Excellence du Val-Dieu

[Viv]

EXCELLENCE DU VAL-DIEU         

Val-Dieu Grand Cru aged on wine barrels, from Abbaye du Val-Dieu, with an ABV of 12.0%. New brew for me. An annual one-off with only 1,000 bottles brewed ( I managed to buy 3 of them )

Pours a golden amber with a creamy frothy head. Some lacing.

Aroma of spices, malts, hops, herbals, florals and citrus fruit.

It's full bodied, and perfectly carbonated with a slight fizzy mouthfeel. It's certainly complex, layered, balanced and has excellent depth of flavour. Smooth, creamy and luxurious there's hops, malts, florals, herbals, caramel, honey, spices, vanilla, oak/wood, peach, apricot, citrus fruits, grains, pear, apple, wine, liqueur especially Cointreau, and even a bit of vinous quality. Sweet and syrupy but in a good way and with a more long and dry bitter finish. Slight alcohol warming as it warms up. Every sip brings new rewards in the complexity! What a brew! Outstanding! 

Cheers!



Viv

[Trappist]

It's full bodied, and perfectly carbonated with a slight fizzy mouthfeel. It's certainly complex, layered, balanced and has excellent depth of flavour. Smooth, creamy and luxurious there's hops, malts, florals, herbals, caramel, honey, spices, vanilla, oak/wood, peach, apricot, citrus fruits, grains, pear, apple, wine, liqueur especially Cointreau, and even a bit of vinous quality. Sweet and syrupy but in a good way and with a more long and dry bitter finish. Slight alcohol warming as it warms up. Every sip brings new rewards in the complexity! What a brew! Outstanding! 

Wow Viv,
I'm STUNNED!           
What a beauty!!! And what an amazing taste description, that simply makes you hunger for that beer.
Val-Dieu aready makes such a great beers. They are amongst the ever best that's being produced here in Belgium.
But reading and watching your message is a true confirmation of it's "excellency".
It's good you still have two bottles left 
Cheers,
Filip

[Viv]

Hi Filip,

Yes, an outstanding brew from an outstanding brewery!

I'm so glad that I still have another 2 bottles to taste, and
I'm already looking forward to tasting those!

Just 11 Belgian beers in stock yet to try now...........

Cheers!


Viv 

[Trappist]

Yes Viv, what an amazing brewery!
It is already their 2nd. Excellence edition.
The first one (2020) came at a stunning 12.9 vol%!



See also: https://www.val-dieu.com/product/excellence/
I never had the chance to taste one, and that's really a too bad.

Historic facts about Val-Dieu: https://www.abbaye-du-val-dieu.be/en/the-brewery/

Quote: "The monks of the Abbey of Val Dieu are the ones who are at the origin of the beers which are brewed today on the site.
Historically, the Cistercian monks were famous for their qualities as brewers. The monks of Val Dieu are in line with this reputation.
The beers brewed today in Val Dieu have been inspired by the original recipes developed by the monks"

No wonder that their beers are such a delight!

Interesting to mention that there is that collaboration with that other Cistercian abbey from France, called Abbey de Lérins, located on the island of Saint-Honoré, south of Cannes.
This beer has been aged for a full 1 year on their barrels!
The barrels can be seen here: https://www.wineterroirs.com/2011/04/abbaye_de_lerins.html

Quite something special really !!!

Cheers,
Filip

[John B]

Just 11 Belgian beers in stock yet to try now...........

Cheers!


Viv