Na Zdravi !: Abbey Belgian-Style Dubbel

Friday, March 23, 2018

Abbey Belgian-Style Dubbel

"This garnet brown hued Belgian-style Dubbel is strong on character and rich in flavor. Seven malts, including caramel Munich and chocolate, and a definitive Belgian yeast, waft off sweet, spicy aromas. Rich tones of chocolate and dark caramel mix with nuanced dried cherries, burnt sugar and figs. Sweet and roasty upfront, followed by a slightly bitter finish, Abbey is a lovely representation of the monastic beers of Belgium. Sip Abbey, and sip New Belgium’s tradition."

Beautiful dark pour. Chocolate, bready, spicey and a subtle sweetness. Very complex and very delicious. Possibly my favorite from New Belguim.

ABV 7%, IBU 20

Hops: Willamette, Nugget, Liberty

Malt: Pale, Chocolate, Caramel Munich, Special W, Black Barley, Oats

Yeast: Belgian

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.