De Dolle Stille Nacht

Brewed by De Dolle Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Diksmuide, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Bottle. 2006. Unclear golden color with a nice off-white head. Fruity alcohol aroma. Surprisingly sweet flavor for such a strong beer. The finish is long and there is a decided alcohol warming sensation that develops in the finish.

[Vintage 2003, sampled 2006] A dark amber beer with quite a lot of sediment floating around under a light orange head. The aroma is sweet with notes of stored fruit, dusty hops, and a bit of alcohol. The flavor is quite sweet, and very complex, with notes of fruit syrup containing oranges, peaches, and a bit of prunes, as well as a spicy note of cinnamon and cloves, soon after the very smooth and fruity start, the alcohol makes its presence know by a warming fealing, which grows just a bit in intensity and burns slightly in the long lasting after taste. The after taste also has notes of the fruit and spices lingering. A monster - I love it.

(Bottle 33 cl) Chestnut brown with a huge "dirty" head. Lots of impurities all over - as usual by DDB. Very spicy with sweet’n’sour flavours - perhaps the sweetness is most pronounced - from the added honey and sugars. To be enjoyed in small quantities. 060994

33 cL bottle. Pours orange colour with long lasting head. Strong smell and taste of alcohol and yeast with some spice notes beneath. Sweet and round moutfull. Strong alcoholic aftertaste.

Bottled (2005). Hazy orange/nutbrown head, with huge white foamish bubbly head. Aroma of sweet fruits and alcohol. Also caramel and yeast noteable. Flavour is stinging alcohol mixed with spices and fruits. Wellbalanced, since the alcohol mixes in well, especially as it has been in the glass for a while and becomes a bit warmer. Different Xmas beer, and I think it will get better if kept in cellar for a few years.

2001 version, sampled draught at Akkurat, Stockholm, Sweden in December 2002.
Reddish amber. Candied apple aroma. Sweet, fruity, malty and estery. Syrupy mouthfeel and full body. Lingering caramel and honey finsish with just a note of hop nitterness. A complex candy beer to savour.

Amber colour with a huge off-white head. Sweet spicy aroma with notes of yeast and alcohol. Nice sweet flavour with lots of spices and fruit, well balanced bitterness.

2006 bottle, 12%. Sweet, spicy, malty, peppery, yeasty aroma. Hazy orange colour, some floaties. Very big creamy head, subsiding after a while and leaving good lace. The flavour starts a little rough and biting. Turns very peppery and vinous with some yeast notes. Very nice warming feel from the alcohol. Unpolished, I should have probably left it in the cellar another few years.

UPDATED: FEB 20, 2010
Date: November 18, 1998
Mode: Draft
Source: Taco Mac, Sandy Springs
Appearance: hazy amber
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma with a hint of floral hops
Flavor: rich cpmplex malt flavor, lots of sweetness, touch of bitterness

Date: January 12, 2004
Mode: bottle
Score: iii to iiii
Appearance: opaque orange, headless
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma
Flavor: big malty flavor, fruity, slightly alcoholic, richness lasts through the finish

Date: February 11, 2010
Mode: bottle
Appearance: cloudy orange, fine white head
Aroma: sweet and spicy aroma, nice and oaky, touch of tartness
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, plenty of spicy phenols, touch of oak

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *** /4

Date: December 29, 2009
Mode: draft
Vintage: 2009
Words: bsp
Appearance: clear orange, creamy off white head
Aroma: lightly sweet aroma, drying spicyness
Flavor: sweet candy malt flavor, phenols and Christmas spices come in to add a drying effect, candied appricots, touch of peppery alcohol

UPDATED: DEC 30, 2010 2010-12-30, vintage 2004, 6 years old, 12% ABV, 7-5-8-4-16=40
Properly stored for years, it pours the most beautiful amber color, with a medium sized frothy head, reducing to a thin but persistent layer. The aroma is mild, with some malt, spicy, light alcohol, and a nice fruity vein. The mouthfeel is very smooth, it has a good body strength, fair malt flavor supported by a mild sweetness; the alcohol is clearly perceived, but the warmth is comforting; it’s a bit spicy and lightly fruity, complex, mature and it doesn’t show signs of age. Powerful. Very good.

2007-08-02, vertical tasting at Moeder Lambic, Bruxelles
Vintage 2006, 1 year old, 7-5-7-4-14=37
Beautiful golden color, huge whipped head, persistent. The De Dolle yeast has turned the malt aroma into something peculiar, effervescent and fuity, with alpine flowers and a touch of juniper. Medium mouthfeel, thinned by a strong carbonation; the flavor has some dry malt and it’s really spicy. Quite strong bitterness, at the end, and the alcohol is warming the mouth. A good beer, with its originality, but it doesn’t maintain the De Dolle promise.
Vintage 1990, 17 years old, 10-5-10-4-19=48
Splendid dark amber color; big head, reducing to a thin creamy cap. Huge aroma, everlasting, of caramel, ripe fruits (plums, soaked raisins, sundried apricots), fromage à pâte molle, very light hazelnuts, Pedro Jimenez wine. Thick body, very sweet flavor, but also very elegant, with malt dominance, complemented by sweet fruity notes; even sweet tobacco and a vanilla touch. The bitterness is very low, the alcohol non existing, tonight.
A dream.
Such a beauty! This version deserves to mark my rating, even if difficult to find such bottle.

2003-07-09, vintage 1999, 4 years old, 8% ABV, 9-5-9-5-18=46
Beautiful amber color; creamy head; fine, turbolent perlage.
Strong aroma, malty, sweet; honey, lightly fruity (apricots, ananas…); light wood and old hops.
Velvety, very good malt, perfect texture; sweet in the front, immediately corrected by a unique light sour-astringent note, similar to the Duchesse de Bourgogne but more bitter, balanced and complex.
Long final, smooth, still quite sweet.
Impressive for its deep balance; wonderful: with this one, every day is Christmas!