness is high, but not cloying or overbearing. This isn't a bad drink, of course, but it's not a good example of a dubbel, I can't figure out where the "wild" comes from, and the "schisandra" doesn't really contribute much.

Maybe it's too old, and it's lost it's charms, but dubbers really should do better with age, and this isn't that old. It's a nice enough beer, but uninspiring and unremarkable. I went into really wanting to like it, but…didn't happen.

Hey, how about the gobbledygook? Of course, it's running sideways on the label, making it hard to read without hurting my neck. Oy. "This wild Colorado version of the Belgian dubbel ropes you in with cove and dark fruit aroma. Deeply rich and malty, every sip has a creamy texture true to Belgian tradition before it rides off with hints of black pepper and cinnamon from the addition of schisandra berries."

The terrible puns didn't explain why it's called Wild 2. Maybe someone knows?

Ommegang Game of Thrones Valar Morghulis Dubbel Ale

Ommegang Game of Thrones Valar Morghulis Dubbel Ale. Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY. 8% ALC./VOL.

I've never seen an episode of Game of Thrones, nor read a single sentence of the novels. I did see the South Park spoof, though. So, it's a show about wieners? And dragons that are coming? And something that happens in Winter? Okay, maybe when I'm caught up with Ray Donovan I'll get to it, and I've got some Boardwalk Empire episodes to get to…then, I will, I promise to get to the wieners that everyone's talking about.

But, I don't need the wieners to enjoy the beer, so let's get to it…

Appearance: dark reddish-brown, mahogany, under a light tan head.

Aroma: bold fruitiness in the nose, dark fruits, cherries, raisins, dates & plums, with an oaky edge. Slight sourness & funkiness. Terrifically complex. Brandy-like.

Taste: Starts out sweet and fruity, with a funky twist. It's totally a plum bomb, I'd say, if I said things like that. Sweet maltiness and the Belgian yeast gives it a wine-y character. I could go for a drier dubbel than this, but that doesn't stop me from digging it. But, just a little, not a ton.

Let's read that label: "Ommegang ales are incomparable, yielding unique flavors and aromas. Inspired by deep insight in to Belgian brewing, and infused with Ommegang's creative upstate NY spirit, each ale offers perfect balance and pure drinking pleasure." There's more on the label that goes into the meaning of the name and the blah-blah-blah about the show, and I just don't care about that.

Town Hall Cranberry Abbey Ale (dubbel)

The last beer of my pre-Thanksgiving night, fourth of the Town Hall beers in a row, with a Schell's and a Summit tossed in there. Here comes Cranberry Abbey Ale, a fruited-up Belgian-style dubbel. (Alcohol is listed on BeerAdvocate as 5.8%, although the Abbey Ale is listed at 7.2%. Huh.)


Town Hall Cranberry Abbey, Abbey Ale (dubbel) with cranberries. I think. sounds right, doesn't it?

Clear, bright crimson coloring, slim head, while it lasts.

Aroma: The distinctive touch of Belgian yeast hits first, followed by the unique notes of special B malts. Dark fruits, rich malts, and, hey, here come the cranberries. And with them the sour notes. Little bit of sweet, more and more sour.

Now, to taste: Much complexity here, lots of flavors happening. Fruit stays on top and keeps an even balance. Dominates the dubbel flavors, but, otherwise, like I said, balance. Much, much, much, and terribly tasty. Mmmm, yah, I'm pretty happy with this one. Good balance, plenty of deliciousness.

Great Dane Unleashed Double Dubbel Belgian Style Ale

Great Dane Unleashed Double Dubbel Belgian Style Ale. 10.6% ALC/VOL. 22 ounce. My first bottle from Great Dane. I didn't even know they had bottles. And a dubbel, my favorite style. But, how is it?

Appearance: No head on it, to start with….dark reddish brown. S'aright, I guess, but I could use a moment of foam.

Aroma: hot, peppery, fruity, raisins and plums, Belgian-yeast, plenty of malt.

Taste: Boom! More of that found in the aroma, back on the tongue. Although, to pick at nits, it lacks in carbonation (as evidenced by the lack of head), and it lacks depth. It has heat, it has massive malt, it has flavors galore…more of the peppery notes, much more raisins and cherries, a touch of chocolate, mondo heat, mucho richness…but ….maybe I didn't mean depth, I meant…lacks character. There's nothing really …. it's just missing personality. More of a "hot mess" than a bouquet.  Delivers bountiful flavors and alcohol presence, but skimps on the soul. Yeah, needs a bit more soul.

