Corsendonk Christmas Ale

Brewed by Du Bocq
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Purnode-Yvoir, Belgium

nice looking beer, with thick head & lacing. caramel/ burnt caramel on nose lively/malt on entry, with citrus at the end finishes somewhat odd & uneven, but not offensive. good, but not exceptional

Honey, malt, cream, hops, cloves and spices in the nose. Pours a dark copper beer with a large dissipating head. Soft mouthfeel, with alcohol in the vanguard, also sweet and tangy with a mildly hoppy finish. To be honest I was expecting a lot more from this beer.

Dec. 2006 - Excellent! Dark brown pour with finger sized head and immense lacing. Strong aroma of dark fruits, caramel and spices that reminded me of a Christmas spice cookie. Rich, full silky mouthfeel. Excellent...tops of the winter seasonal list for me so far!

Aroma: raisins, candisugar, spicy yeast, coconut, papaya...sweet, lilac. Fantastic.
Flavour: strange, fruit, surprisingly non-sweet even though it’s quite sweet. Very Belgian. Almost mint...
Appearance: red copper hue. yellow foam, quite thin leaving film. Clear.
Palate: very fizzy, heavy, thick. Lovely.

25cl bottle. Pours a very deep amber with some off white foam that fades to a thin ring, minimal lacing. Aroma is a little bit of licorice and a whole bunch of spice, lots of coriander and maybe some cardamom? Flavor is all cardamom, way too much, hardly a trace of malt. Meh, either my tastes buds have been raped over the years or this stuff changed drastically since my virginal one 7 years ago.

33cl Bottle Best Before 9/18/08 I was lucky enough to get this bottle as part of my Secret Santa package from Tayner, thanks a bunch Dana. As I pour a big dense head rises without any pressure. All in one creamy and rocky, sitting atop a ruby body with tiny carbonation bubbles exploding to the surface. Leaves excellent lacing on it’s way down. The aroma kicks off with a big spoonful of coriander and candied orange peel. Dark fruits abound in the background including cinnamon coated stewed plums with a bit of a spiced-cake batter. Goes together nicely and certainly brings the smells of Christmas into the room. The flavor doesn’t quite live up to the expectations set forth by the aroma. While still good things seem to be a little muddied compared to the smell. The coriander and candied orange are still involved over the top of a spiced Christmas-styled cake maltiness. There’s a mineralish quality running through the flavor. I have to say the body on this beer is actually on the light side. Unfortuntly, the body could stand a bit more oomph!. The aggressive carbonation is what keeps this beer light and airy. The airyness of this beer actually improves the drinkability. Keeps moving leaving me wanting another sip. The spicing keeps me from indulging too much throughout the night though. This is a quality Christmas beer no matter which way you slice things. The aroma is outstanding and immediately pulls you into all the flavors of the holiday season. Thanks again Dana! 1/26/08

Tap at Monk’s cafe, Small glass overflowing with spicy aroma, slightly sweet, but very complex. This followed through to the flavor, which was spicy smoky bitter sweet sour citrusy - everything at the same time. A wonderfully rich complex beer perfect for the holidays.

belgian trappist ale with pepper hint...was that clove...not as bold as other ales but tasty enough to be a great rep