“Rich yet restrained, Twofold is a true-to-style Belgian Dubbel that balances deep malt complexity with expressive fermentation character. Pouring a dark brown colour, it reveals layered notes of dried fruit, toasted caramel, and subtle spice.”

Glassware: Trappist chalice.

Appearance: Pours a light brown with deep crimson hues and a billowing three finger head. It peels off rather quickly but settles to a thick overlay. Moderate lace work as it subsides.

Aroma: Rich, complex, well layered. What we love about Slow Lane is no matter the difficulty level of the beer they’re brewing they always strike a good balance. The decadence to the malt is off the charts but a good line of spice, toast and yeast ester puts the rich caramel, toffee and dark fruit sweetness in check. Subtle orchard fruits, gingerbread and marzipan in support.

Flavour: All that richness, complexity, but most importantly the balance, is carried over. Starts off with a slightly tart yet sweet dark fruit quality which morphs into rich, oozing treacle and toffee. Spice, yeast esters and toasty malt are slowly laid over which then set up for a boozy and rather warming finish full of dark fruit, gingerbread and spice. Excellent duration on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Sticky, chewy, well rounded. Medium body, light fizzy-ness to the Co2. The 7.5% ABV is noted but well concealed.

Overall: Pretty darn good for an Aussie-brewed dubbel. It’s enough to make a blind monk nod his head for sure.

“A classic dark Abbey ale. Notes of toffee, caramel, dark dried fruits, nutty. Slight banana bread and light spice character. Malty sweetness yet balanced.”

Glassware: Trappist goblet.

Appearance: Burnished copper complexion with a thumb of well retained khaki head. Patchy lace clinging to the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: Heavily malt-driven (as expected) with some dark fruit tang and tartness. Interesting yeast characteristics…the brewers note a “secret Abbey ale yeast blend” which conveys some traditional notes of banana, clove/star anise and plum, but it also hints at more saison-esque Angostura bitters and lime. A robust toasty and nutty malt profile supported by hints of carob, fig, redskins and toffee.

Flavour: Far from a traditional dubbel and the jury’s still out on whether that’s intended or not. This strange tanginess is getting us also. Our guess is it’s a by-product of this secret Abbey ale yeast blend as it’s already throwing out characteristics we don’t typically see in dubbels. Dark fruit tartness, toast, nutty toffee, date loaf and even a hint of spiced pumpkin just to seal the deal on this whacky interpretation.

Mouthfeel: Bulbous, a tad watery, but it still holds a soft-ish medium body. Finely carbed. The 6% ABV is on the lighter side for the style.

Overall: Not sold on it. If they’ve brewed this to be a conventional dubbel then it has failed miserably to be brutally honest. If they’ve intended for this special yeast blend to reimagine the style, then it’s also come up short. Very meh unfortunately.

“A red copper coloured autumn beer from the “Dubbel Special Belge” style. A rich beer because of its varied flavour palate. “Dubbel” (double) because of its higher alcohol degree. A beer with a pronounced yet fine bitterness. A tasting beer.”

Glassware: Trappist goblet.

Appearance: Presents nicely – paper-wrapped with an autumnal impression. The beer pours a light brownish colour with copper red hues. A fluffy three finger crown holds its shape and decorates the glass beautifully as it subsides.

Aroma: Our last entry for this brewery (Canaster Scotch ale) was extremely quirky so we’re braced for another show. And much like canaster, this cuvee dubbel is giving off unique qualities. Some conventional notes of caramel, toffee apple and spicy yeast esters as the rather farmhouse-like accents land with subtle funk, sourdough and plum. Once it settles we get more of the hallmark carob, peppery spice, clove and subtle banana.

Flavour: We may have to eat our words a little here as it’s drinking with a traditional proficiency. Upfront it’s a malt lovers dream. Consisting of caramel, toffee, carob, dark fruits, dark bread, brown sugar and woody spice. It kinda leans into orchard fruits a little i.e apple, pear etc while also flirting with a classic Belgian yeast ester – clove, bubblegum, rye. Nice malty finish, slight dryness. Good length.

Mouthfeel: Chewy, grippy and kinda smooth. Slight champagne-esque Co2, medium body and a very well hidden 8.3% ABV.

Overall: A very humbling cuvee dubbel. To be honest the “cuvee” component still has us a bit puzzled as it’s not at all sour. What it is though, is pretty damn impressive.

