REVIEW #28: Tongerlo Bruin (Brouwerij Haacht)

Pours ruddy brown with a beige head that rapidly dissipates to a collar. The aroma is quite subtle, displaying apple & blackberry notes in addition to candy. Tart blackberry notes mingle with sugared stewed-apple at the front of the palate. It fades out with alcohol-tinged dryness and a fruity malt after-taste. Complex and satisfying.

Brouwerij Haacht brews the Tongerlo range in conjunction with the Abbey of Tongerlo, sited in the neighbouring province of Antwerp. It achieved 'recognised Belgian Abbey Beer' status in 1999. This is a hallmark given by the Union of Belgian Brewers. It is given based on certain stipulations: The beer must be linked to a non-Trappist abbey, which then gains royalties from sales of the beer, which are then put towards charitable acts. The abbey retains the right to advertising and marketing. The beer must also have a historical origin, i.e. be based upon a beer brewed at the abbey in the past. Tongerlo Bruin is a fine example of an Abbey dubbel with good complexity. However, Brouwerij Haacht's most renowned beer is probably Charles Quint. I'll be reviewing Charles Quint Blonde at some point this week.

• MALTS: ?

• HOPS: ?
• IBU: ?
• ABV: 6.5%`
• BOTTLE-CONDITIONED.

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