Spring is in the air! Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and beer is flowing. This week’s beer hails from Anderson Valley Brewing Co. whose homebase is nestled in California’s Central Valley. While this region of the state is most famous for its wineries, its wonderful breweries are gaining notoriety and Anderson Valley is right at the top of that list. As the names suggests, Brother David’s Double Abbey Ale falls under the style of Belgian Dubbel; a beer characterized by rich sweet malty smells and aromas, medium to low bitterness, and mind numbing alcohol content.
Appearance
This beer pours a very appealing medium to dark brown. A creamy tan head forms and stands two fingers above the liquid. A nice lacing is left on the inside of the glass.
Smell
Sweet smelling malt, molasses, and brown sugar rise from the glass and are followed by a cornucopia of fruit aromas. Dried apricot, fig, and a hint of ripe orange hit the nose and wet the palate. Notes of alcohol and just a dash of pine can be detected in the background.
Taste
Big malt flavors, spurred on by the use of demerara sugar in brewing, dominate the first sip and the drinker is reminded of maple syrup. Fruit flavors, characteristic of the Belgian yeast used, also announce their presence with apricot and raisin notes. As the fuitiness abates, the beer finishes with a slight bitterness from the 27 IBUs, a hint of spiciness, and a kick of alcohol from the 9% ABV.
Mouthfeel
This medium bodied beer is silky smooth in the mouth. Carbonation levels are spot on.
Drinkability
This beer is super smooth and very drinkable. It is well balanced between the the malty sweetness and the one-two punch of alcohol and hop bitterness. A pint is refreshing and quite enjoyable which leaves the drinker wanting more. A second or third pint is equally enjoyable but may leave the drinker wanting the room to stop spinning. Overall grade for Brother David’s Double Abbey Style Ale: B+
Brother David’s Double Abbey Style Ale
Up next on Tuesday Tastings: Telegraph Brewing’s White Ale