Beer # 132 – May 14, 2010: Westmalle Dubbel
Beer: Westmalle Dubbel
Brewery: Westmalle Brewery, Malle, Belgium
Style: Trappist Dubbel
Serving Type: 11.2 oz bottle – best before end of 07/14/11
Price: $4.99 / bottle
Availability: Year-round
Glassware: Goblet
Strength: 7.0% ABV (alcohol by volume)
Drinkability: Dry and light bodied for a dubbel, reminiscent of champagne
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Nearly opaque, hazy, chestnut hue with a thin, frothy, cream-colored head
Aroma: Slightly musty, like the cellar of a winery, with notes of raisin
Mouthfeel: Medium body with a fizzy, slightly creamy mouthfeel
Taste: Slightly tangy, slightly tart, with a light green grape sweetness, hints of clover, notes of earthy and sweet cocoa-laden Bosco syrup, all with a drying finish. Deceptively light and dry for a dark beer, but those darker malts do come through eventually.
Pairing: I best some Westmalle cheese would pair nicely… if you are lucky enough to find it (see “Trivia”)!
Trivia: Westmalle is one of only seven Trappist breweries in the world. In addition to brewing, the monks of the Westmalle abbey also make Trappist cheese on a very small scale, sold directly at the gates of the abbey.
