Adriaen Brouwer Dark Gold

Brewed By: Brouwerij Roman in Oudenaarde, Belgium
Purchased: 1 pint 9.4oz bomber bought at Binny's in IL; 2011
Style/ABV: Belgian Dark Strong Ale, 8.5%

Captain Hook? No...Adriaen Brouwer.

Here's a funny story. I was looking for a Trappist glass a few months ago, so I was shopping around. I found that branded Trappist glasses are not sold in common stores, but they are occassionally sold in liquor stores like Binny's. While shopping at Binny's one day, I found an Adriaen Brouwer glass for 2 bucks. I figured this was not a bad looking glass, so I picked it up. I was hoping I would find the beer that goes with the glass; but I was unable to located the beer in the store. Fast forward to a couple months later. I was at Binny's again, and I stumbled upon an Adriaen Brouwer bomber. For a bomber, the stuff is not cheap...but I felt like I had an obligation to try the beer since I've been using the glass. And that's why I'm drinking this beer today.

According to Wikipedia, Adriaen Brouwer was a Felmish painter. Seriously though, Brouwer's parents are pretentious jerks. "Adriaen Brouwer" is a pretentious name and has too many extra vowels jammed into it. Why couldn't we go with "Adrian Brower" or "Adrien Brouer." Now every time I spell this mother fucker's name I have to run through the whole damn alphabet.

Adriaen Brouwer was a fan of drinking, and spent most of his time at the alehouses of Flanders and Holland. His artwork displays themes of debauchery, drunkenness, and folishness; he used these themes to explore human emotions, fear and the senses, and expressions and responses to pain. His work was popular, but Brouwer was in financial trouble most of his life. He died at age 32 in Antwerp. Despite having such a frustrating name to spell out, Brouwer seemed like a tragic figure who liked to go to the pub and paint stuff. So it seems approrpriate to name a beer after him.

The Adriaen Brouwer beer is brewed by Brouwerij Roman (Brewery Roman). The Roman Brewery is one of Belgian's oldest breweries, and is family owned. According to the history page on the Brouwerij Roman website, the brewery was founded back in 1545. The brewery is located in Mater, east of the city Oudenaarde. The brewery has a long history of brewing: before World War II the brewery began brewing Roman Oudenaards, which would eventually become the Adriaen Brouwer beer in 2003. Five years after the Adriaen Brouwer became a popular and well-selling beer, the brewery launched the beer I will be reviewing tonight, the Adriaen Brouwer Dark Gold.

The Adriaen Brouwer Dark Gold has won a number of awards, and is described on the website as being a brown, slow-drinking beer, with a sweet aftertaste and caramel notes. The beer has a touch of hops, and burned and roasted malts. I'm excited to review this beer, as this is probably my first taste of a "lesser known" Belgian beer. Maybe Petrus counted...I don't know. Anyway, onwards with the review.

Adriaen Brouwer Dark Gold

This is lovely looking beer. Upon popping the bottle I was greeted with quite a bit of smoke; this fairly typical of the big 750mL bombers, but I still enjoy the smoke when I get it. The beer poured with a finger of off-white, tan/purple head. The head is made up of finely packed, effervescent bubbles - very typical of the Dark Strong Ale style - and the head has dissolved into a sexy cualdron effect. This beer looks purple or dark brown under low light. Under bright light, this beer has a dark golden color, almost like a golden raisin color. There is good lacing and good carbonation. Overall, the beer's appearance lives up to its "Dark Gold" reputation.

There are big sweet malts, lively yeasts, and dark sweet fruits on the nose of this beer. There's definitely some raisins, grapes, and maybe plums. I'm picking up a light grain note, and some Pale or Pils malts. There's a vinous, grape-wine note; some perfume phenols; and definitely a hint of peppery spice. 

The taste on this is really intriguing, complex, and interesting. I'm taste huge dark bready notes; we are talking about dark rye bread or bread with a darkened crust. There are dark fruits like grapes, figs, and plums; but there is also a touch of sweet fruit on the back end including pears or apples. I taste sweet honey, sweet caramel, cherries, raisins, and some earthiness from either the yeast or hops. 

This is stupid-drinkable for 8.5% ABV, and has a very full and well-carbonated body which supports the large flavors created by the malts and yeasts. You get carbonation on the front; followed by grainy malts and alcohol. The middle of the palate is an explosion of dark fruits and trailing hops. The back end is honey, overripe dark fruits, lingering alcohol, alcohol warmness, and a drying finish that beckons another sip. This is big, has moderate to high complexity, and tastes delicious. 

Rating: Above-Average

Score: 88%

This is an impressionable beer from a less-than-known brewery out of Belgium. This has big bold flavors, and I'm really digging the dark bready notes I'm pulling off the malts. This is complex and has a nice complexity as it moves from front to back. I'm picking up spice phenols in the taste, hints of hops, and wonderful malt complexion. This beer would make a great companion with a heavy meat or some cheese, and is an excellent take on the Strong Ale style of beer.