Beer of the Weekend #315: Maredsous Abbey Brune 8
Today’s brown bottle lunch (exception card!) is Maredsous Abbey Brune 8, brewed by the Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV of Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium.
As with last night’s brew, there is some confusion regarding the name. I did a Google search for “Maredsous brune.” The results presented a hodgepodge of different names: Maredsous Abbey Brune, Maredsous Brune 8, Maredsous 8 Brune… BA refers to it as “Maredsous 8 – Dubbel” and the picture on the beer’s page has a red and black label. The label design probably changed recently, but why is there so much confusion regarding the name? Ugh!
Serving type: 330 ml bottle. The “Best before” date on the back is “09 2012.”
Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color looks black, but I think it is a very deep brown. Three fingers of slightly tinted, thick head dissipated slowly to leave a billowy cap in the middle, a ring of foam around the edge, and trails along the glass; it eventually settled to a thin lacing.
Smell: Scents of yeast, caramel, toffee, fig, plum, apple, red grapes, brown sugar, spice (I am not sure what, though), and maybe a little molasses. There is a hint of booze — the aroma features the alcohol sharpness — but it is not distracting. A number of other reviewers say it smells like wine, and I agree. (It is thankfully not, though.)
Taste: Not as fruity or sweet as the smell; instead, it has a surprising roasted quality. Lots of roasted caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and molasses. The yeast is omnipresent and the mouthfeel is bready. An earthy hop bite lingers on the cheeks and tongue after each sip, and pepper spice emerges. The dark fruits, especially a red grape skin flavor, begin to sneak in as the beer continues to warm, but they are not as prominent as they are in the smell.
Drinkability: This beer is a very pleasant surprise. I like this stuff a lot. Complex, well-crafted, and very tasty — I expect nothing else from someone who has made a vow of celibacy.
Fun facts about MAB8:
-Style: BA classifies it as “Dubbel.”
-Price: $3.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends buttery cheeses (Brie, Couda, Havarti, Swiss), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), chocolate, and beef.
-Maredsous is a former abbey beer that is now brewed by Duvel, though monks still apparently oversee the brewing process.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A.
As with last night’s brew, there is some confusion regarding the name. I did a Google search for “Maredsous brune.” The results presented a hodgepodge of different names: Maredsous Abbey Brune, Maredsous Brune 8, Maredsous 8 Brune… BA refers to it as “Maredsous 8 – Dubbel” and the picture on the beer’s page has a red and black label. The label design probably changed recently, but why is there so much confusion regarding the name? Ugh!
Serving type: 330 ml bottle. The “Best before” date on the back is “09 2012.”
Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color looks black, but I think it is a very deep brown. Three fingers of slightly tinted, thick head dissipated slowly to leave a billowy cap in the middle, a ring of foam around the edge, and trails along the glass; it eventually settled to a thin lacing.
Smell: Scents of yeast, caramel, toffee, fig, plum, apple, red grapes, brown sugar, spice (I am not sure what, though), and maybe a little molasses. There is a hint of booze — the aroma features the alcohol sharpness — but it is not distracting. A number of other reviewers say it smells like wine, and I agree. (It is thankfully not, though.)
Taste: Not as fruity or sweet as the smell; instead, it has a surprising roasted quality. Lots of roasted caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and molasses. The yeast is omnipresent and the mouthfeel is bready. An earthy hop bite lingers on the cheeks and tongue after each sip, and pepper spice emerges. The dark fruits, especially a red grape skin flavor, begin to sneak in as the beer continues to warm, but they are not as prominent as they are in the smell.
Drinkability: This beer is a very pleasant surprise. I like this stuff a lot. Complex, well-crafted, and very tasty — I expect nothing else from someone who has made a vow of celibacy.
Fun facts about MAB8:
-Style: BA classifies it as “Dubbel.”
-Price: $3.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends buttery cheeses (Brie, Couda, Havarti, Swiss), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), chocolate, and beef.
-Maredsous is a former abbey beer that is now brewed by Duvel, though monks still apparently oversee the brewing process.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A.
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