 Tmoney99 (3429), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Jul 15, 2008 Bottle from River’s Bend. Poured hazy brown color with a large fizzy brown head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Aroma was as complex modetate spicy sweet and yeast. Medium body with a smooth texture. Heavy dark fruit sweet flavor with a heavy bittersweet finish with medium alcohol bite. Good brew.
Pawola22 (36), Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Jul 12, 2008 750ml bottle from Binny’s.
Aroma: Caramel, slight alcohol, malty, decent hop character, spicy.
Appearance: Medium amber color, very carbonated. BIG light tan head with lots of carbonation. Lasts for quite awhile. Lots of rising bubbles.
Flavor: Malty with a alcohol kick, but not too strong. Caramel with a hint of coffee. Definite Belgian taste. Not a bitter beginning, but finishes strong. Molasses and brown sugar for sure.
Palate: Crisp, slight burn from alcohol, carbonation from remaining head, light and smooth.
Overall: Quite drinkable, alcohol taste is enjoyable. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Belgian strong ale. A great kick at the end and pleasant malty aftertaste. A very good, spiced Christmas beer. I had it while it was warm out, so I need to try it again in the winter for sure.
Mes_and_Sim (3967), London, Greater London, England
Jun 19, 2008 A Mes rate: Freebie 3 year old 75cl bottle thanks to the lovely Jessica from De Heeren van Liedekercke.
Drank this up on Primrose Hill in London with Sim, Mike and Cat. A very good looking rich amber colour with an impressive beige head. Lovely aroma full of bready malt but topped off with caramel, orange and peach, a little bit of cake and all the usual clove, cinnamon and nutmeg Christmassy spice. A good start but sadly the flavour just couldn’t match it. Almost equally complex but most of what is good about the aroma is pretty much over-powered by some all to clear alcohol making it rather too harsh and leaving you with a fairly acrid finish. Lots of promise but it never quite lived up to it.
DubC5000 (135), San Diego, California, USA
Jun 13, 2008 Brown-red in color, with a soapy head, big bubbles. Malty, spicy and sweet aroma of caramel and molasses. Molasses, caramel, plum, apple, and wine grapes immediately apparent. Very smooth yet very warming. Rather dry, but the malt holds the sweetness against the alcohol.
bigrond (846), factoryville, Pennsylvania, USA
Jun 8, 2008 I liked this beer. Got it from a trade. Pours with a huge head, settles to to a slightly clouded reddish brown. Aroma is typical Belgian and taste is smooth - it finishes warm. Alcohol content is very well hidden. This is not a great Christmas beer -compared to ...Anchor, Corsendok or Delirium
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