“Brewed to celebrate our first appearance at Bendigo On The Hop 2023. This classic Belgian beer is slightly spicy with a wonderful rich malt flavour. Warm it up a little to really appreciate the layered malt and esters that make it an experience.” 

Glassware: Trappist chalice.

Appearance: Pours much lighter than we’d like. Hits as more of an amber ale with its deep amber and soft red tint. A short khaki head over the top, peeling off to a collar. Laced reasonably well.

Aroma: We were holding some fears after the light colour but all those fears are quelled once we cop a nose full of this aroma. A lot of Aussie breweries fail when it comes to Belgian Trappist ales but KR seems to have nailed it! Rich, deep and complex notes of toffee, gingerbread, caramel fudge, carob, toast, candi sugars, banana runts, clove, subtle bubblegum and rosewater. Brilliant!

Flavour: Doesn’t have the level of quality and finesse as the aroma but that being said, it’s still 10x better than every other Aussie-brewed dubbel we’ve tried over the past few years. It’s got a robust sweet malt base, lots of toffee and caramel, gingerbread, pumpernickel, carob, yeast esters and spice. A mild bitterness and warmth from the booze puts a nice punctuation on it all in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Slick, gelatinous and chewy. Low-ish Co2, medium bodied. The 8.1% ABV was extremely well concealed.

Overall: What better way to put KR to the ultimate test than with a Belgian dubbel? They did pretty damn well in our opinion. The only other Aussie-brewed dubbel that beats it in our distant memories is Hawkers’ Aquavit BA interpretation. That’s it.

“This Belgian Dubbel is rich, smooth and perfect for moments that ask you to slow down and savour them.”

Glassware: Trappist goblet.

Appearance: Deep amber to auburn complexion with a short off-white head that quickly collapsed. Minimal lacing as we go.

Aroma: Super rich and malty. Extremely heavy on the crystal malts but that’s somewhat expected with this style. Sticky toffee/toffee apple, caramel, bush honey, golden raisins and fig. We’re also picking a distinct floral hop profile, old manky herbs and some mildew also getting a look in. It’s not bad, the issue is that it gets a bit cloying and that’s one of our pet peeves.

Flavour: We didn’t want to come straight out and say it but we need to…we’re getting a burnt plastic/rubbery note and from our limited knowledge on faults that tells us there’s an issue with sulfur dioxide. We’re about 90% sure on it. Anywho, again it’s heavily dominated by the crystal malts, slightly bitter through the mid and a tad cloying in the finish. Sheesh.

Mouthfeel: Sticky, chewy, dries up a bit in the swallow. Flat-ish Co2, medium body and a well positioned 6.6% ABV.

Overall: Not fans of it at all. We absolutely love SR, they very rarely put out an average beer but this one is average AF. We hate to say it but it’s probably going to be sink pour material.

“Floreffe Dubbel is a brown abbey beer with a deep brown color and red shades, revealing aromas of coffee, chocolate and liquorice with a hint of anise and white fruit.”

Glassware: Trappist goblet.

Appearance: Mostly light brown/auburn with some deep ruby edges. It knocks up a thumb of beige head that holds its shape pretty well. Excellent lace work left in its wake.

Aroma: Man we love the complexity to this style. There’s just so much going on it takes ages to list it all. Massive malt profile which throws out a tonne of breads like pumpernickel, sourdough and rye. Rich notes of fruitcake, dates and even a flutter of molasses. A notable array of spices like clove, aniseed, star anise and nutmeg. Subtle cola, banana runts, toffee apple and candi sugar coming through too. Amazing.

Flavour: Exactly like the aroma with seemingly endless depth and flavour. Obviously the malt presence is centre stage but the fruits and spices also lead out as well. A soft dry bitterness lands early on in the mid , carrying the doughy breads through to the ultimately dry but spicy, fruity and yeasty finish. Really good length on show too.

Mouthfeel: Kinda lighter than expected but still soft and creamy. Nicely carbed and the 6.3% ABV slots in well.

Overall: It’s easily on the same level of quality as the Tripel. Just a high quality Belgian ale with a tonne of character.

“Our Belgian series continues. This time reaching harmonic heights brewed in the style of a Trappist Dubbel. We bring the soul of beer, AKA malt, to the forefront whilst remaining light in colour. The addition of Red Earth hops grown in Bemboka give this traditional style a local flavour.”

