Steenberge Bornem Double Abbey Ale (8/10)

The Brouwerij Van Steenberge products tend to be personal favorites.  This Belgian brewery seems to know what it’s doing with its brewing equipment.  Bornem Double Abbey Ale is a Belgian Dark Ale or Dubbel style ale.

It pours a very dark brown with two fingers of thick tan head on top.

The aroma is sweet, with a definite dark fruit note.
The flavor is malty, sweet, and very mildly spicy.  It’s not the most complex Belgian Dubbel I’ve ever head, but it’s a very good one and I’ll be quite happy to have it again.
Beer Advocate rates Bornem an 83/100 or “good”.  Rate Beer puts it at 81 overall.  Those ratings are in line with my own 8 out of 10.

You can find this beer at The Anderson’s General Store as part of a six-pack gift box of Belgian beers that includes Gulden Draak, Gulden Draak 9000, Piraat, and others.  That’s an excellent Belgian sample pack.  I have occasionally seen it by itself at other retailers, but none consistently enough to list here.

Flavor Profile:
Sweet, Malty, Dry, or Bitter:  Malty, Sweet
Spice Level:  Low to medium
Hops Level:  Low
Dominant Flavors:  Malt, dark fruit, spice
ABV: 8%
IBU: unknown
My Rating: 8/10