Topic Archives: Belgian Strong Dark Ales
The Commons Brewery Brotherly Love Returns
The Commons Brewery (Portland, OR) has just re-released Brotherly Love, their first bottle conditioned beer, again. Brotherly Love is Belgian strong ale, barrel aged, with cherries and cocoa nibs.
A variation of our Little Brother Belgian dark strong ale, Brotherly Love is matured in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels with red tart cherries and roasted Peruvian cocoa nibs. Take your time with this rich, decadent beer — and share it with friends.
Brotherly Love is a part of the brewery’s Beetje Series is a celebration of The Commons Brewery’s nano roots. First brewed in 2010 on a one-barrel system housed in a garage, these small-batch beers pay homage to the rustic brewery started it all.
The Commons Brewery Brotherly Love is available in 750ml bottles.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark (Barrel Aged, w/ Cherries, Cocoa Nibs)
Availability: 750 ml bottles. Limited
Return: 2/14/15
10% ABV
Avery Collaboration Not Litigation Ale Returns
Back in 2004, Avery Brewing Company and Russian River Brewing figured out they both made beer dubbed Salvation. What do you do then? Sue each other? Nope. You blend the two beers together, and call it Collaboration, not Litigation Ale. In 2006, the beer came to fruition.
Since then, Avery Brewing has released the blend when the time is right. A Belgian-style strong ale, a perfect blend of Avery’s Belgian-style golden ale, and Russian River’s Belgian-style strong dark.
Look for 22oz bottles of Collaboration, not Litigation Ale across Avery’s distribution network in January, 2015.
Style: Belgian-style Strong Dark Ale
Availability: 22oz Bottles
Distribution: CO, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, MA, MO, NC, NY, OH, OK, PA, TX, VA, WA, WI
Return: January, 2015
8.7% ABV
Dogfish Raison D’Extra Returns
It’s been seven years since Dogfish Head last brewed Raison D’ Extra. The strong ale is based on the brewery’s Raison D’Etre, a Belgian-style brown ale with brown sugar, and raisins.
Dogfish Head Raison D’Extra takes things a bit further, to nearly double the ABV.
D’Extra takes this concept to the next level. What 120 Minute IPA is to 60 Minute IPA, D’Extra is the D’Etre. We’re pushing the limits of what a Belgian yeast can do (and we’ve discovered that’s somewhere in the ballpark of 15% to 18% ABV!)
Dogfish Head Raison D’Extra will be available again in 12oz bottles. Due to ABV, there will be state limitations.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark (w/ Raisins, Brown Sugar)
Availability: 12oz Bottles.
Return: December, 2014
18% ABV
Big Boss Rare Tequila Offering For Cinco
Big Boss Brewing (Raleigh, NC) and Raleigh Times Bar have spent months acquiring tequila barrels from Olmeca Altos Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico.
The final creation is a limited edition brew called Muerto Viviente (Living Dead). The tequila aged offering will be released this Friday at Raleigh Times Bar in Raleigh, NC. Muerto Viviente is a Belgian strong dark ale that spent three months in the tequila barrels with agave nectar and pink peppercorn.
Big Boss Muerto Viviente is draft only.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale (w/ Agave Nectar, Pink Peppercorns. Barrel Aged. Tequila)
Availability: Draft Only
Arrival: May, 2014
9% ABV
If you go:
May 2, 2014, 6 pm
Raleigh Times Bar, Raleigh, North Carolina
Avery Barrel Aged Series #22
Avery Brewing’s (Boulder, CO) Barrel Aged Series rolls on with the 22nd addition, 5 Monks.
This edition is described as bigger and bolder than a quad, a sextuple of sorts. To sound less profane they went another way with the description. This bigger than life quadrupel is brewed with turbinado sugar and dark Belgian candi sugar and aged in bourbon barrels.
So yeah, it’s MUCH bigger and bolder than a quad. But the term “sextuple” seems inappropriate alongside a congregation of monks – so quintupel it is!
Avery 5 Monks will be released in 12oz bottles in June, 2014.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale (w/ Turbinado Sugar, Candi Sugar. Barrel Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 12oz Bottles
Arrival: June, 2014 (Tentative)
18.94% ABV
Troegs Scratch #131: Belgian-Style Brown
On Thursday (1/23), Troeg’s Brewing (Hershey, PA) will release Scratch #131 – Belgian-style Brown Ale.
Its flavor originates in the Abbey Ale yeast strain, which produces a distinctive fruity character akin to dried dark fruit. On your palate, traces of toffee, chocolate, caramel, and dark rum appear as well as delicate spices, roasted nuts, and lightly toasted grains. The addition of Belgian Candi sugar and cane sugar bolsters the ale’s sweetness.
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale (w/ Candi Sugar)
Availability: Draft only. One-time release.
Release: 1/23/14
8.3% ABV, 19 IBUs
Allagash Bourbon Barrel Black Bottles Update
A follow up to yesterday’s story – Allagash Brewing will soon ship Bourbon Barrel Black to its markets. The Belgian style stout spends time in bourbon barrels for an addictive treat. Previously a draft only offering. Ship dates to follow. [Allagash]
