Drinking, again! Westmalle draught Dubbel: Vespers in a glass. (review)

A series of occasional reviews of beer (and wine and spirits).
No scores; only descriptions.

I took a sip of my draught and leaned back on my bar stool, taking it all in.

It may have been the expression on my face, because the young lady sitting to my right asked me, "Do you like it?"

I explained that, after more than ninety years, Trappist monks, at their Belgian monastery-brewery, Westmalle, had finally shipped their Dubbel ale to the U.S. in kegs (although they have been exporting the bottles for several decades.)

"I'm happy you could try it," she replied.

"Thank you," I responded. "It was worth the wait...for all of us."

Specifications

• Alcohol-by-volume (abv): 7%
• International Bittering Units (IBUs): 24
• Ingredients: Water, barley malt, candi sugar, hops, yeast.
• Pronunciation: vest-MUL-uh DOO-buhl

Brownish-red color; off-white head. Anise and rum-raisin aroma; same for flavor, but with apricot and circus peanuts. Semi-sweet finish with a slug of alcohol. (Please excuse the blurry camera-phone shot. It may have been the rapture.)

On draught, at My Parents' Basement, a comic book emporium and pub in Avondale Estates, Georgia, on 13 June 2019.

Westmalle Dubbel.
Vespers in a glass.
Amen.

-----more-----

• Read about Charlie Finkel, the Seatlle wine merchant who first brought Westmalle beer to America: here.


• Prior reviews of other beers: here.
• Graphic created by Mike Licht at NotionsCapital.


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