Duyck Jenlain Bière de Noël

Brewed by Duyck
Style: Bière de Garde
Jenlain, France

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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UPDATED: JUN 25, 2011 Bottle and Draft with Vinnie numerous times. Pours a juicy brown with a frothy, two-finger off-white head. Aroma of fresh Juicy Fruit gum, grapefruit, bananas, plums, fresh red cherries, Belgian candied sugars, malts, toffee, and some fresh raisin hints in the finish. Medium, perhaps even full, bodied with a soft, juicy, supple, yet supportive and rich mouthfeel. Flavors of ripe cherries, vanilla, Juicy Fruit gum, sweet malts and some slight red grapes. Finishes clean, refreshing, and moist. Superb beer. Tragically underrated.

Pours a deep clear amber with a dense khaki head. Head dissipates to a wisp but leaves some soapy looking lacing. Smell is wonderful. Spicy and citrusy hops. Terrific aroma. Can’t say that I’ve had much that smells like these hops. Popperings Hommelbier smells similiar but not exactly like this. Taste is a nice biscuity malt followed by the unusual floral hops. Far less dominant in the flavor the hops. Finishes surprisingly clean with a crisp hoppy finish. Mouth is medium. Only faint hops in the aftertaste. Really good and really drinkable. I could recommend this beer for the aroma alone.

750mL bottle. Clear, deep amber. Aroma is herbal, eucalyptus, butter, sage, thyme. Flavor is big malts, fresh picked herbs, basil. Very light bodied.

THOUGHTS: Like nothing I ever tasted before. Not very Christmasy tasting, but a very nice Christmas gift. Not the greatest beer I’ve ever had, but a very unique beer and after try over 800 beers that’s saying something. I wasn’t used to grassy hops being matched with the very malty, nutty, toasted flavors and aromas. It made for a very different profile. TECHNICAL: Bottle. When it poured it looked clear, reddish, brown (chestnut), but when held to the light it was mored of a dark orange to light brown. It had a small to average, off-white head that mostly diminished and didn’t leave much lacing. The aroma was moderate to heavy toasted, nutty and caramel malts; light to moderate grassy hops; peach, cherry, apricot, and toffee. The initial flavor was rather sweet; while the finish was very sweet, lightly bitter and ever so slightly sour with an average duration. There was caramel malt, toast, nuts, champagne, red wine, grassy malts, cherry and a little citrus. The light to medium body was very easy to drink and was a bit syrupy and then ever so slightly dry with rather fizzy carbonation and a dry and slightly astringent finish.

One pint, 9.4 fl oz (750 mL) brown bottle purchased from Di Carlo Wine and Spirits (formerly Armanetti’s), Mundelein, IL. 6.8% ABV. 2005 vintage. Clear red amber ale having a small diminishing white head with space lacing. No discernable carbonation. Nice spicy orange zest aromas. Medium bodied that starts with light malt sweetness and spicy, orange flavors. Finishes with pleasant light malt aftertaste. I thought this was a Belgium beer but it’s French – oh la la! An outstanding drinkable winter brew. Loved the spicy orange aroma and flavor. Sampled on 2005 Christmas day with visiting family members who unanimously gave it a “two-thumbs” up.

High light brown head on a dark ruby body. Enticing aroma, and the promises are delivered when time has come to taste : a well-balanced christmas beer, not very malty, with fruity (orange, nuts) and choclate hints, and a nice aftertaste. A very well made christmas beer indeed

earthy, woody, cooked vegetables, cloudy, amber, rocky head, medium sweetness, medium bitterness, heavily sour, full body, creamy, astringent, long finish,

This is a good Biere de Garde especially if you like orange flavors. Nutmeg and spicy flavors too. Finishes clean crisp, and dry.

I had a nicely worded commentary about this beer but the server logged me off and I lost it. WTF it was only a few minutes since I brought up this screen. I am pissed off right now.

Anyway, this bottle is over a year old and was a complete surprise. It was soft and smooth, yet kept me interested till the last drop. Sadly this review does not do the experiance justice and I am too angry to rewrite it since the beer is now gone.

Oh it posted now, damn it!

(Dark) amber colour with a nice off-white head (many small bubbles). Wonderfully fruity, lightly sweet aroma which practically makes your mouth water. Initial flavour is sweet (drops) and quite flowery!?! Well balanced by a fairly long, pleasantly bitter finish. My no. 1 French beer (so far anyway)!