New Belgium Brewing Abbey
What the brewers say
“Abbey is a Belgian dubbel brewed with five different malts and a Belgian yeast strain. It’s bottle-conditioned, weighs in at 7.0% ABV, and pairs well with chocolate (or boldly served by itself) for dessert.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Now this is how a dubbel should smell: bananas, cloves, a touch of caramel, and honey sweetness. A touch of floral hops. Light woody undertones. Moderate fruit medley up front with tons of pineapple, plum, raisin, banana, and a clove or spiciness in the background.”
Flavor: “The flavor is classic dubbel. All of the aromatics (banana, clove, caramel, and a kiss of honey) are there, along with just enough background hops bitterness to provide support. Alcohol is evident but not intrusive.”
Overall: “Great beer! A world-class dubbel with an almost Bananas Foster-like feel. A creative blend of ingredients with high fruity notes and a moderate hops character. Yummy, chewy, substantial beer. This has enough character to stand up to most rich meals without overpowering.”
