Westmalle Dubbel
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
It’s been about four months since I reviewed my last Westmalle and that was the Tripel. This time round it’s the Dubbel which weighs in at a lighter 7% alcohol per 330ml volume.
Westmalle Dubbel is available year round at selected bottle shops and is slightly cheaper than the Tripel at around $7 a bottle but be wary when purchasing to check the best before date as a lot of these bottles seem to have sat around for a while. I need to make mention that the bottle I purchased & later reviewed here had a best before date of 24th February 2011 which was unknown to myself and is something I am in the process of chasing up with the supplier. Fortunately for me though this brew undergoes a secondary fermentation process inside the bottle and like most other Belgium beer does appear to get better with age. It is also available in 750ml bottles though I have yet to see one and they say it gives the beer ‘a more subtle aftertaste’ not that I found anything wrong with this at all.
It pours a massive flowing cream coloured head with tightly packed bubbles that slowly subsides to leave a lovely consistent coverage of lacing. The beer is a dark, rich-brown in appearance and allows no light to seep through. It is perfectly carbonated. The aroma is woody and almost oak-cask like and has wafts of dark fruit like that of a plum. The taste is filling and warming. It’s full of biscuit and toffee malts along with the dark fruit notes which are well blended together. A very pleasant beer to drink and one that I would like to try more of – though perhaps next time a bottle that hasn’t past its best before date.
Personally I found this brew more enjoyable & drinkable to its stronger relative the Tripel, probably due to the fact it was exceptionally smooth on all the senses. I highly recommend giving this Belgium a go, you won’t be disappointed – even if your bottled has passed its best before date!
Rating (out of five):
Quick Facts: 7.0% alcohol – 330ml brown bottle – Pop top
Category : Beer Reviews, Dubbel