Abbey - New Belgium

APPEARANCE:(3) Almost read colored towards the more darker side. Foam is settling fast which is common for this beer style. The beer foams up to a thicker foam when rotated in the glass.

AROMA:(4) A twirl of the glass reveals a large spectrum of aromas. Figs, pears, banana, fudge.

TASTE:(4) A little bit of estery taste hits first. Then the flavors relating to the aroma but they are not as clear as expected. There is a hint of sweetness and a low but long lingering after bitterness.

EXTRA:(3) I have been raving about New Belgiums habit of posting alcohol levels on their bottles together with suggested serving temperature. Of some reason they omitted the serving temperature on the new labels that covers the 'explorer'-series. Their new labels for the 'explorer'-series is not at all as nice as the first version or the ones that covers their other beers.



New Belgiums website

Abbey is part of New Belgiums 'explorer'-series. I have read that the found thought that this beer was going to be the best selling flagship of the brewery in the beginning but it turned out to be the more main stream styled beer 'Fat tire'.

This is a very nice American version of this beer style from Belgium.


Beer style: Belgian Double (dubbel)
Hops - Williamette, Target, Liberty
Malts - Pale, Chocolate, Carapils, C-80, Munich
Serving temperature: 10-12C
Alcohol: 7.0%

Food Pairings: I think this beer would work fine together with a cheese tray where even some fruit could mix well with the beer. As session beer I think it works great even if one has to take into consideration that it is stronger than regular beers but still far from as strong as vine.

APPEARANCE: 3 x 5 = 15
AROMA: 4 x 10 = 40
TASTE: 4 x 10 = 40
EXTRA: 3 x 1 = 3

Total: 98/130