Glassware: Trappist chalice.

Appearance: Somewhat burnished amber with a frothy two finger crown. The head retains really well and leaves an absolute smattering of lace on the glass.

Aroma: Like a traditional Dubbel only much lighter and less intense. There’s a very healthy ester profile to it – throwing out banana runts, candi sugar, mixed spice (anise, clove, pepper) and a subtle touch of bubblegum. Delicate wafts of herbal/Noble hops hinged on the sweet biscuity and caramel malt base. Smells the goods.

Flavour: The intensity sure picks up here. Quite dry but nicely countered by the semi-rich sweet malt base. Once again the esters feature prominently with their spicy and candied banana, clove/anise, bubblegum and orchard fruits. Gentle bitterness midway paired with a very mild warmth from the booze makes a rendezvous with the estery fruits and spice in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, well rounded texture. Slightly lower than expected Co2 but it works. Medium body and the 6.7% ABV is well behaved.

Overall: Good to see Jindy Brewing back to their best here. This Dubbel really typifies their style – conventional yet with their own little twist put on it. Respectable.

“Steenbrugge Dubbel Bruin abbey beer is a brown beer with a straightforward, malty-caramel character and a fruity, lightly smoked yeast aroma combined with the subtle Bruges “gruut” blend of herbs and spices, with an emphasis on cinnamon. Topfermentation beer with secondary fermentation in the bottle. The secret of Steenbrugge abbey beer is the unique “gruut” blend of herbs and spices, which gives the beer its delicious flavour. Every town used to have its own beer, each with its own individual character. In Bruges that character was determined by a blend of herbs and spices that brewers were obliged to purchase from the city’s herbs and spices shop, known as the “Gruuthuse”. In Steenbrugge Dubbel Bruin this medieval tradition is continued.”

Glassware: Trappist goblet.

Appearance: Deep burgundy pour with a short tan head settling in on top. Excellent retention and healthy lace work on the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: Hitting those traditional Belgian Dubbel traits beautifully. Super malty, yeasty, spicy, a rich sweetness and fruitiness. We’re always in awe at how they manage to balance the intensity of the flavours so well. Deep malt-driven fruitcake, hot cross buns, candi sugar, raisin, cinnamon, clove, fermented plums, toffee, raw sugar, fig and sarsaparilla also coming through. Just to name a few!

Flavour: We must admit that after a few sips there’s no questioning its authenticity…with its deep richness and well balanced sweetness, but it seems to be lacking a little in the ester department. Not a whole lot of clove, banana or even much of the dark fruit components. Just feels like it’s lacking some depth. Still getting the dry roasty notes, nutty, toffee, doughy and sugary sweetness right through to the finish.

Mouthfeel: Slick, smooth, but a tad too thin for our liking. It just doesn’t grip the way other Belgian brewed Dubbels do. Medium body, low-ish Co2. The 6.5% ABV slots in nicely.

Overall: Didn’t mind it. We felt it lacked a little in a few certain departments. Enjoyable? Yes. Would we return to it? No.

“Belgian dubbel style ale aged in wine barrels for 25 months with Pediococcus souring bacteria and a Brettanomyces yeast strain that produces cherry, smoky and spicy flavors. Following barrel aging, we racked the beer onto fresh Queen Garnet plums. A rich malty beer with complex dark fruit notes derived from the specialty malts, yeast driven esters and the Queen Garnet plums’ signature dark purple flesh.”

Glassware: Trappist goblet.

Appearance: Somewhere between dark purple and brown with a very quickly fading head. It settles at the rim with next to no lacing as we go.

Aroma: Very impressed by the first couple of whiffs. It has traits of both a Flemish Red and Kriek which only emphasize the quality of it further. It’s interesting we’re actually getting more cherry than plum. The soft woody notes and tannic red wine from the barrels fill it out beautifully. Chocolate, dark fruits and delicate smoky undertones are a mere feather in the cap.

Flavour: One thing we forgot to mention on the aroma was the distinct bretty sourness which brings all the wonderful funky/horsey, barnyard and cheese cave goodness. They’ve blended it impeccably well with the sweet yet tart cherry, plum, oak and red wine tannins and even well enough that it carries all the way into the finish which lingers with red wine vinegar, fruit and musty funk.

Mouthfeel: Fairly smooth then sharp and acidic in the swallow. Medium body. The 8% ABV is very well concealed.

Overall: We must say there’s not a whole lot of “Belgian Dubbel” here. We get more of a lovechild between Kriek, Flanders Red and Oud Bruin. Alas, it’s a very fine offering. Big ups SL!

“A coffee nose is combined with a tone of roots, but with a strong, disciplined character. Its flavour develops gradually, reminiscent, if you will, of the ardor of the soldiers of the Battle of Waterloo. Strong and reassuring, it provides a conclusion that tends primarily towards the sweet at the finish, a symbol of a well-deserved treat at the end of a busy day.”

Glassware: Trappist Chalice.

Appearance: Deep crimson complexion with a finger of finely beaded khaki head that holds together well. A beautiful cascading lace is weaved down the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: We know we sound like a broken record but no one can brew Belgian beers like the Belgians. With Dubbels in particular, it’s the way they blend the extreme sweetness with the savoury, roasty notes that sets them apart. The most notable scents here are chewy toffee, plum jam, brown sugar and earthy tobacco with a plethora of ester-driven, toasty and cocoa-esque aromas in support.

Flavour: Not as rich as we had anticipated. It’s distinctly drier with a more sharpened focus on the yeast esters which yield classic banana runts, pear and star anise. As it progresses we get toast and cocoa with hints of dark fruit on the flank. It all converges on the finish and draws out with a complex set of flavours that keep changing and evolving.

Mouthfeel: A nice and creamy yet slightly sticky consistency. Well carbed, medium body and a very neat 8% ABV.

Overall: This is our first crack at this Belgian brewery. It’s well structured and exhibits the right amount of balance, depth and complexity. A fine offering.

“This Belgian style Dubbel has caramel and cocoa notes with subtle fruity esters. Mahogany in colour with medium malty sweetness. Perle and Mittelfruh hops give this beer a mellow but spicy aroma.”

Glassware: Trappist chalice.

Appearance: Somewhat deep rusted orange to amber with a finger of khaki head perched on top. Steady reduction and healthy lacing as we go.

Aroma: No where near as layered and intense as a Belgian-brewed Dubbel but it still offers a hearty caramel base, light chocolate and woodiness with the delicate old world hop additions of earthy spice, herbals, pine forest and wet grass. Well tempered yeast esters bring that classic banana and caramelised pear/apple scent as well. Picking up strong coriander as it settles in. Pretty good.

Flavour: One of the things we hate about non-Belgian brewed Trappist ales is the overload of sweetness. Thankfully, this interpretation doesn’t have that. It’s got a good base of earthy caramel malt and it’s nicely balanced by the spicy, herbaceous and woody/piney hops. A touch of dried cocoa and clove develops late and shifts into a mostly malt-driven finish with piney and herbal notes drawing out.

Mouthfeel: Nice and thick, chewy, gelatinous. Medium bodied, nicely carbed. The 7.6% ABV is pretty well concealed.

Overall: This is our first crack at this brewery. We’ve had our eye on them for some time now and we’re pleased to say we’re liking what we’re seeing so far. Trappist style beers aren’t easy to perfect so they’ve done quite a decent job here.

“Meet DUBBEL TRUBBEL. We’re upping the ante, with double the beer, double the fun… and double the trouble. This full-bodied baby boasts note of raisin and dried fruit. With Belgian yeast esters on the nose, Dubbel Trubbel is the most marvellous of malt brews!”

Glassware: Trappist chalice.

Appearance: Falling somewhere between mahogany and auburn with a short off-white head that slowly dissipated. It settles to a fine overlay and produces magnificent lacing as it subsides.

Aroma: We’re unashamedly critical when it comes to Trappist beers brewed outside of Belgium. Mainly because no one can brew them like the Belgians. Maaaaybe with an exception or two. Alas, we must admit this smells pretty darn good. Nicely balanced caramel/toffee aromas, delicate toasty notes, earthy, well tempered spices, phenols and banana runts. At this stage we’re very much impressed.

Flavour: What we’re really liking early on is the balance. A lot of non-Belgian Dubbels completely screw up that side of things so it’s great to see these guys are on point there. Nice and chewy yet slightly dry and bitter. The spice aspect, which is nicely integrated, adds another layer of complexity. Light caramel sweetness, toffee and gingerbread into a perfectly poised finish that draws out nicely.

Mouthfeel: Kinda light on for the style but we’d rather that than a syrupy mess. Rather chewy, medium body, perfectly carbed and the 6.6% ABV is well disguised.

Overall: Pleasantly surprised. Good can artwork and great follow through with the beer. Definitely wasn’t expecting the level of quality produced so big ups to Resin. Solid offering.

“Evocative of the season, winter ales have a tradition in the US, the UK, Belgium and elsewhere. English winter beers are normally called winter warmers, and tend to be dark, full in body, sweet and stronger than average (5.5% ABV and up). They are rarely spiced. American winter beers are usually called Christmas or holiday beers, and are almost always spiced. Belgian winter beers are often slightly stronger (by 1–2% ABV) versions of flagship beers. If they are spiced, the spicing is usually more subtle than American versions. Five Barrel Brewing have brewed a Christmas beer each year since we opened in 2015. This year’s version is a Belgian Dubbel that utilises orange zest and nutmeg in the kettle.”

Glassware: Trappist Chalice.

Appearance: It pours an attractive deep crimson red with a short khaki head. Fair retention and spotty lace left in its wake.

Aroma: We’re always slightly hesitant when Aussie breweries take on the Belgian Dubbel. From memory the last time we were impressed by an Aussie-brewed Dubbel was Hawkers’ Aquavit BA expression and that was some time ago! Smells very spicy, malty sweet, lots of toffee apple, fruit cake and apple pie. Hints of blood plum, dates, banana bread and caramelised pear as well. Not a traditional aroma but not bad by any means.

Flavour: Quite deep, layered and complex. A very short cameo of phenols up front which morph into more of a fruit cake kind of affair. Kinda tangy/kinda tart red fruits, prunes/dates, clove, nutmeg and caramelised orchard fruits across the mid-palate and then very delicate toasted malts, toffee apple and earthy hops leading into the finish. Good length on the back end too.

Mouthfeel: Dense yet slightly creamy and lifted by a vibrant Co2. Medium body and the 7.3% ABV is pretty well placed.

Overall: We’ve been see-sawing the entire time. It’s a rather well brewed beer – nicely balanced and full flavoured etc but it’s so far from a traditional Dubbel that we can’t say we’re totally sold. Not bad.

“The aroma of the brown Val-Dieu is more pronounced, with a coffee/mocha character. The mocha taste will gradually disappear to give way to a roasted malt taste that is neither too neutral nor too strong. It is very lightly spiced, reminding us that it is above all a beer to be tasted. Cellared or at room temperature, it is suitable for all circumstances.”

Glassware: Trappist Goblet.

Appearance: Classic Dubbel pour here – kinda muddy light brown with a short tan head which gradually peels off. It laced really well considering the lack of retention.

Aroma: Smells amazing. Strong candi sugars upfront with yeast-driven esters i.e banana runts, clove, dark fruits and bubblegum in support. Truck loads of caramel/toffee, mocha, cocoa powder and burnt brown sugar for added depth and complexity. Not like it really needs it though! Becomes almost cake-like once it starts to warm up. Man the progression on it is next level.

Flavour: Dead set spot on. There’s this beautiful roasted quality all the way through it which is delicious. Tasting the sweet candi sugars and fruity esters initially then the mocha, cocoa powder and toffee midway. Somewhat of a nutty accent floating around as well. Burnt brown sugar, clove, carob and blood plum finish off this absolutely delectable Dubbel. Excellent length on it too.

Mouthfeel: Quite full and creamy. Pretty chewy. It has the typically lifted Co2 and an extremely well buried 8% ABV.

Overall: The Tripel got a massive tick from us and so does this Dubbel. Perfectly balanced and full flavoured. These guys really know what they’re doing.

“Green Muse 6.3% ABV Belgian Dubbel w/ Wormwood collab. with Beerfarm (WA) – Business in the front, party in the back…this brew takes a classic Belgian style offroad (with monster-truck tyres on the Ute). The fruity esters and sweet malts greet you as expected and then this beer throws a curveball. Wormwood, often used in absinth and other aperitifs sweeps through with a bold cleansing bitterness. All up the Green Muse presents on the drier side, and rewards many sips with complex flavourful refreshment.”

Glassware: Trappist Chalice.

Appearance: Pours an attractive deep ruby red with light mahogany hues. Just a short off white head comes together but dispersed just as quickly. Nice wavy lace as we imbibe.

