Corsendonk Christmas Ale

Bottle. Pours dark, bold red mahogany with beige head. The aroma is toffee, earth, mild spice, a hint of molasses, fig, and blue cheese. The flavor begins with a pretty serious earthiness, followed closely by toffee. A few raisin and prune notes jump out, and a very mild cigar taste emerges toward the finish. This is a pretty satisfying winter brew.

Sept 24, 2005 bottle from El Cajon Liquor. Two year old bottle. I bought two and sent one as a bonus to nolankowal. Lot 24/09/05 G 08:05. Pour with little head that fades to a few small wisps on the surface of a dark amber liquid. Smell is a little of the age, cardboard, no hops. Not unpleasant though. Flavor leans toward the sweet side with caramel notes. A little zing, which might be from alchohol or something else. Past it’s prime, so I need to rerate.

25 cl, Lot # 06-09-08 G. Slightly cloudy chestnut color with a large, lasting creamy head. Aroma is spicy earthy molasses. Flavor is caramel, toffee, earth-funk, spiced raisins, molasses, slight chocolate and rummy alcohol. Slight bubblegum in aftertaste. Palate is light-medium, mostly smooth and a little dry. Best... Corsendonk... ever.

1/3/05. 250 ml. Belgianshop. Dark brown with minimal brown head . Salty sweet aroma with some belgian yeast funkiness in the background. More spicey less hoppy taste than the Bush noel. NIce bitterness. The best of the Bush Noel and Gordon Xmas.

Date: October 27, 2001
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ziggy’s, Chattanooga
Appearance: dark brown, big tan head
Aroma: rich spicy malt aroma
Flavor: rich dry malt flavor, complex and subtle, slight bitter finish

Date: January 03, 2003
Words: 750ml
Appearance: rusty brown, whispy tan head
Aroma: sweet aroma of figs soaked in alcohol
Flavor: rich dark malt flavor, lots of fruity essence, dates, figs

Date: November 14, 2004
Mode: draft
Source: summits
lots of bitter spicy character that overwhelms anything else

Date: November 25, 2005
Mode: draft
Source: brick
Appearance: dark ruby, big beige head
Aroma: malt aroma with light spices
Flavor: rich malt flavor with some good fruit character, light spices with a bitter effect, stays rich and fruity to the end

Date: December 22, 2008
Mode: draft
Source: brick store
Words: 3.0 to
Aroma: sweet and fruity aroma with lots of nice spicyness
Flavor: rich fruity malt flavor, lots of spicyness, balancing earthyness

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

On tap at the White Horse, Parson’s Green, 28th Jan 2007. A dark ruby colour with a small tan head. The aroma and taste are both great mixes of dark malt, cherries, chocolate and yuletide spices. The taste lingers and the feel is velvety and similar to Corsendonk Paternoster. A wonderful winter brew.

A real christmas beer. Medium-high alcohol aroma and flavor and loads of notes such as spices, warmneth, caramel, "amberflavor", raisin, cinnamon and easy drinkable.

25.4 oz bottle. Best before 1/9/07. Christmas in August; why not? Deep bloody brown with a dense latte head. Oolong tea (!?) and boozy raisins. Rich, but light; silky smooth with carb tongue tingle. Fruitcake in a glass with hints of ginger, orange, nutmeg and cloves. Restrained sweetness and deft spicing make this a pleasure to drink.