Pizza Port Dubbel Overhead Abbey Ale

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

The body is a hazy amber with a fast-fading head. The aroma has a slightly lambic-like sourness that is just enough to intrigue. A bit of tropical fruit like pineapple joins in. The malt is very dry and the flavor is a bit thin.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

750mL Bottle, hand numbered #27.

Took a little drive today after work -- both to do some Christmas shopping at the best music store in San Diego county (Lou's in Encinitas), and to make a run to the Pizza Port in Solana Beach, to stock up on my fair share of their bottled offerings. And although I made the trip with only bottles of the Cuvee de Tomme in mind, I certianly wasn't going to turn my nose up at this one...!

A Belgian Dubbel from sunny San Diego, eh? It's that sort out-of-the-box thinking that I like -- and I knew I had to make sure that I had appropriately askew/thinking-outside-the-box music to match (to wit: Tierra Santa's "Tierras De Leyenda"..., Power Metal from Spain, with Spainish vocals to boot). So, with my bottle opener in one hand, and my veteren tried-and-true Chimay glass in the other..., and Maidenish EuroMetal ala Espanol in the background, I was all set to give this a go.

A touch lighter than what I expect from a Dubbel -- more of a ruddy honey-ish Brown than the dark-and-often-murky offerings that one would expect to see from the Benelux. Constant even layer of foam, though not a whole in the way of lacing with this one. At least this has some carbonation -- not always a given with the limited-run Pizza Port 750mLs, to be honest.

A touch muted in the aroma, me'thinks. Perhaps only the vaguest of vague hints of some figgy fruityness in the nose, but really now, seems to fall short of what I'd prefer.

But I'm happy to say that I was far less dissapointed with the flavor and mouthfeel. The aforementioned figgy-ness, with perhaps some dried plums and apricots in the mix too. A little drying in the mouthfeel, which may turn off some folks who prefer full-on big wet sloppy kisses on/in the mouth, but for me, I think it works pretty well here.

Overall, I have to give this a thumbs up. Perfect? No. But I think the very fact that this is a less-than-perfect effort only gives it more depth and interest in the long run -- i.e. this would probably age nicely into something truly world-class. But even "as-is", I think it's a very nice drop of beer, indeed...!

Recommended.
//TB

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

On tap at P Port Solana Beach. Medium brown color, Small head, Aroma is fruity, bready and sweet. Medium bodied abby ale. Malts are fruity and sweet, banana and clove and a whole lot of other stuff as well. Candy sugars are very evident as are the yeasts. A very complex beer, there are a lot of flavors and stuff going on here. Light carbonation. Nicely balanced. Another winner from Pizza Port. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is sweet.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

This was more in the mold of an APA than a belgian ale to me but I enjoyed it nonetheless. A dark orange appearance. The flavor was quite sour with some lemons and orange. A yeasty funky taste to it. Pretty good stuff.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 8

from previous notes bottle #120 There was a chocolate milk colored residue at the opening of the bottle. brown orange color, tangy flavor, nice fruity aroma. The first glass finished tart; however, subsequent glasses & after cleaning the residue, produced a nice, rich flavor

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

#127 ... Poured a copper color with a small off white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of dried fruits, some pears and plums, light roast, and yeast. Taste of tart cherries, apples, limes, light caramel malt, with some alcohol and yeast as well.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Darkish amber color with a bubbly, lively head. Aroma is cherries & grapes with a very pleasant yeastiness. Taste is a great balance of sweet and tart, yeasty and spicy. Not much malt but that’s fine with me. An excellent dubbel.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

This belgian pours with a deep mohagany body topped by a medium thick head with good lacing. The aroma is sweet, fruity (banana) and malty with a slight spiciness and a very noticable yeastiness. The flavor is sweet yet slightly bitter with a slight banana note, some spice and yeast. Full bodied, smooth yet tingly on the tongue.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Brown color with absolutely no head, no lacing, no halo or anything..quite ugly in fact...Slight grape & chocolate in the nose with a stinging alcoholic bite...Chocolate covered grapes, alcoholic tanginess and bitter endings..Lots of grape soda yeast tinglers, grape skins, chocolatey after it warms with crunchy grapeseeds..