Affligem Noël (Christmas Ale)

Brewed by Brouwerij Affligem / De Smedt (Heineken)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Opwijk, Belgium

750 ml bottle from Imbibe Wines. Nose of lots of raisin pie like my mom used to make mixed with yeast, a vanilla note, and light alcohol. Hazy brown with a medium, glass lacing, beige head. Flavor is raisins, a little white pepperiness, and mild alcohol.

Pleasant appearance, frothy head, spicy aroma. Spices, chocolate and malt in the flavor. A bit too much carbonation, but it has a smooth finish.

2002, 750 ml bottle. Very drinkable. I bought this for a friend’s holiday party, and so while not taking notes tonight--if I had, I think I would have been disappointed--instead rolling with the experience it worked well. The 8.5% abv hit me quickly, and the frothy head and palate made it very drinkable. Maltiness dominates, and no striking complexity or interesting flavors, but a classically enjoyable Belgian style.

The aroma is very citrusy and sweet with alcohol and caramel. The appearance is light red/brown with a large head. The flavor is not great but not bad. It is citrusy and soapy with some sweetness and toasted malt. The palate is smooth with some spices in the finish. Overall it’s not a disappointment but not great.

[963-20071212] 750mL (c/o HogTownHarry, w/ blankboy, GregClow, jerc, tupalev). Slightly smpicy malt toast aroma with candied medicinal properties. Slightly hazy, dark red brown body with a medium-lasting creamy off-white head. Slightly tangy malt alcohol flavour. Medium body has gravelly astringence. Interesting.

Fair label, good bottle, hazy tea-brown beer. This beer really needs to be warm to be fully appreciated. Great fruity, yeasty aroma with caramel. Medium sweetness, tart, ABV evident, orange peel/aspirin/wood bitter. Sweetish, pastry finish which I really enjoyed.

The beer after its extrication from the 750ml bottle pours a slightly beclouded burnt umber color with a modest semi-creamy light tan head that upon its demise leaves a thick and clingy blanket of lace upon the glass. Nose is plum like with nice sweet malt back round, crisp and fresh to the senses; start is somewhat sweet with a nice malt presence and the top middling in its feel to the palate. Finish is prickly in its acidity and the hops spicy in their bite; the 9 percent ABV leaves a nice warm feeling in the tummy, a quite nice beer. This one I share with the “Veterans, past present and future”, and especially to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Bottle shared with GregClow, Jerc, Mabel, Hogtown Harry, and Blankboy, courtesy of Harry. Lots of malt, spice, earthy hops, and yeast in aroma. Dark brown, small white head. Good taste - spicy malt, some figs and nutmeg. A nice Belgian Christmas spicy ale!