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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Thin white head that lasts, droopy lacing. Clear, orange amber hued color. Nose is nice, soft woodiness, vanilla, almost bourbony, light fruits, apples and a hint citrusy. Body is med/full, oily on the palate, good carbonation with a slight tartness. Medium sweet maltiness, honey, cherries, vinous notes, white grapes and happy woody notes plus a hint of warming alcohol. An almost dry, tart finish, somewhat astringent but in a good way. Fruity and juicey. Tastey lil critter, alot going on. Been sittin around my cellar for a bit now and has aged extremely well. One bottle left for a future taste. Bottle procured @statelineliquors back in the day. Pleasent surprise.

Pour is a clear golden orange with a fair bit of caramel color towards the edge and a slightly off white head with tight bubbles. The nose is incredibly complex, borwn sugar, caramel, sweet honey, a malty sweetness that is very enjoyable with a balance of toasted grains, alocol and notes of wood behind. The taste is sweet brown sugar, slightly burnt caramel with a light yeast note. the wood note is still present but light with toasted grains and some alcohol heat/note of dark spirit in the finish. The body is close to full with a syrupy texture and soft on the palate. There is a moderate carbonation and a semi dry finish. Gets a touch sweet but so well blanaced and integrated with a vast depth of flavor.

Bottle (2005 12oz alongside a 2008 750ml) [Thanks DA for sharing]... Poured deep, amber, reddish with an off-white head. Both similar since they employed the Bordeaux barrels. Dark vinous booze-like. The 2008 was cleaner, but the 2005 had some acidity and hint of sourness. Dark malt sweetness, candied-like. Earthy, herbal, some yeast spiciness. Oak and wine-like woody characters. Truly a pleasure.

Ganska söt honung och malt. Smaken är ganska "frän" med en del syra samt kola. Lite jobbig nu så många är senare.

Bottle shared at the Philly tasting. A hazy burnt orange pour with a white head. Yeast, apricots, raisins, and earthy aromas. Medium in body with low carbonation. Slightly tart with strange fruit combinations you would find in trail mix, with some honey, malty notes, Belgian yeast and maybe a hint of apple.

Bottle at Kulminator in March 2012. Slightly hazy dark golden with a medium white head. The aroma was quite special with earth, dried fruits, yeast. Also some alcohol. I think that the taste was better than the aroma, complex with much going on. Honey, toffee, earth, dried fruits. Also notes of yeast and malt. A good beer me think, but not quite as good as expected. I wish that I could try the 2000 someday.....

Bottle thanks to ericandersnavy. Deep golden brew, slight head. Aroma is tart and earthy - flavors of tropical fruit with a funky finish.

This is a great brew! A very complex beer: a little bit sour, sweet, alcoholic, banana, An overwhelming aroma!

Thanks to GT2 and travlr for breaking this one out! Beautiful slightly hazy peach colored pour. Nose holds incredible apricot, golden raisin, touches of cherry and red plum, pluot, and all sorts of nectar fruit. Absolutely brilliant sweet fruity malt profile. The palate is silky and dangerously drinkable for 13%. Not nearly as good as the SNR2Ks I’ve had, but still delicious.

Amber pour with a robust white head. Huge nectar fruit and dough with hints of dark fruit and fresh stone fruit. Very mild oxidation. Thick palate with low carbonation. Yummy yummy!

2005 Bottle, notes from 07/22/2011. Pours dark, burnished copper, minimal head but ample champagne-like bubbles. Incredible aroma, strong vinous and barrel character leads, red grapes, transitioning into more familiar elements of the base beer: spicy yeast, honey, apples, pears. Taste begins with apples, caramel honey, spiciness on the mid-palate, finishing dry with grape, barrel notes. Full in the mouth, just short of creamy, carbonation tickling the tongue, very hard to take it slow. This was a real treat, fantastic. 2008 vintage, thanks to Wim, 09/10/2011. Pours beautiful amber, much darker than ’05, small white head, some lacing, residual surface haze. Aroma is rich and decadent, with soft caramel apple, honey cream, yogurty yeast, candi sugar; spicy booze on the finish with oak. Taste is darker than ’05, with apple brandy, pears, and dark grapes, vinous, spices blend with alcoholic warmth, sweet boozy aftertaste. Full in the mouth, thick and almost wine-like with lower carbonation. Definitely a different beast from the ’05, darker and more intense when compared to the fruity lightness of ’05, where the barrel treatment also shines through more. Still, this was great in its own way. A/A/T/P/O: 4/ 9/ 8/ 4/ 17