Tonight I'm sampling my friend smoga's Dubbel.  This beer won Best Belgian Ale Novembeer fest here in the Puget Sound.  Thanks for the bottle.

Steve's Dubbel pours with medium carbonation producing a nice off white head of foam.  Head stays as lacing throughout.  Beer is bright with a handsome medium copper coloring.  First aroma is of subtle spice, develops to light phenols.  There is plum in the nose as well as some light ripe banana or bubblegum, but spice seems more present.  Also some faint toasty malt.  The palate has plum character, some light acidity and yeasty bready tones, and some grainy and toasted malt character.  It all seems to lead to a balanced, pleasant finish with light bitterness and lingering malt.  Some alcohol warmth also emerges, but this bier isn't boozy at all.   Over all, a well balanced, subtle and somewhat complex example of the style.  A great sipper.  This subtle quality is present in all it's parts and makes it a winner.  I only want a tad bit more carbonation and, of course, a few more bottles of it...