Astringent mocha scent turns acidic on the tongue, upsetting quickly fading roasted nuttiness of cola-flowing lager. Closer to weak, indistinct brown ale. Brewery defunct: 2006.
All posts by John Fortunato
DE GROEN’S MARZEN AMBER LAGER
Toasted ‘Marzen-style’ lager celebrates Oktoberfest year round, but lacks substantial up-front grain depth. Initial smoked wood pleasantry relinquished for floral hop and dried tobacco illusions, leading to wintry nutmeg-cinnamon spicing before muted red apple ripple, ripe peach tang, and cherry-nectarine-fig medley casually wisp by. Brewery defunct: 2006.
(DE DOLLE) STILLE NACHT ALE
White wine aroma, sweet malt creaminess, and light citric tartness beautifully merged for perfect wintry treat. Snowy “Silent Night”” label gives good indication of what to expect – refreshingly well balanced holiday ale with subtle spices, zesty fruitiness, frisky fizz, and pleasant water texture.
(DE DOLLE) SPECIAL EXTRA EXPORT STOUT
Musky tan-headed mahogany-hued strong ale/Imperial Stout blend conveys syrupy dark chocolate-spiced expectancy to contrast highly hopped dark fruited souring. Dehydrated fig-banana-cherry conflux and coarse hazelnut lunge bedeck tranquil gingered cinnamon seasoning before dry port-sherry-bourbon finish picks up strong alcohol acridity.
(DE DOLLE) SPECIAAL BROUWSEL
Robust generically-named wholly-organic Abbey-styled ale gathers strength from explosively tangy green grape entry to bitter orange finish. Lingering wine-soured tartness envelops grassy wheat husk, lusty floral richness, unripe apricot tease, and rosewood-spiced herb tangent, settling into bittersweet green apple grove as foamy Brussels lace simmers. An acquired taste for open-minded ‘sour ale’ experimentalists.
(DE DOLLE) OERBIER
Inconspicuous li’l 9-ounce amber-hazed treat opens with rounded bubbles consuming slowly fading frothy head. Creamy chocolate malts, relaxing floral hops, and sweet Scotch savor given alcohol-fueled response, leading to pleasant barleywine finish.
(DE DOLLE) MAD BITCH DULLE TEVE ALE
Pour slowly billowy white-headed amber-hazed Belgian froth or risk overt foaming. Durable intangibles such as burnt sugar malts, sweet herbaceous yeast, and floral-spiced hops usurp bitterly astringent finish as attractive thickets of Brussels lace coat the glass. Strong, elegant, and complex, but latent buttery creaminess precludes subdued fruited tartness.
(DE DOLLE) BOS KEUN SPECIAL PAASBIER
Effervescent yeast sweetness lightens barleywine primacy and herbal bouquet of billowy white-headed Easter warmer. Burnt wood chips affect smoked barleymalt prominence invading clove-coriander-spiced honeyed raisin twinge. Grape-soured cider sharpness enlivens tart red wine finish. Strong, but never pungently so.
(DE DOLLE) ARA BIER
Turbid rocky-headed pale ale skewers floral hop dryness with fruited honey malt surge, almond-pecan tether, and biscuit-y breading. Musty peach-cherry-quince tartness picks up herbal coriander-clove nuance mid-palate, but creamy finish subsides hastily.
(D’ECAUSSINNES) ULTRA BRUNE ALE
Thick brown-bodied 10% alcohol potion offers lean caramel-burnt toffee frontage, earthen red grape backdrop, and olfactory-wafted cork-y dankness. Brown chocolate-prune depth secures rising port-like warmth.
(D’ECAUSSINNES) ULTRA BLOND TRIPEL
Extraordinarily complex 10% alcohol-seduced Belgian tripel integrates succulent dried fruit prevalence with mocha chocolate-y Raisinette creaminess. Merlot grape, overripe banana, and black cherry puree thicken barleywine center securing mildewed yeast benefactor. Sugary cotton candy, jellybean, and vanilla illusions seep through with relative ease.
(D’ECAUSSINNES) ULTRA AMBREE
Approachable dark strong ale furnishes soothing butterscotch resilience as white yeast particles amble through viscous brown body. Thick caramel malting enriches chocolate-vanilla resonance penetrating sugar cookie accessory, precarious raisin-prune-melon blip, and spicy clove-cardamom-nutmeg snip.
