Affligem Noël (Christmas Ale)

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

Winter beers can be a fickle thing, there is a tendency from some brewers to load up on ’comforts’ like cinnamon and what you’re left with is some kind of sparkling herbal tea. But when they’re done well, it’s a really special thing. I picked up this Noel by complete chance from the reduced section of an Acme in May. Poured into a traditional glass, it’s a luxurious deep red - very little head. The aroma is typical abbey, but very rich on the nose. Taste is just wonderful: liquorice, orange, and sugar flavours are upfront with a lovely warming, brandy-esque finish. My only complaint is that it is slightly over-carbonated, but I from what I read from other reviews, that dulls and more of the texture comes out, so if I can ever find another one of these I will be hoarding one for a few years. This actually tastes like christmas in a wonderfully specific way without being completely obvious. The balance of flavours here is so fantastically done, you can’t quite pinpoint what it is that makes the beer so special - and to me - that’s the mark of a great beer.

750 ml bottle into signature chalice, bottled on 8/16/2012. Pours slightly cloudy ruby red color with a 1 finger fluffy light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with some moderate streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of raisin, apple, caramel, molasses, nutmeg, cinnamon, toast, candi sugar, light clove, bread, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of deep malt with yeast esters and spices. Taste of raisin, apple, caramel, molasses, nutmeg, cinnamon, toast, light clove, candi sugar, toffee, pepper, bread, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of light fruits, caramel, molasses, nutmeg, cinnamon, toast, candi sugar, light clove, toffee, bread, pepper, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice balance and complexity of malt flavors with fruity yeast esters and spicing; with a great malt/spiciness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a fairly slick and moderately prickly mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent spiced Belgian strong ale! Great balance and complexity of malt, yeast esters, and spices; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Bottle@home, 750ml. Head: beige. Colour: clear, ruby brown. Aroma: hops, fruit. Taste: prune, medium bitter. Palate: bitter-sweet finish. Overall: very nice.

Orange brown with lots of floaties and short white head. Aroma is sweet and malty. Taste is sweet malt. Nice sticky feel.

From the corked, caged 7450 ml. bottle - 2011 batch. Marked 12-229-13. The pour is a gorgeous looking reddish-amber with a short-lived but delicate beige head. The aroma is full of toasted caramel malts, Belgian sugars, molasses, and mild hops. The body is smooth and better than medium. Loads of sweet flavor in this even after it has been aged. Sweet malts, sweet molasses, and moderate hops at the end. One of my my favorite characteristics.

Malty aroma has a strong fruity note and an overtone of cloves and cinnamon. Pours a clear dark mahogany with a fairly thick light tan head. Robust flavor fills the mouth with fruity (apple, banana, a little pear), malty, clove, cinnamon, caramel and horehound notes. Firm, smooth texture has plenty of fizz and life. Good any time of year!

A great gift. Pours a deep brown color with a quick fading head. Alittle on the sweet side. Deep rich flavor with slight spicy notes and caramel. Bready in aroma. Moderated body and mouth feel.

750ml bottle. Poured dark brown with a nice head. Sweet and syrupy, caramel, nutmeg, and clove notes along with distinct ’banana’ esters. I think I served a little too warm. Would like to try this again chilled a little longer.

Caramel, floral, raisin, vanilla, fig, sweet finish, red hue, fine carbonation, smooth.

Wonderful mouthfeel compared to nose. Malty, candy fig flavor with a hint of ginger.