La Trappe Dubbel

As you may know, part of this blog is covering my history. I've had a long history with La Trappe. Picked up a bottle of the dubbel yesterday, drank it down tonight, looking at my notes from March, 2003:


An old favorite, and, dagnabbit, I always stick by my first loves...
Deep cherry red color, creeping into a purple, and a great, creamy, long-lasting head. The aroma is thick, full and rich with fruit, fresh and uplifting, citrusy, soft, and vinous (meaning:grapey, grapey, grapey). Lively alcoholic notes, but,still thoroughly mellow. Texture is also delicious, and smooth, and, well, this is not too complex, actually juuuust right. Extraordinarily drinkable. This is deep, rich, full, utterly delicious, with a long and lovely finish. Small bitterness, huge, sweet, malt component. Spicy, and smooth, and, well, not dazzling, but dependably delightful.

...
here's my take on the Koningshoven bottling, from some time in '02:
Appearance: deep, dark brown, with a smallish head. Looks good for a dubbel, but I've seen better.
Aroma: just right for style, a lovely, sweet, rich, chocolatey, fruity melange of deliciousness. Toasty, tasty, hoppy, and loaded with mouth-filling maltiness.
Very smooth and drinkable. A fairly nice dubbel, probably a notch or so below the LaTrappe bottlings. But having recently sampled the higher tier of dubbels (westveletern & such), the bar has been raised for my palate. A more affordable version of a very satisfying style of ale.
Their new slogan is a tickle, too: "Taste the Silence." Sure, I'll be doing that just after I dance to the architecture!
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there we have it, two reviews in one,

Trappist Achel Bruin

Here's a trappist dubbel I haven't had in far too long. I'm posting notes from February, 2004


Light, reddish brown color, firm, proud, thick off-whitish head, lace-leaving.

Aroma: nutty, slightly sweet, minor caramel notes, small hints of spice, cocoa.

Taste: big, hoppy blast, quickly replaced by a full-ness of dark, rich malty flavors that totally dominates the palate. Rich, chewy, yeasty, sweet, just a trifle complex, even. A delicious melange of dark flavors, a well-matched blend of hops and malt. Very tasty. Medium to full in body, chocolatey finish, though brief, and overall enjoyable.
Not a bad dubbel, but not spectacular.
And tremendously overpriced in this instance, a whopping $5.69 for the bottle. Glad I tied it, but I won't be going back, when I can find dubbels just as good or better for a better price.

Make no mistake, though, a really tasty beer here!

------------

My current bottle cost about $6.50. I recant my previous caveat. There's aren't many better dubbels that are less expensive. Not if we're really honest with ourselves.

Grimbergen Dubbel

As some astute readers have ascertained, I have a fondness for the Belgian abbey dubbel style. This one, from the Brewery Alken-Maies,  is not among my favorites. A bottle fell into my possession, thanks to a distributor sales rep, but my opinion is the same as in February, 2005, when I wrote these notes:


Deep plummy brown color, with bright crimson highlights streaming through...nice, though brief and slight, layer of fizz floating above.

Aroma: plum, raisin, date, maple syrup, dark fruits, deep cherries, grapes, ...intriquing, but not exceptional....

Taste: More of those same flavors from the nose here in the flavor, dark fruits aplenty, deep and plentiful, this is a nice double, but not in the realm of the transcendent. Nutty, fruity, dark, and just a little yummy.

Full-bodied, with a long, fruity finish. A nice drinker, easy going, I'd recommend it, but not over any other dubbel...plenty of other tasty beers out there. I'd urge you to acquaint you with them, and not to worry about this one. I've tried it, time to move on to the next....

Ommegang Abbey Ale

Here we are, almost two years into the re-start of this blog as a platform for my beer reviews and I still find some of my favorites haven't found their way on here yet. Can it be so long since I've had an Ommegang Abbey? Shocked I am, about as shocked as I am when I realize that this is the first time I've tapped this one, which has been a favorite since I first tried, probably 13, or 14 years ago. Maybe more? (This is the 15th Anniversary of the brewery.) I've been drinking their beers since I've been aware of their existence, and I've been selling this by the bottle at the Blue Nile for as long as I've been able (though, for reasons I have yet to understand, it isn't a swift seller).  A major reason I've been slow to tap Ommegang Abbey is that until recently it has only been available in 1/2 barrel kegs, and it would be very boring and tedious to describe the situation that makes that a problem, so just imagine the thought turning over and over in my mind, through the years: "One day, one day I will get a keg, just not now...the time's not right..."

