La Trappe Dubbel (Koningshoeven / Dominus)
Sampled March 2007 Pours with a brilliantly clear, dark amber, purple-plum color. It is topped by an initially three-finger thick, amber-tinged, tan head. The aroma has a musty, almost woody spiciness to it; notes of clove, a touch of allspice, damp bark, cola nut, and perhaps a touch of wet cardboard. The beer is fairly sweet, yet has a subtle dusty chocolate note. Quite a bit of fruit is here as well, with predominantly a raisin / fig note that is accentuated a bit by the light malt sweetness. There is a touch of cola character here as well as a more typical clove character and a touch of ginger in the finish. Really though the dark, concentrated fruit note are the dominant flavor here. This brew never approaches sticky though, and is in fact quite light overall and fairly easy drinking. Not a bad beer, and considering that Dubbels are my least favorite Belgian-type beer, well it is even drinkable