Raison D'Être

Belgian Strong Dark Ale

A deep, mahogany ale brewed with beet sugar, green raisins, and Belgian-style yeast. As complex as a fine, red wine. Voted \American Beer of the Year\" in January 2000 by Malt Advocate Magazine."

ABV

8.0

Rating

3.743

Rating count

32,457

Last updated

11 months ago

 
4.75

No checkin location

12 months ago

 
4.25

12 months ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

12 months ago

 
3.25

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 
0.0

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 

Dan Bilawsky

Vintage. A little flat, and without all of its in-its-prime charms and flavor profile. But still better than expected. I wish they still brewed this.

3.75

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 
4.0

about 1 year ago

 

Laura Craig

#BYODApril2024. Still Checking in. I think this was one of my favorites of the day. Not Dead.

4.0

about 1 year ago

 
4.25

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 
0.0

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 
5.0

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 

Erik Jenkins

I haven’t had this one in a long time. It’s really good.

4.25

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 

Lea P

Historic Ratebeer Check In

4.0

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 
4.75

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 
3.0

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

over 1 year ago

 
2.0

over 1 year ago

 
3.0

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 

Supastar Runnergirl

Uhm… Yesss

5.0

over 1 year ago

 

Nick D

RB old tick migration. Ticked 2008

3.5

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 
4.0

over 1 year ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 
4.0

over 1 year ago

 
3.5

over 1 year ago

 

Ryan Smith

Last of the bottles I had hidden away. No label, but the flavor is clear what it is. I miss this beer.

5.0

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 

Matt Potenski

Bottle from 2002! Simply amazing how well this held up. Over 20years for an 8% beer. Nose was straight raisin which was follows up in the sip. Light dark sugar edge but this was like drinking a liquid raisin in the best way. Dark fruit explosion Very good

0.0

over 1 year ago

 
0.0

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 
2.75

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

over 1 year ago

 
4.0

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 

Brian Fratto

RateBeer backlog, pre-Sep 2009

0.0

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 
1.25

over 1 year ago

 
4.0

over 1 year ago

 

Alessa

Aged bottle from 2014. 🥰

4.0

over 1 year ago

 

Mat Hocking

LCI: 22nd February 2013, New York

0.0

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 

Sean Ford

I had higher hopes for this one. On the nose it was fine. Dark Fruit, raisins, caramel, spice. But the flavor was a bit off. The beginning was fine with a sweet Belgian feel to it, but the aftertaste was a bit strange.

3.25

No checkin location

almost 2 years ago

 
4.25

almost 2 years ago

 

scatenthusiast

Soy sauce Asians lollll

0.25

almost 2 years ago

 
3.75

almost 2 years ago

 
3.75

No checkin location

almost 2 years ago

 
0.0

No checkin location

almost 2 years ago

 
1.0

No checkin location

almost 2 years ago

 
5.0

No checkin location

almost 2 years ago

 
4.5

almost 2 years ago

 
0.0

almost 2 years ago

 

Don Fritos

RB LCI 2009

3.5

No checkin location

almost 2 years ago

 

Tim Surber

Out with beautiful running to get Cigars etc , T minus 5 days until Boston/Cape Cod Vacation and maybe swing up to NH to visit a friend 🍻😎

4.25

about 2 years ago

 
4.25

about 2 years ago

 
4.25

about 2 years ago

 
5.0

No checkin location

about 2 years ago

 
4.0

about 2 years ago

 
4.0

about 2 years ago

 

Greg L

Tastes like a barleywine

4.0

No checkin location

about 2 years ago

 
4.25

about 2 years ago

 
0.0

No checkin location

about 2 years ago

 
3.5

about 2 years ago

 
3.75

about 2 years ago

 
0.0

about 2 years ago

 
5.0

No checkin location

about 2 years ago

 
0.0

about 2 years ago

 

Andy King

Historic check in 2010

2.5

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 
3.5

over 2 years ago

 
4.25

over 2 years ago

 

Matthew Smith

Too sweet for me

3.0

over 2 years ago

 
4.75

over 2 years ago

 
4.25

over 2 years ago

 
3.75

over 2 years ago

 

Cathy Stone

Oddly, I taste cherries in the beginning, but finished with a bourbon barrel raising end.

3.25

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 

Gordon Gillis

I am go glad I didn’t pass on this one. Great tasting kind of tart but in a good way beer

4.25

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 

Adam

One of my absolute favorites.

4.5

over 2 years ago

 
4.25

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 

Tony

Bottled in 2018. Can’t believe I found this at the store.

5.0

over 2 years ago

 

beer andraiderfan

no thank you.

0.0

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 
3.25

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 

Jim S

Weird aftertaste

2.0

over 2 years ago

 

Jaclyn Schmidt

Not bad but not great.

2.5

over 2 years ago

 

Nate T

This beer is the tits!

4.75

over 2 years ago

 

Samantha Farr

Tastes like alcohol, but very good. Dark and kind of thick.

4.5

over 2 years ago

 
4.25

over 2 years ago

 
4.0

over 2 years ago

 
4.0

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 

Scott Nickels

1992 vintage. Held up OK. Raisins and boozy.

3.25

over 2 years ago

 
4.5

over 2 years ago

 

Adam

Dogfish: Please make this always

4.5

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 
4.0

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 

Brian Diacont

My current dogfish go to beer!

4.0

over 2 years ago

 
4.0

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 

Shaun Brauer

Was one of my fav beers like Midas touch before it was discontinued. The D'extra is better for aging and stronger anyway, but really good Barleywine style ale and lots of brown sugar and raisin sweetness

3.75

over 2 years ago

 
4.5

over 2 years ago

 

Adam

Dogfish: I’d love to see this back in rotation. So good!!

4.5

over 2 years ago

 
4.0

over 2 years ago

 
0.0

over 2 years ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 
4.75

over 2 years ago