I am a fan of Belgian beers. When given a chance, I almost always go for their malty complexity, interesting yeasty esters, and spicy goodness. However, Belgian imports can run a bit on the expensive side, so it's always a treat to see an American brewery trying out a Belgian style. New Belgium Brewery does just that. Though they are probably most famous for their Fat Tire Amber, I find most of their other brews to be far more enjoyable. One of my favorites at the moment is the New Belgium Abbey, a Belgian-style dubbel packed with delicious drinkability.

This beer is rather sweet and malty, and its 7.0% ABV provides a pleasant boozy warmth throughout the drink. The brew has a lovely dark amber color to it, very similar to authentic Belgian dubbels, and a firm, steady white head. It has a candied, sugary flavor which is luckily well balanced with the rest of the brew, and overall creates a beer that is refreshing and quite drinkable. While the complexity offered by the yeast may not match up to some of its Belgian forebears, for the price this is an excellent substitute. I'd highly recommend giving this beer a try. It's excellent for an afternoon drink, or could be paired with red meat or perhaps even mussels.