So, of course I've reviewed it, naturally.  I logged onto BeerAdvocate.com to find my old review, and discovered that when the reviews for Cave-Aged Ommegang were merged with the regular issue the powers that be kept those notes, and deleted the original. I looked on ratebeer.com, and there it was, from April, 2004, my notes on a bottle of what was at the time my favorite American version of my favorite style, the Belgian abbey dubbel. Notes, do your stuff:

If anyone stuck a shiv to my ribs and make me squeal out my one and only favorite beer, I'd yelp the name "Ommegang!" (Actually, it would probably sound more like "Ommegod, this guy's killing me, somebody HELP!", but that's getting off track..) Why? 1. It demonstates best my personal belief that the best beer in the world is coming out of American craftbrewers, and the greatest brewing nation, for that reason, is the good ol' U.S.A. If you have a friend who is an import beer snob, loves Belgians, but gives micros the air, let them try this blindfolded and watch 'em eat crow! 2. It tastes so good!

Color is dark amber to a rich, rustic brown. Hue of the head leans toward a dark orange, and is mighty and boisterous--I can hear it across the room! {Note: this is from when I emulated the great beer writer Fred Eckhart and attempted to listen to the beer, as well as see, smell and taste. I don't do that much anymore, but, hey, you give it a try!}

Aroma makes itself known from far off, too. It's utterly luxurious: toffee, chocolate, plums, grapes, dark fruit, leather, tobacco, flowers, sugar and spice and everything nice! A thick, musky, full aroma.

On the lips and over the tongue, it's smooth, mellow, and extremely flavorful. Warming, deliciously hopped, tingly and enticing. Goes down so nice, and makes you feel good all the way. Everything I ask for in beer, and more!


---------------

Just for fun, here are the notes from Cave-Aged Ommegang Abbey, which I received in a trade with an East Coast Beer Advocate member, from June, 2003:


I'm a great big fan of Ommegang, and now I have the Cave-Aged at hand ready for inspection..

.Appearance: same dark, muddy, burgundy brown, more reddish in direct light, and with a small, dunnish head.

Aroma: a touch more mellow than the fresher version, (which I've just consumed, by the way, for the purposes of this study, of course!) but a magnificent melange, even if it does need time to unfold. Rich, dark, fruity flavors present themselves, raisins, plum, fig, grapes, spices, chocolate. It's a deep, dank morass of fruity goodness. And now to taste...

Mouthfeel is unwordly...thick doesn't start to describe it! This beer takes over the mouth, the tongue, the apex of all senses is overcome. It commands, and must be paid tribute to! ...I'm still reeeling! I initiate another sip with trepidation...am I ready? Yes, I am...Hops are a large, fruity charge,then malt takes over, occupies, dominates, fully engorges everything in ways only pleasant! Again, I must pause, reflect, wait...now, to sip anew...thick, lush, full,...an intoxicatingly flavorful sensation! I'm in too much pleasure, to be sure! I've got 1/2 the bottle to go? Wished I'd saved it for another, more communal, convivial occasion, to make more people happy. Maybe some other time, if it's possible?

It's an incredible mix of all things dark and beery and fruity and alcoholy and...really, my question is thuswise: if I gave regular Ommegang 5 stars, can I give this one 6?

No? Why not? Oh, it's amazing! Not merely the strength and potency gives it it's formidable quality, but the everflowing flavor! Ranks among the finest brews ever brewed, alongside every trappists monk's secret concoction. Hail to thee, Ommegang!
Once again, you knocked my every sock off.

(So much thanks to purplehops for the opportunity to drink this ambrosia!)
The Cave did it's work well. This is one kick@$! beer!

Summit Unchained #10: Abbey Ale

Time for #10 in the Unchained Series from Summit, this time tackling my favorite style (if I had to choose), Belgian Abbey Dubbel, which apparently brewer Nate Siats is not intimately familiar with. Well, I've got a preview bottle, and it's cracked and poured and I'm ready to go!

Clear and dark crimson, not quite the dusky brown I'd be looking for, under a long-lasting, cream-toned head, leaving some lace.

Aroma: soft, and gently sweet, with a good huff of the Belgian yeast funk. Yeah, this is promising. Some dark fruit, raisin, plum, but just a touch, with a little banana, ..pear?...slightly nutty. I like it, but it's not what I expected. On to drink.

