Friday, January 19, 2024

de Dolle Oerbier

Oerbier is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. It is deep and rich, with lots of dark fruit flavors.


Beer Advocate

Brewer's notes: 
Oerbier, brewed in Esen by De Dolle Brouwers, is dark due to the mixture of different types of malt and hours of cooking time. Only 'Golding' bubble hop from Poperinge is used and all our beers are bottled with secondary fermentation.

Slightly Fresh Acidity

The name refers to the originality and purity of the beer. The specific gravity of the wort is 1078, the alcohol percentage 9%. Oerbier has a slightly fresh acidity due to the yeast and lactic acid bacteria.


The best-before date is imposed by law: one year after bottling, this is also mentioned on the capsule. The beer will experience a slight taste evolution and will become vinous. Samples of the first brew, which are still perfectly drinkable, are kept in the brewery.

Store in a cool cellar

It is the first beer of De Dolle Brouwers and officially dates from 1980. It was brewed in prototype by two students in a copper wash bowl. Previous attempts with English ready-made kits turned out not to meet the strict beer requirements of the two brothers.


Preferably store this beer in a dark, cool cellar and pour at 12°C in a type of wine glass. There are special Oerbier glasses for sale in the brewery. This beer is for sale per 6 bottles or per 20, every Saturday and Sunday between 2 pm and 7 pm.

Tasting Notes
2401: A glass on draft at Can Can while dining at the bar with L and ML. It was delightful and, as before, deep and rich with lots of dark fruit flavors. I thought about increasing the rating to 5.5.

1310: It is deep and rich, with lots of dark fruit flavors. Rating = 5 glasses.

Rating = 5 glasses.

Eggenberg Samichlaus

Samichlaus is a delicious Doppelbock. It is so strong I would call it a Triple Bock.

Beer Advocate: The once strongest beer in the world is back! Brewed only once a year on December 6. Samichlaus is aged for 10 months before bottling. This beer is perhaps the rarest in the world. Samichlaus may be aged for many years to come. Older vintages become more complex with a creamy warming finish. Serve with hardy robust dishes and desserts, particulary with chocolates, or as an after dinner drink by itself. Brewed under the exclusive licence of Feldschlösschen-Hürlimann-Holding, Switzerland.

Brewer's notesThis is brewed only once a year, on December 6th, in a complex process Strong beer is a rarity. It can age in bottle for many years and gains complexity. Red-brown shimmering, complex aromas of dried plums, malt and caramel.

Tasting notes
2401: Another glass at Can Can with L and ML. Sweet toffee goodness. Let's up the rating to 6.5.

2312: I had a glass on draft last night while dining with L and E at Can Can. I sampled the beer years ago but could not find my notes. Well, I was blown away; the beer is better than I remember. It is deep and dark and malty and delicious. It paired well with a good cheeseburger. It reminded me of Alesmith Private Stock and Bells Third Coast Old Ale - a strong ale with loads of flavor and complexity. I want more and will buy some when I see it. It impressed me more than BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien which I rate as 7 glasses. I need more tastes to go that high for Samichlaus. 

Rating = 6.5 glasses.