Mahogany brown with some reddish highlights. Moderate head. Some retention, some lace. Color is quite rich and not at all typically dubbel-like.

There is a surprisingly, lightly sour note about the beer which, coupled with the color has a very strong resemblance to Goudenband. As a pure drinking experience that can only be a good thing, but from a purist point of view, when one was expecting something else, it is a little jarring.

My general lack of enthusiasm for Dubbels is well-cataloged, and they one of my lesser favored styles. I find them (generally) a little drab in both appearance and palate. This is not true of either feature here.

There is some dry fruit among the light alcohol, and some light bitterness in the back-end. Malty prior, the beer persists with that light, acid touch which is both a little odd and quite welcome.

In the end I really enjoyed this, and not because it’s a typical Dubbel – it isn’t. It’s got a spring in its step, a certain ‘zing’ that I wan’t expecting which certainly isn’t a hallmark of the style. For me this is a bit of a hybrid beer, with some Oud Bruin and Flanders Red elements there without ever being a sour. Interesting.