Taste: Very clean. Malty. Nutty. Low hops, minor bitterness, if any. Some sweetness, here comes the fruit and here comes the funk. And now, the candi sugar, as the 8% ABV roars in, overcoming the less-than-full body. I like dubbels to be heartier than this one, but I do like the flavor. I like this well enough to want more than one in a row, and I definitely want a keg to tap, soon. I like the complexity, the richness, the smooth malt and the bewitching yeast. This will not unseat any of my all-time favorite dubbels, not by a long shot, but it's going to take up some fridge space this summer, that I can guarantee you. Not bad, as well as pretty good. Good stab at the style, although I want to see improvements, Summit. I want to wonder where my socks went.



Malts: Weyermann Pilsner, Weyermann Abbey, & Weyermann Melanoidin
Hops: German Tettnang & Czech Saaz
Special Additions: Belgian Amber Candi Sugar
Target Alcohol: 8.00% vol
Target IBU’s: 33 packaged
Color: 25 Lovibond, deep amber – rich mahogany
OG: 18 degrees plato
Yeast: Belgian Trappist Ale strain
Notable flavors: Sweet malt characteristics, raisins, prunes, pears, slight spicy notes; overall slightly sweet and fruity estery characteristics

Borealis Mon Cherries

Borealis Fermentery Mon Cherries, Belgian Style Dubbel Ale Brewed with Cherries. Knife River, MN.

Dark brown coloring, slim darkish head.

Aroma: fruit covered in dark malt and chocolate. Even balance, not sweet, not sour, not too much of anything, just very on. But, it's staring to grow in richness. Increases in character as time goes on. Dates, raisins, etcetera. Very interesting.

Let's drink it already: dark malt meets funky Belgian yeast. Lots of wild crazy yeasty flavor playing with the fruit blended with dark ale. Sourness rises higher, rises above sweet malt.

I'm going to take a break, and read what they say on the label. "Mon Cherries is a Belgian style dubbel ale brewed with cherries and aged on oak. A wonderful compliment to any red meat dish, this beer can also be enjoyed with or in place of our favorite chocolate desserts.

Chill before serving, pour into your favorite glass and enjoy the decadence."

This is tasty stuff, very fulfilling. I haven't had a lot of cherry dubbels. Hell, I don't think I've ever had any. So, I really have nothing to compare it to, no other experience to gauge it by.

To judge this by itself, it's an exercise in balance, restraint, and true complexity. Funky Belgian texture, just short of tart fruit, dark malt that stays clear of too sweet. Chocolate and cherry grows larger while in the mouth. Yum. Nice. Almost perfect.

A Tale of Two Dubbels, Part Two: Boom Island Hoodoo

Here's #2 in the mini-marathon of Minnesota-brewed dubbels. 2 of 2. That's all I've got. Until Harriet makes Dark Abbey again. Anyway, here's the second Minneapolis dubbel, this one from Boom Island. It's called Hoodoo. For this occasion, I'm taking Bud Powell off of the turntable, and dropping on Dr. John. I won't quote the label yet, for it'll, once again, give away, my game. But let's share this much: "Handcrafted Belgian Style Ale. Boom Island Brewing Company. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 750 ml, Alcohol 8.5% by Vol." Boom Island Brewing Company, 2207 North Second Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55411."

Let's crack 'er open already…

Whoa, Ladies and gentlemen, we have a gusher! And I don't mean in the sense I usually employ on these pages. Merely loosening the cage from the cork sent it flying off and brew spilling out. I quickly poured into my favorite glass, and mopped up the table, and now we're ready to go.

Dark brown coloration, almost black, with a gorgeous head, creamy, tannish, large and lacy. Looks beautiful. (Beats Borealis in this category.)

Aroma: sweetish, creamy, nutty…not much else, not particularly special. (Borealis beats it here.) {After reading the notes on the label, yes, roasted malt, but that other stuff? A stretch, maybe, but it's hidden, and quiet.}

Taste: rich, dark, deep, scrumptious. Full-bodied, with dark malt flavors dominating, cocoa and hints of espresso. Overall dry. Floods the mouth with this richness, tasty, lightly hoppy, good bitterness. Good grit, excellent texture, lays long in the mouth. Edges on sweetness, and hops reel it right back in.

