De Dolle Brouwers Speciaal Brouwsel 20

Speciaal Brouwsel 20

 

De Dolle Brouwers in Diksmuide, West Flanders, Belgium 🇧🇪

Flemish Red / Bruin Special Out of Production
Score
7.69
ABV: 8.0% IBU: - Ticks: 14
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9.6
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9.5

Apart from all the vintages of Stille Nacht Special Reserva, Kris Herteleer of Dolle Brouwers, in his admirable generosity, dug up a very different but equally renowned whale from his cellar: this Speciaal Brouwsel 20, a one-off made in the year 2000 for the twentieth anniversary of the brewery, one of the most important and influential ones in postmodern Belgian craft brewing history. "Speciaal Brouwsel" simply means special brew, and special it was, with the fact that I nearly got my hands on a bottle a couple of years ago but failed to acquire it, probably adding to the experience... This Flemish red ('oud bruin') style beer came from a 75 cl bottle - with the front label already partially affected by mold, which to me as a vintage beer afficionado made it all the more charming. Upon careful pouring, this legendary beer formed a tightly cobweb-lacing, medium thick, still remarkably stable (after 17 years!), egg-white head over a lightly hazy, warm and intensely copper-tinged mahogany brown robe. Absolutely stunning and hugely fascinating aroma of an old Flemish red of absolute top class: fermenting grapes, plum wine, passionfruit jam, moldy old bread, very old sweet sherry, dried orange zest, old raisins, ruby port, red cabbage, butterscotch, dry red wine and a hint of pickled gherkins. Fruity onset, estery in a well-restrained and noble manner, hinting at sweet-and-sourish passionfruit, black cherries and raspberries, sweet and caramelly in its core but dried by a mellow yet effective, noble tartness, vinous and complex. Softly carbonated, smooth and full mouthfeel, deeply built caramelly malt sweet body, 'moelleux' and opulent as it should be in any top notch 'oud bruin' with this gently drying, wine or dry sherry-like sourness throughout, debouching in that pickled gherkin-like flavour which was already apparent in the nose; sweetness remains to hold the flavours in perfect balance, with an almost vaguely pear syrup-like colour to it. A light moldy touch and the most refined of oloroso-like oxidation add an extra layer of complexity. This fully deserves its status as a legend, the few remaining bottles of which are still highly sought after; it truly befits an anniversary of such a brilliant and important brewery and has kept its composure remarkably well after seventeen years in the brewery's legendary cellar. I cannot find words to express my gratitude for this, one of the most memorable tastings I ever participated in - this and the other brews, sampled in the comfort of their own 'home', were absolutely stellar. All these young craft brewers in Scandinavia, the U.S., the U.K., Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and so on who try to master this ancient sour ale style, even if some of them got it absolutely right and have produced some highly captivating examples, should be in awe for this one. Too bad Dolle never continued this masterpiece...

Tried from Bottle on 22 Jan 2018 at 07:31


8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Bottle shared at A Day To Sink All Sea Shepards tasting. Very hazy orange brown with an off white head. Aroma of mold, caramel, oxidized notes, toffee, malt and vinous notes. Flavour is light heavy sweet. Full bodied with soft carbonation. [17-09-2016]

Tried from Bottle on 27 Sep 2016 at 05:06


7
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

750 ml bottle shared at the original Chez Moeder Lambic’s cellar. Hazy copper brown color with off white head. Malty and yeasty aroma, caramel, bread, tart citrusy fruity, herbal and floral notes, perfume, vinous, wood. Sweet and acidic taste. Light to medium oily body with soft to average carbonation.

Tried from Bottle on 21 Sep 2016 at 14:51


10

Tried on 18 Sep 2016 at 14:31


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Bottle @ RBSG Grand Tasting. Pours a murky reddish brown appearance with a light brown head. Vinegar, heavy dusty, cobweb, cherry, oaky aroma. Twangy fruity, oaky, dusty, funky, slightly acetic flavor. Downhill but fun to try.

Tried from Bottle on 21 Jun 2014 at 18:46


8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottled@PBF VIII (thanks lusikka). Amber colour, small white head. Aroma is quite dry wood, some acidic notes, and some sadly cardboardy oxidation. Flavour is tart wood, some herbs and earth.

Tried from Bottle on 23 Aug 2013 at 12:57


8.3
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

EPIC ! from bottle, 75 cl . pours amber, small white foam, smell is apple, port and sweet. taste is sweet, dusty, soft carbo, some alcohol but not much. very fruity, balanced and complex. definetly the best dolle beer yet !

Tried from Bottle on 21 Jul 2013 at 16:34


6.8
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle courtesy of Dell, thank you sir! Murky amber color, beige head. Aroma of oxidized prunes,mpeaches. Taste is fruity, but a bit hrash around the edges. Still, an amazing beer at an amazing tasting!

Tried from Bottle on 09 Apr 2013 at 05:35


7.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Bottle at Dunderölsprovning 2012. Hazy brown liquid with medium off-white/light brown head. Aroma of dust, light apples, light vinegar, toffee, port (maybe some cardboard), spices and a bit lacto. Taste is light sweet and light to medium sour with notes of some toffee, vinegar and port. Meidum bodied with medium carbonation. Balanced, but too old. Stille enjoyable though.

Tried from Bottle on 30 Dec 2012 at 09:54


7.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

bottle shared by beerlando, thanks! Pours gold with a medium white head. Aroma is sweet cherry and pineapple. Flavor is sour apple, some grassy malts, and lots of off flavors in the finish. It’s age is showing, but there is still some good stuff there.

Tried from Bottle on 15 May 2010 at 13:23