Aroma: We wanted to review this literally coz we were fascinated at how the wormwood would be presented. We love Dubbels as well so we guess it wasn’t the sole reason! Classic semi rich malts meet the olfactories instantly followed by the rather savoury and sage-like herbals, peppery spice, earthy notes, subtle toffee and honeysuckle. It does have a kinda green tea character to it as well. Smells good.

Flavour: It comes on with a well tempered malt sweetness but it’s very short lived as the hallmark bitterness of the wormwood kicks into gear. First the peppery and earthy herbal flavours then the abrasive bitterness takes hold. Burnt toffee and toasty malts counteract a little but not enough as it surges into an extremely bitter finish with a delicate malt sweetness on the flank.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and sticky initially then dry and a little coarse in the swallow. Medium body, mild-moderate Co2. The 6.3% ABV is nicely poised.

Overall: Our only other experience with wormwood until today was with good old Absinthe so it’s safe to say the memories are fun (and a little hazy) but the palate wouldn’t say the same. In this case the sweet malts save it from a similar fate. The positive is we can say we’ve tried it.

“Augustijn Donker is the logical addition to the existing beers Augustijn Blonde and Augustijn Grand Cru and is a true beer of 8% alc. that appeals both the occasional as the seasoned beer lover! With the grand balance between aroma, taste and after taste, the Augustijn Donker is added value in this segment and ensures that the range of Augustijn beers reflects a delicious spectrum of tastes within the rich Belgian beer culture. The beer is not distinctly sweet, as many would expect from a dark specialty beer. It tastes rather lightly smoked with a touch of nuts and caramel.”

Glassware: Trappist Goblet.

Appearance: Somewhat deep mahogany pour with a thumb of tanned foam atop. The head slowly peels off but leaves a magnificent lace as it ebbs.

Aroma: First impressions are excellent…super rich and complex. Chock-full of dark fruit sweetness and burnt brown/Candi sugars but there’s a big toasty malt profile that comes right over the top. Decadent caramel and toffee, sourdough, yeasty spice i.e clove, nutmeg etc, milk chocolate and raw mixed nuts fill it out even further. Almost getting a touch of honeycomb as well. Next level stuff.

Flavour: Holy moly it’s got everything…rich, roasty, sweet, earthy, nutty, fruity. There isn’t really one stand out flavour it’s just a huge blend of sweet Candi sugars, roasted malt, dark fruits, caramel and toffee, earthy spice, apple/pear, crusty sourdough, chocolate and subtle hints of banana. The evolution of flavour is off the charts…even after a minute or so after the last sip it’s still morphing.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and a little sticky. Well carbed as a good Dubbel should be. Medium-full body. The 8% ABV is very well concealed.

Overall: An extremely well executed Dubbel. Wouldn’t expect anything less from an OG like Van Steenberge. We honestly can’t believe we hadn’t reviewed this beer before. Sensational drop!

“This brown ale has a marked ruby brown colour with a generous and lasting head. It has a distinctive aroma reflecting the wide range of ingredients used in its production. The fruitiness resulting from its fermentation blends harmoniously with a dominant liquorice and caramel flavour. The body is decidedly malty. The bitterness is the result of a complex alchemy between the fine hops and special malts used. These give St Feuillien Brune a typical dark chocolate appearance.”

Glassware: Trappist Chalice.

Appearance: Light brown with deep ruby red hues. A bit of a gusher…we had to pour straight away to avoid spilling it everywhere! It builds a huge four finger crown which retracts and settles to a bubbling egg shaped island. Laced very well.

Aroma: You just can’t beat a traditional Belgian brewed Dubbel. The balance they hit is incredible considering the amount of syrupy sweetness it offers. Caramel, toffee and butterscotch for days with the yeast esters (banana, clove, bubblegum) backing up. Kind of a dank herbal accent too…reminds us of spearmint or coriander. A bit of aniseed which introduces a hint of cola to the party as well. Gorgeous!

Flavour: Bang on point. Uber sweet caramels and toffee with a hint of earthy spice and candi sugars. A very faint touch of chocolate and toasted malt also balancing out. Dark fruits, yeast esters, brown bread and Noble hop-like herbals all band together and go on for an eternity.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and sticky yet well carbonated. Medium-full body. The 8.5% ABV is ridiculously well buried.

Overall: We haven’t had a Dubbel of this quality for yonks! The non-Belgian examples simply don’t have the depth and balance or character. We guess that’s what 900 years of perfecting your recipe will do. Brilliant.

