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It’s been somewhat accidental that I’ve been on something of a Belgian Ale kick lately; I seem to have just gravitated to them after my first trip around Trappist Ales. ‘t Smisje Dubbel Sweet, which I have no idea how to pronounce, as you’ve guessed, is a Belgian Beer with an interesting, Monty Python-esque cartoony label.
I got it home and chilled it for a couple days–I’ve found that I really enjoy these heavier beers (‘t Smisje Dubbel Sweet is 9% ABV) cold at first, and warm at the end. I’m not sure that I have a clear reason for this, but it seems like a natural way to enjoy this type of beer; following its flavor and how it changes with temperature is fun, especially with more complex ales like this one.
Dubbel Sweet pours a nice reddish color. By the look of the pour, the beer seemed over-carbonated, but when actually drinking it, the carbonation added a nice, lively movement to the experience that I found to be quite enjoyable. The beer poured with a reasonable size head, which quickly dissipated but left lots of nice, sticky lacing around the glass.
It’s brewed with honey and dates, and these flavors are definitely present in Dubbel Sweet, and they go a long way to mask the flavor of the ample alcohol present in the beer. In short, the beer has a definte sweetness to it, and there are significant date/prune/raisin flavors to the beer as it sits on the tongue. There’s a long, nice finish as well, and all those fruity overtones seem to cycle through before you’re on to your next sip.
I noted before that many of these beers change with changes in temperature, and ‘t Smisje is no different. It’s not possible for me to correctly express how much I like this beer at almost-room temperature; all the intensity it had cold is absent, and Dubbel Sweet is a highly enjoyable, subtle brew when it’s warm. So, try it that way, and I’d be willing to bet that you’ll come away just as big a fan as me.
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