BROWN PLUS ~ BLACK BELLOWS

7% from Collingwood, Ontario 

23 IBU

Brown Plus is a Belgian Dubbel that has been soured and aged in a Collingwood Whiskey barrel. The beer pours a hazy light brown colour. Fruit, malts, sweetness and tart sourness are found on the nose. The taste features notes of tart dark cherries and other fruits, a touch of oak, a little coffee and a moderate malt backbone. The melange of flavours almost give it a sweet and sour quality. The barrel ageing enhances the flavour and lends a little complexity. The finish is clean and the body is moderate-light. The lightness makes this easy drinking, despite the warming alcohol. Worth a try.

PASS THE DUBBEL ~ STACK

8% from Sudbury, Ontario
This dubbed was to be had on draught at the Stack Tap take over. The brew was the winner of the 2017 Northern Ontario Microbrew Contest. The beer poured a hazy brown colour with a small off white head., which left some lacing as it receded. The nose was typical of a double with some bread malts, caramel , sweet Belgian yeasts, subtle fruit and an earthiness. The taste follows, again with bread malts, caramel, plums and fruit and candi sugar. The finish had low bitterness and a slight sweetness. Overall a nicely done example of the style.

MONS ABBEY DUBBEL ~ BELGH BRASSE

This was my first experience from Quebec brewery Belgh Brasse, and what a revelation it was. An excellent dubbed! The beer is made with natural Abitibi Esker water in a Belgian style. A blend of Pilsen, Munich and Carafa malts are used along with Styrian Gold hops for bitterness and Hallertau Hersbrücker hops for aroma. The brew is finished with spice and bitter orange peel. Sampled on draught in a tulip glass, the beer poured a slightly opaque deep reddish brown with a foamy light brown head. The head left some lacing as it receded quickly into a thin cap. The aroma had a lovely complexity with a real melange of smells including molasses, liquorice, dark fruit, floral hops, peppery spice, citrus and Belgian yeast. The tastes echoes the nose, with a lovely sweet complex mixture of molasses, dark fruit, spice, citrus, spicy Belgian yeast, anise, caramel and leafy herbal hops. The body is medium full, the carbonation moderate to lively and mouthfeel was slightly sticky with a boozy warmth. This was a fabulous surprise and a delicious beer. What a treat! I look forward to more from this brewery.

8% from Amos, Quebec

BODY DUBBEL (TANK TEN) ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

Sampled on draught, this Belgian Dubbel Ale poured a hazy orangey copper mahogany colour with a persistent off white head, that left great lacing. The nose contained dark fruits, plums, raisin, Belgian yeast, and brown sugar. The beer is sweet up front with notes of dark fruits (plus, figs, raisins), and spicy grains, molasses and caramel, followed by peppery phenolic yeast. The bitterness of the grassy hops if soft, the carbonation is moderate and the body is in the medium range. There is a nice dialogue between the sweetness and the malts, but the beer lacks complexity. At times it seems a little thin for a dubbel. Quite enjoyable and good, but not outstanding.

6.3% from Etobicoke Toronto, Ontario IBU 18

MAUDITE ~ UNIBROUE

Brewed since 1992, Maudite (Cursed, in English) is Strong Red ale, sometimes categorized as a Belgian dubbel. Sampled on draught, the beer poured an ever so slightly cloudy deep amber colour with red highlights. The beige head had fantastic retention before leaving rings of lacing. The nose like the taste had lots of complexity. Toasty Malts, orange peel, floral hops, honey, dark fruits and coriander and cloves, all swirl around in the nose. The taste has notes honey sweetness, caramel and bready malts, nuttiness, dark fruit, yeasts and spice. Crisp hop bitterness finishes the beer, along with warming alcohol. The body was medium heavy and syrupy, this was counterbalanced with lively fine carbonation. This is a complex ale, packed with a plethora of flavour. Very drinkable!
8% from Chambly, Quebec IBU 22

CHIMAY ROUGE ~ BIÈRES DE CHIMAY (ABBAUE NOTRE DAME DE SCOURMONT)

Chimay Red (aka Rouge, Première) is an unpasteurized Belgian dubbel that had been fermented and then refermented in the bottle. Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a cloudy red-brown with a large pillowy ivory head. Once it had died down it left some spidery lacing along the glass. The nose is comprised of malts, caramel, hints of chocolate, fruitcake, and spicy Belgian Yeast. Taste has the same flavour profile with dark fruit, caramel, molasses, a nuttiness and hints of chocolate at the end. The sweetness gives way to light hop bitterness at the finish. The beer is medium bodied with a pleasant creamy and smooth feel. The carbonation is refreshing but not aggressive. A delicious treat, thanks to the Monks.
7% from Chimay, Belgium

COUSIN ABBEY’S DUBBEL ~ OAST HOUSE

Cousin Abbey’s Dubbel is a very drinkable offering from Niagara’s Oast House brewery. Sampled on draught, it poured a clear very dark amber, with an off white head that quickly disappeared. The aroma contained lots of sweet malts, caramel, toffee, with notes of spice and fruit, and a whiff of booze. The taste was similar. The beer was sweet with lots of Demerara sugar and molasses. Sweet malts, plums and other over ripe fruits, spicy and estery Belgian Yeast, and vanilla all contribute to the flavour. The beer also tastes like it may have been stored in rum barrels, which have left an earthy and boozy taste. I find it medium to full-bodied, with moderate to low carbonation. Very warming on a winter’s night.

6.9% from Niagara on the Lake, Ontario IBU 18