Corsendonk Christmas Ale

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

The Corsendonk Christmas beer is red mahogany and has a nice head. The aroma has notes of candy sugar, nuts and fruit. the flavour is sweet, dry and acidic with notes of fruit, candy sugar and a hint of licorice, I need to taste this again some day...

750 ml bottle. Deep copper colour with a red hue. Throws a tall off-white head that clings to the glass. Spicy nose, pepper and notes of cardamom. Distant cork aroma. Sweet malt flavours and lots of pungent black pepper. Smooth texture and soft and mellow flavours. Slightly hot, both from alcohol and black pepper. Finishes quite dry.

Cold 12oz bottle: Pours a gorgeous clear amber color with a big rocky tan head. Aroma is of rich malts, fruit and spice. Taste is of rich smoky malts with notes of spice and fruit. The hops is muted; lightly earthy. Well blended; alcohol is well hidden. Medium bodied, smooth and well carbonated. Ending is subtle; malty with notes of spice and earth.

[Bottle, February 2007] Nice deep brown pour and frothy light brown head. Oak and wood aroma. Flavor is wood, spices, and smokey.

At the 2007 Big Beer, Belgians, & Barleywines Festival in Vail. In my mind, not as good as the Affligem Noel. Pours dark brown to black with a medium tan colored head. Pronounced spices and a bit of heat to the nose. Sweet and citrus with the thick spices to the flavor. Just a bit overdone and disjointed to be outstanding, but still very tasty.

12 oz bottle poured medium amber with some deep red highlights and tan head. Strong aroma of spice like coriander also plums raisins, apples and behind all of that there seems to be sweet caramelized maltiness. Lots of carbonation allows the raisin, pepper, a vaguely citrus lemon note, cinnamon and coriander to come right to the surface. Just beyond midway sweet plums, dates and cherry fruitiness take over with a slight caramel undercurrent. Very enjoyable brew.

8.5 oz Bottle best before 06/09/08. Aroma of a fire pit and plumb fruit. Dark mahagany body with decent off white head that covers body of beer thoughout the glass. Sweet maly fruity flavor with a medium body texture. Has an alcohol warming but very smooth on the palate.

8.5 oz bottle courtesy of DocLock, thanks!! Pours a verry dark brown, with a big creamy tan head. Smells very chocholatey, yeast, and malts. Medium mouthfeel, heavy malts. Very tasty and a nice little treat.