De Dolle Stille Nacht Special Reserva 2005

Formerly brewed at De Dolle Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Diksmuide, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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33cl bottle. Clear bright copper color with a small off-white head. Great complex aroma, with big honey and light fruits, caramel apple, brown sugar, Muscat, and Belgian yeast. The flavor has a lot in common with a great Muscat, a white port, and an English barleywine. Very complex and tasty. Big honey, caramel, toffee, and Belgian yeast. Some mildly tart light fruit notes, particularly apple. Medium-bodied with low carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel. A great beer. Glad to have ticked it.

Courtesy of Pailhead. Yellow/orange with sediment, white head, spotty lacing. Muscat/white grape character up front, candied fruits, light yeasty background. Flavor has tons of yeasty esters, bready yeast character, light sourness. Silky smooth mouthfeel, but plenty of carbonation to cleanse palate.

Pours a nice dark orangish amber color. Aromas of fruit, and some other hints, maybe some spices, maybe caramel. Flavor is a bittersweet, malty, and vinegar, oak, a bit of smoke.

Bottle at a tasting at James’ place. Pours a mostly clear treacle gold with a thin white head. Big sweet toast and a hint of dry cocoa, sweet malt and a hint of oxidization. Nice bit of umami on the nose as it warms. Malty, sweet, toast, a hint of oxidization. Lots of malt, toasted oats.

Bottle shared by Paul at tasting at my house. Pours cloudy peach with off white head. Nose/taste of bready malts, lemon, yoghurt and mild muted spices. Some warming alcohol in the finish. Body is mostly lemon breads.

33 cl. bottle/shared@Kulminator: hazy orange with a white head, taste is bitter peach, lots of thick yeast, very yeasty, lacto, candy, hint of yoghurt, spices, dough, some malt, caramel, plenty of esters, vintage taste, alcohol in the finish, very weird beer

Bottle from pantanap...thanks Kan! Pours hazy yellow amber with a thin off white head. Tart brett on the nose, oak, and white grape over a layer of sweet, yeasty, bready malt. Some sharp heat in there, too. Taste is really tart, lots of oak and a real bitter grapefruit note. A little too much barrel in there for my liking. The whole thing dries out and has a medicinal, astringent finish. Man--the taste is really, really sharp. But then I let it warm up a little more while I drink the 2006 Stille Nacht we opened up next to it. Wow...warmer this is a way different beer. The sharpness eases up a bit and the yeast comes through more, along with a softer citrus, some sweet fruitiness and a long tart finish. A little harsh on the carbonation, but otherwise a nice body. Didn’t blow my mind, but very, very nice. Let this sucker warm up!

330ml bottle, courtesy of Fonefan. Thanks, Jan! Tasted side by side with a regular 2008 vintage. Funky, acidic nose, lactic yogurt, dried fruits, grape and cherry, milk candy. Very impressive. Aged and somewhat oxidized. Deep, clear amber with a touch pf lace. Oxidized, creamy, vanilla, pear, vinegar, oak, a bit of smoke, creamy cheese too.    Completely different beast to the non-Reserva version! Still strong alcohol, hot and rather bitter finish, mostly hot. Smooth,silky, oily palate. Very light, soft carbonation. Wonderful palate. Fabulous. I will probably never try the 2000, but this was an experience

Bottle at Kulminator. Poured light brown with little head. Very unique yeasty flavours with slight bitterness and alcohol finish. Very nice.

At the kulminator. First class beer. Very enjoyable. The beer is so complex and smooth. This beer has aged so well. Very enjoyable. I imagine this one will be even better with age