Corsendonk Abbey Brown Ale

Corsendonk Abbey Brown Ale

Corsendonk, Ltd. – Oud-Turnhout, Belgium

Beer Info: From Bottle: “A dark, robust Abbey Brown Ale brewed by master craftsmen in the classic Belgian ‘dubbel’ style. Rich and malty with notes of port, raisins and black chocolate on the palate, and a yeasty, fruity and slightly smoky bouquet. Bottle-conditioned, it will mature in bottle, becoming softer and smother.“

Once again, I come to a beer made by a brewer who’s previous style I reviewed was lackluster to say the least. This is something that always bothers me because I’m never quite sure what I’m getting into. The bottle is yet again a Pint + 9.4, which I have really enjoyed of late, primarily for its size and perfect amount. It is corked and strapped, so, as always. it’s time to express careful opening techniques lest I launch a bullet and break something. Oh joy of joys! The scent is already ripe with bitter-sweet chocolates and whispy malts! Now I ma officially excited. Let’s pour a glass.

It is dark. This really excites me as I am very partial to dark beers. Oh it is so very lovely: velvety, black-opalescent brown with tints of a nice porter. It is gorgeous. After a swirl it positively reeks of dark chocolate and malts. The head is a nice crown of light foam that dwindles to nothing more than a dense ring around the meniscus. And the taste is just something so very special. It’s smooth, soft, and very nutty just beyond it’s overtones of rich and buttery mocha. It has a follow-up flavor of dark fruit like plum or, as it says, raisins… but for some reason, I’m getting more of the prune-like body, which in and of itself is very appealing. The mouth-feel finishes with a malty hoppiness that gives way to a finale of slight bitter peperiness, but nothing at all harsh or off-putting. This is a dark beer that has just jumped to the tops of my list of dark ales. As it says, there is quite a similarity to a port style, though not so much that it has become a port itself. The likeness is apparent, but not fully acquired. Even so, fans, such as myself, of darker beers will definitely enjoy this brew. Should you choose to pair it with food, there’s nothing wrong with a nice chocolate, even a sharper cheese. Main course… why not duck? Sounds like a winner. This is awesome.

Rating: * * * * 1/2
Absolutely everything and more a dark beer lover could possibly want from an ale. Amazing.