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Darkness

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There are Dubbels and there are Stouts, and Darkness sits somewhere in between: with a great malty taste and notes of caramel and chocolate, in a colour as dark as the night sky. At 7.5% ABV and 25 IBU it stays in balance, as DAVO wants every beer from its Deventer home base to be, whether dark or hoppy blonde.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltychocolatecaramel
malty
chocolate
caramel
dark fruit
fruity
spicy
Aroma
The nose leads with warm malt character and subtle caramel sweetness, grounded by chocolate undertones that deepen on the second inhale.
also:bready,yeasty
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Darkness

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to near-black in the glass, with a density that speaks to its malt foundation. The head is modest but persistent, leaving fine lacing along the walls. Clarity sits just below full transparency, suggesting a traditional, unfiltered approach befitting a true Dubbel.

deep mahoganyfine lacingmodest carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with warm malt character and subtle caramel sweetness, grounded by chocolate undertones that deepen on the second inhale. Below that lies a whisper of dark stone fruit and a yeasty earthiness that rounds the impression without dominating. The overall effect is inviting rather than aggressive—restrained nobility.

caramel maltdark chocolatestone fruitearthy yeast

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, with a rich malty core that unfolds into layers of caramel and chocolate across the mid-palate. The bitterness (25 IBU) arrives late and measured, providing structure without harshness. Spice notes from the yeast work in tandem with bread-like dryness to keep the beer balanced and prevent cloying sweetness.

malt-forwardchocolate and caramelrestrained bitternessbread and spice

◑ Finish

The finish tapers gently, leaving a dry, slightly fruity aftertaste with echoes of caramel and toast. Warmth from the 7.5% ABV sits comfortably in the background, never sharp or burning.

dry finishwarming alcohol
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
85
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 10–12°C

Serve at 10–12°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

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 Darkness

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About Dubbel

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Dubbel?

Dubbel 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 Dubbel

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, chocolate, caramel character as Darkness will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →