Dubbel Your Pleasure: Sterkens DubbelNov 13 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line It's from Belgium. 'Nuff said!
I’ve never been to Belgium, at least not yet. When I go, I’m sure I’ll spend a lot of time admiring the scenic countryside and marveling at the history and culture of this tiny little country nestled into the heartland of Western Europe. Of course, I’ll also spend a lot of time drinking beer. Some might find the idea of traveling thousands of miles just to drink beer a bit daft, but I assure you its not, no more so than traveling to France to drink rare and exotic wines. That’s because as France is to wine, Belgium is to beer. When it comes to European beer, the Germans often get more credit than the Belgians do, but beer is every bit as much an essential part of life in Belgium as it is in Germany. In many ways, the beers of each country tend to reflect the cultures of their respective lands. The orderly, efficient Germans have set a strict set of rules their beers must be brewed by. In Belgium, anything goes. That laissez-faire attitude has produced a stunning array of wonderful Belgian brews. The other day, I picked up a six-pack of one of them at an Atlanta liquor store. It was Sterkens Dubbel Ale, a rich and warming dark malty ale brewed after the trappist style so popular in Belgium and much sought-after by discriminating beer drinkers the world over. Typically, Dubbels will be slightly sweet, dark brews with a pronounced malt character and pronounced yeasty notes. They generally contain around 6% to 7% alcohol by volume. Sterkens Dubbel is imported by All Saints Brands of Minneapolis, Minnesota. All Saints imports a considerable line of Belgian beers and distributes them widely in the United States. They are generally expensive but also generally well worth the price charged. I paid $8.99 for six 12-ounce bottles of Sterkens Dubbel. Browerij Sterkens (Sterkens Brewery) is located in Meer, Belgium, near the capital of Antwerp. This is not far from the border with the Netherlands, and the cultural line between the two countries is tenuous at best in this region. Sterkens is popular on both sides of the border, and brews a full line of classic ales for its thirsty customers. Luckily, some of it is exported to the Unites States as well. Sterkens Dubbel pours to a deep chestnut color with a thick foamy head and a light nutty nose. The palate is a tad chocolaty and a little toasty with emerging notes of toasted nuts and rich sweet malt. A light yeasty character is here too, but it is overpowered by the malt. The finish is slightly sweet to almost balanced with little hop bitterness. I like this as a sipping beer at bedtime, perhaps while reading a book or with the lights turned low and Beethoven playing on the stereo. EPINIONS CRITERIA: Overall Rating: Four Stars Beer Rating: Better Than Most Weight: Medium Body Flavor: Slightly sweet Complexity: Complex Price: $8.99 per six-pack  |
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