De Ranke Père Noël

Brewed by Brouwerij De Ranke
Style: Belgian Ale
Dottignies/Dottenijs, Belgium

33ml bottle poured into a shaker. DRPN pours murky and tangerine-colored with a large fluffy head that persists nicely. The aroma is dusty and mild and generally undistinguished. The body is fleeting; it speeds through the mouth and down your throat and is gone before you know it. The flavor is alcoholic with heavy elements of lima bean. The overall body and finish is exceptionally dry.

Bottle. A light malty smell, a little bit of alcohol, quite mild. A normal large white creamy head with a normal duration. The body is brown-red and clear. Reminds me a little bit of medicine, strange kind of bitterness. The texture is silky with not much carbonation and a light to medium body.

On tap at Novare Res. Pere Noel is another beer from De Ranke that I very much enjoyed. Interesting spicy flavor with a bit of grapefruits and citrus. There’s an earthiness to the whole beer with it’s heavier malt profile. Still lighter than the winters from other countries this is a very good winter brew!

Pours cloudy amber with off white head. Floral hop aroma with Belgian yeast. Mildly sweet flavor with some breadiness and spiciness with a bitter finish. Medium body with lively carbonation. Different than the usual Christmas beers, but a great brew. Reminds me of Chouffe Houblon but not quite on the same level.

750mL bottle. Best before end of: 09 2012. Pours a murky copper with a huge and fluffy light-tan head. Floral, dusty aroma with some lemons, caramel, honey, and hints of yeasty funkiness. Medium-bodied. Very sweet tastes upfront with some light caramel flavors. Creamy chai tea and vanilla transition. Finishes with some lemony bitterness. Subtle herbal qualities throughout. Not too shabby.

Bottle wrapped in green paper containing the labeling info with a plain, unlabeled green bottle underneath. Real cork under a crimp cap. Poured a cloudy orange/amber with a thick off-white head with persistence. Potent, wonderful floral nose with hints of herbs and spices. Delicious hoppy taste with notes of citrus, clove, and other herbs and spices. Bitter/sweet hoppy finish.

Fresh 11.2 oz bottle. I am finally getting around to rating this after the first bottle I had, a 750ml, suffered from a bad cork. Lightly hazy, the body is a brassy, orange-amber color. A large, frothy, off-white head settles slowly to a thin blanket with a prominent edge. Sudsy lace dries into dense, sticky clumps. The aroma is very grassy, with dry and dusty hops lending a green, earthy bitterness, along with some peppery spice. Cereal grains show in the malt base, while just a glint of caramel and honey add subtle sweetness. Flavors include fresh green grass, dry grains kissed with honey, and a dry, bready, Belgian yeast overtone. Peppery and parching in the mouth, the palate is nearly bone dry, yet substantial and well carbonated. Basically a Belgian IPA in nature, this is a fine little brew.

Père Noel, per Natale non potrei pensare a qualcosa di meglio da sbevacchiare in allegria sotto un albero di abete o sotto il presepe o nel presepe al posto dei pastori che sicuramente non bevevano la Père Noel perché non vi era (devo evitare gli apostrofi per carità). Alla spina al Pub del Duca. Sbav. Una delle poche birre di Natale che non stufano mai: bilanciatissima, è un vero piacere berla.