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De Verboden Vrucht

Belgium·Belgian Strong Dark
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Dark red and full in the mouth, De Verboden Vrucht is brewed with roasted malt and hops, which give it a typical herbal plant aroma. The name plays on the forbidden fruit of Eden: the brewery jokes that Adam was disappointed with the apple the serpent offered, but tasting this 8.5% ale is not forbidden.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedherbalhoppy
roasted
herbal
hoppy
fruity
spicy
bready
Aroma
The nose leads with prominent roasted malt character, offering bread-like and slightly burnt grain notes.
also:yeasty
not found:juicy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for De Verboden Vrucht

◎ Appearance

Deep dark red hue with a dense, tan head that displays good retention and fine Schaumkleiden along the glass. The beer presents itself with moderate clarity, allowing light to filter through the richer hues. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated, supporting the full presentation.

deep reddense headmoderate clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with prominent roasted malt character, offering bread-like and slightly burnt grain notes. Herbal and grassy hop aromatics emerge clearly, complemented by subtle spice and earthy undertones. A gentle yeasty backdrop rounds out the profile without dominating the composition.

roasted grainherbal hopsspiced maltearthy

◐ Taste

Entry is full and warming, with roasted malt flavors developing into bready and slightly dry impressions across the mid-palate. Herbal hop bitterness builds steadily, supported by gentle spice and yeast-derived complexity. The 8.5% alcohol becomes present but integrated, contributing warmth without harshness.

roasted, breadyherbal bitternesswarming alcoholfull-bodied

◑ Finish

The finish is moderately long, with roasted and herbal notes persisting through the aftertaste. Dryness emerges progressively, leaving a lingering bitterness and subtle fruity echo.

dry finishherbal persistencemoderate length
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
82
Appearance
78
Finish
76
Serve at 12–16°C

Warmer than most — 12–14°C. The fruity esters, spice and warming alcohol need room to breathe.

Goblet

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with De Verboden Vrucht

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About Belgian Strong Dark

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Strong Dark?

Belgian Strong Dark is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Belgian Strong Dark

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, herbal, full-bodied character as De Verboden Vrucht will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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