“A Strong Belgian Ale, deep orange in colour with a lasting creamy head, spicy hop aroma from our own Hallertau and Tettnanger hop flowers, and a complex malty finish. Brewed with almost religious fervour with extra long maturation and dry hopped.”

Glassware: Trappist Chalice.

Appearance: Hazy burnished orange with a finely beaded two finger head perched up top. Excellent retention and lacing as we indulge.

Aroma: Belgian yeast galore – banana runts, clove, white bread crusts, pear/apple, coriander/parsley and a subtle lick of bubblegum. The only downside is this faint inkling of VB which we all know is a bit risky. There’s a lovely zesty-ness happening as well. One thing we dislike about non-Trappist Dubbels is that cloying sweetness but thankfully it’s not present here. Hooray!

Flavour: So we were just going on about non-Trappist Dubbels being too sweet…well, this isn’t sweet enough! Certainly getting the yeast components – banana bread, clove, spicy herbs and pear/apple) but that indulgent caramelised sweetness is MIA. Could also explain the lack in depth of colour. It carries through nicely and finishes with a classic Belgian yeast profile.

Mouthfeel: Dense yet foamy with a slightly lifted Co2. The 8.3% ABV is reasonably well concealed.

Overall: We’re not going to nit-pick coz we know full well this is a bloody difficult style to brew. We just feel the lack of malts (or the right malts) has let it down. The top rung Dubbels i.e Westmalle and Westvleteren have that syrupy caramel sweetness oozing out of them and we feel it’s a miss here. Still, not a bad attempt.

“The story of New Belgium begins with an abbey: Not only were Belgium’s monastic beers the inspiration behind our Colorado brewery, but Abbey, a Belgian-style dubbel, was one of the first beers we released way back in 1991. Since then, it’s become our most award-winning offering. Sip Abbey, and sip New Belgium’s tradition.”

Glassware: Trappist chalice.

Appearance: Mahogany with ruby red hues. We get a full gaze through the beer when held to the light. Minimal head settling to a halo with some patchy lace as we imbibe.

Aroma: Picking up a lot of the Belgian yeasty qualities such as banana runts, clove, pear/apple and peppery phenols. Moreish wafts of milk chocolate, caramel and dark fruits also getting amongst it. Maybe just a flutter of nutty malt, coffee and bubblegum as well. Love it…very conventional.

Flavour: It comes on with a fusion of Belgian yeasty notes and caramel/toffee sweetness. Dark fruits like raisin, plums, fig etc through the middle picking up a kind of banana split-like flavour as it rolls on. A little cameo of spice, chocolate and cocoa before a yeasty finish is dressed up with hints of toasty malt and coffee.

Mouthfeel: Pretty well rounded. Rather smooth and silky with medium body. Just the right amount of co2 to give it a lift. 7% AbV nicely tucked away.

Overall: That’s a pretty damn fine interpretation of the style. Lots of Belgian yeast character, caramel and dark fruit sweetness but also a nice roasty component as well. Solid offering.

“Drawing inspiration from the Abbey brewing tradition, we use Belgian Special B malt and a funky Belgian yeast, to create notes of raisins and sarsaparilla.”

Glassware: Trappist Chalice.

Appearance: Deep reddish-brown revealing mahogany hues when held to the light. The head is loose and rocky, eventually retreating to the rim. Healthy lace clings to the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: The first thing that hits the olfactory’s are these intense caramel and toffee overtones. Butterscotch and cocoa then morphing in to more yeast-driven notes of candied banana, honey, nutmeg, caramelized pears, raisin and prunes/dates. Getting an uber rich maple and or treacle sweetness from it once it settles…borderline cloying.

Flavour: That super rich sweetness transitions to the palate. There’s a hint of bitterness but it does little to stem the wave of caramel, toffee, honey and maple sweetness that follows. Very fine hints of toasty malt, cocoa and apple pie forming late as it finishes dry, fruity and spicy. Some good length on it though.

Mouthfeel: This is where it goes down hill a bit…it’s too thin for the style. It also feels kind of saturated from the low co2 and minimal balance.

Overall: Definitely not convinced but in saying that it’s still not a bad attempt. The big difference between this and something like a Westmalle or even our very own Mad Abbot is the balance. Even though it’s not really there it still isn’t a too bad a drop.