by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
The name is quite a lengthy one. Fortunately the beer is worthy of the verbose introduction! Beers named ‘Grand Cru’ are usually held out as the top end of the breweries range.
This is an all malt beer, made up of 7 different malts, and 3 different hops (one each from Belgium, Germany, Czech). It is a lovely ruby red colour, with a sweet malt aroma.
The flavour is a rich mix of sweet and bitter. Over-ripe dark fruits, a characterful spicy yeast, hints of wood smoke and caramel sweetness (though no candi sugar is used). The beer dries out nicely as it evolves, leaving a pleasant lingering bitterness and depth of aftertaste.
About Abbaye de Rocs: the brewery is located in a small village and began production in 1979 brewing 50 litres every two weeks. Of course things have increased since then, with the brewing currently producing around 1000 hectolitres (100,000 litres) annually.
by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
A strong dark ale full of dark fruits, caramel malts and a gentle hop and yeast spiciness
by Brouwerij der Trappistenabdij de Achelse Kluis
A classic strong dark ale from one of Belgium's renowned Trappist Monastery breweries.
A strong dark winter beer which uses old whiskey barrels to impart an added dimension and depth of flavour
An intriguing dark ale, brewed with spices (ginger, coriander & cardamom)
A Belgian strong dark ale brewed with star anise and orange peel
The most well-known of the Golden Carolus beers is the 'Classic' - a beautifully balanced Belgian strong dark ale of 8.5% ABV
A flavoursome strong dark ale, at the top of the abbey beer hierarchy
by Brouwerij Hoegaarden (AB-InBev)
The 'Forbidden Fruit' is a delicious balance of ripe fruits, sweet malts, earthy hops and gentle spicing
A tasty beer somewhere between a Belgian Dubbel style and a Belgian Strong Dark Ale
by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)
The winter seasonal offering from the Chouffe brewery
The best features of a traditional strong ale, and the added earthiness of noble hops used in abundance
A solid malty backbone balanced by a good level of hop bitterness
The middle beer in the Rochefort range - a classic Trappist strong dark ale
The famous Old Fisherman's Ale from Struise is a spiced strong dark ale
Struise's spiced strong dark ale Pannepot, matured in Bordeaux barriques for a full 4 years
A strong dark Belgian ale created from 6 different malts, slightly spiced and with a little honey
by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
A strong dark ale full of dark fruits, caramel malts and a gentle hop and yeast spiciness
by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
A tasty Belgian style blond ale from the always reliable Abbaye des Rocs
by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
A dark tripel, full of fruit and malt sweetness, and enough hop bitterness to match
by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
An intriguingly moreish Double Witbier from Abbaye des Rocs
