De Ranke Père Noël

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Pours a hazy amber color. It is highly carbonated and creates a dense off white head. As I pour I get immediate notes of cider in the aroma. As I put my nose further in I get musty as well as fruity aromas. It tastes like a lively funky Saison with a deeper rich caramel note to it. Lightly sweet, lightly tart. Has a slight peppery finish, as well as some dry slightly astringent notes. There are definite flavors of apple cider here. This beer also has a sweet spice type note as well (perhaps a bit of cinnamon). This beer is damn good. So far De Ranke has really impressed me. This is a really good mix of flavors, very well balanced. Walks a wonderful line between sweet on the one hand and dry on the other.

UPDATED: NOV 29, 2008 (Bottled) Opaque, darkish amber color with a small, lasting head. Slightly sweet, malty aroma with lots of yeast, lemon, orange-peel and coriander. Some sourness, too. Very fruity, malty (slightly grainy) flavor with lots of yeast, and smooth, flowery hops. Medium-bodied palate with slightly foamy carbonation. A very nice, smooth and hoppy brew. (0,75l bottle, rated Nov 28, 2003, was 5-3-5-3-10=2.8) Muddy, golden-colored ale. Soapy, flowery aroma. Sweet, fruity, a bit artificial taste. Quite high on CO2. Not very christmas-like to my taste.

pale clear amber colour, fine head, bready and yeasty nose, rancid notes, medium-bodied, dry sweet pepper finish - quite strange

Well, this beer looks pretty inviting and highly drinkable. A very dry, gueze/wheat-scented nose to it, though, which is somewhat un-endearing. But then when I tasted it, it tastes like mildew and rotten citrus fruits. It grew on me a little bit, but I'm not going to drink anymore of it.

Murky, rusty orange, with impressive lace work - highly musty aroma with hints of citrus - musty qualities in the flavor mix oddly with the hops and citrus to create a flavor that I can best describe as a mixture of mildew and cleaning products - some mild, malty sweetness comes in to try and correct this horrid mistake, but it doesn't really make up for it, as the bitterness returns to create a highly medicinal finish - what a waste of 10 bucks.

Bottled. Rustic orange, murky and interesting. Bitter flavour with a biscuity texture. Could be smoother.

Bottle conditioned. Amber bronze, good white head and moderate condition. Excellent spicy, pine resin hop aromas with hints of coconut. In the mouth it is sweet, the hops are more muted and fruity malt takes over briefly. A hop bitterness develops that becomes obtrusive in the finish. A confusing beer that reminded me of Pops Hommel in the nose and seemed unlike most Belgian christmas beers Ive had.

Really nice murky orange stuff. kind of like a cross between an IPA and a belgian, it works well. Slightly residual mouthfeel, with some earthy orangey notes, finish is bitter, citric and hoppy, has a nice spicyness aswell. De ranke have done it again!!!

Amber with a small head. Yeasty light peach and banana candy aroma, light carbonation level. Finishes bitter and acidic.

750ML bottle, best before 10/06 drank on 3/03. Severe gushing when bottle is uncorked. Pours a cloudy orange with a small head. Yeasty light fruit aroma, light carbonation level. Finishes bitter and acidic.