One thing missing is that extra special Belgian yeast quality, which is here in some quantity, but not quite where I want it.
(And here's where I compare again. Two completely different interpretations, two different takes on the style, but if I want something less sweet, and more deep and rich, Boom Island wins out. Borealis wins for those who want more "Belgian-ness", and Boom Island would be hit for those who want something closer to a stout or porter.)

Let's take a moment to hear about "The Skinny on Hoodoo." Aroma: Light roasted malt aroma. Slight banana and clove flavors present. { I didn't get that at all, maybe clove, banana? A stretch. If you look really hard, yeah, okay.} Flavor: Rich and complex malt flavors. Low hop bitterness. Banana and bubble gum type esters. {Again, I guess, but "bubble gum" I feel is over-used and often mis-applied. I'm certain not picking it up in the flavor. But then, I'm prone to merely say: that Special Belgian yeast something, without plucking out words like banana and bubblegum. Sometimes words fail. I'd rather not use them, than use the wrong ones.} Overall impression: Sit back and enjoy forming yours. {This I approve of, an "overall impression" of the beer by the brewer on the beer's label doesn't sit well. Say what it is, what went into it, how you made it, then get out.}

Now the front label: "Warning: the dark malt flavors, spicy aromas, and mysterious undercurrent of bitterness in this award-winning Belgian-style dubbel are powerful moo in the ancient HOODOO tradition. Prepare to fall under it's spell. Enjoy with a black cat bone {???} OR SERVING OF JOHN DE CONEROO."

That's why the Dr. John album, to put me in a hoodoo mood, I guess. I didn't need the assist from Mac Rebbenack, as this brew does a great job of getting me reeling with the feeling right away.

So how does the battle of the Minnesota dubbels shake out? Go for the Borealis (if you can find it, in the Duluth area) when in the mood for the fruitier, spicier, sweeter stuff, but bank on Boom Island for something meatier.

A Tale of Two Dubbels: Borealis Fermentery Speckled Ghost

Borealis Fermentery Speckled Ghost Belgian Style Abbey Ale, 750 ml, 1 pint, 9.5 fl oz. Brewed and bottled by Borealis Fermentery, P.O. Box 130, Knife River, MN, 55609.
ALC. by VOL. ???

My first taste of this was a day after hearing of the breweries existence (though they had been promoted a bit on mnbeer.com, weeks early,apparently on a day I forgot to visit the site), on tap at a coffee shop in West Duluth. Smitten with this brew, my friend and I vowed to find bottles for sale before we left the North Shore, and were successful.

Dark crimson coloring under a slim, cream-toned head, soon to disappear.

Aromatics: lovely. Sweet and spicy. Special B malts, and caramel malts, too? Some raisin, figs, toffee, vanilla, cream. A treat for the nose, a sumptuous olfactory delight.

Now, to drink the danged thing: Bam! It hits from the start, not meek or shy in the least, blasting dark fruit flavor, laced with spice. Pepper and plum aplenty. Juicy malt is the forward flavor, with spicy Belgian yeast added extra character. I have a word for this, and it is Yum.

Mighty fine consumability, also, …not too heavy, not too slight, juuust right. Hits all the right notes.

Not quite as dark, rich, and deep as I'd prefer a dubbel to be, but there's no quarreling with the taste, or the quality. Excellent stuff. There's the cherry version awaiting in the fridge, and I'll have to wait a bit for the others, I guess, (a wit and another wheat, their website says) but if they're as nice as this…keep 'em coming.

Let's look at the label gobbledygook: "At the Borealis Fermentery, our beers are craft brewed in small individual batches on Minnesota's beautiful North Shore using pure artesian water and the freshest ingredients available. Our beers are unfiltered and bottle conditioned. Please pour carefully decanting the beer into your glass while keeping the yeast on the bottom of the bottle.

Speckled ghost is an ode to the elusive trout. A Belgian style abbey ale that melds hop balance, sweetness, and a hint of maltiness.

Chill before serving, pour into your favorite glass, and enjoy this beer while dreaming of the perfect day wading in the river.

We hope you enjoy our handcrafted beer.

Enjoy responsibly, The Borealis Fermentery,
Big Lake, Big Beer."

I did enjoy it, but, damn it once again, a beer label tried to tell me what I should do while drinking it! (Shades of The Lost Abbey.) I did not think once of wading in a river, or about fish. I was re-watching this season's Mad Men, and also listening to Clifford Jordan's "Night of the Mark VII." And I'd do it again!