De Dolle Stille Nacht Special Reserva 2005

Bottle at Kulminator, Antwerp. Pours cloudy golden with a little fine head that actually lasts a long time in the glass. Sour but fruity nose. Very vinous. Flavour is fantastic. It just explodes in your mouth and keeps going for a long time. Very fruity and yeasty with a spicy and tart aftertaste. The alcohol is very well hidden.

I was told to sit on this one for a little while. 2.5 years ought to be just about right. Thin head of very fine bubbles. Good carbonation keeps a thin sheen on the surface. Wonderful aroma. Hard to explain though but it excites the senses. Vinuous and herbal with some light peppermint, yeast and some tartness. Color is a cloudy ruddy brown. Wow, flavor and carbonation explode in your mouth. Fizzy palate with a strong alcohol punch. Some fruity notes, more wine characteristics, soft malts and yeast. Very warming. Decent amount of sweetness in this brew. 13% ABV stands right up and smacks you in the face. I feel very inclinded to let it hit me for as long at it wants. Finishes hot and spicy and a bit dry. A very powerful and very well put together brew. I also got mine from someone in the Orlando crew. Thanks!

Courtesy one of the Orlando crew, I forgot who, either boboski, SoLan, or mgumby10. Mostly clear dark straw color with a thin white head. Aroma is a unique of alcoholic heat, herbal notes, Belgian yeast, and sharp funkiness. The alcohol is somewhat apparent on the taste, but adds some kick to a great mix of funk and spice. Another great De Dolle brew.

Bottle picked up at Capone’s. The appearence was a hazy orange with a bit of off white head. There was plenty of carbonation. There where all kinds of aromas such as cinnamon/all spice/nutmeg-ish notes, some rock candy sweet notes, a bit of toffee/carmel, and some aggressive alcohol. This was all fairly evident in the flavor as well. I think it seemed sort of rum raisin like, or maybe fruit cake dipped in some liquor. The beer had a nice full body to it, and still seemed to have a very high amount of carbonation. A little bit of sweetness in the finish, and a hot blast of alcohol. I’m very glad to have been able to come by the rare treat, but it seems like more and more that these rare treats have not lived up to their billing.

Bottle into tulip, Kulminator, Antwerp (paid 4 euro). After previously thinking that I had had this beer and finding out that I hadn’t, I knew I had to try again on my latest trip to Europe. Overall, this was not at all what I expected. I expected that syrupy Stille Nacht sweetness and some of the warm spiciness I vaguely remember from the one time I had the 2000 Reserva. This was not that syrupy at all, the usual sweetness was gone. This was only aging three years, so it can’t be that it fermented out already. Flavors were intense, but not necessarily well put together; herbal qualities of basil and oregano were most prominent with denatured hops in the finish. Alcohol was not masked at all, either in the mouth or the finish (or the nose, for that matter). All that being said, the beer did have an elegant feel to it, and I didn’t wholly miss the over-the-top De Dolle sweetness. Clear copper in the glass with visible carbonation moving slowly up to the surface, belying the full body. Tight foamy lacing on the glass. Alcohol stings the back of the nose on the first whiff, then comes some apricot and candi sugar. Since I found it, I won’t regret not having it, but I also won’t regret not having it again.