Elysian Bête Noel Belgian-Style Ale

Brewed by Elysian Brewing Co.
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Seattle, Washington USA

Draft at Capital Hill. Pours a super dark cherry brown, pretty much black with a creamy small khaki head. A touch of roasted malt, dark fruit (fig, dried cherry, raisins), some estery yeast with a hint of almonds and leather. Flavor is pretty much what the nose represents, but the Belgian esters really come out. Peppery, slightly sweet dark pitted fruit with some dark wheat bread. Pretty solid beer, just not overly complex.

Really enjoyed this Elysian Christmas beer. Pours deep brown with thin cappuccino head and lace. Smells smoked, of toasted malts, sugar and bitter chocolate. Taste isn’t what I expected from the smell. Floral followed by chocolate and caramel. Unusual and works well.

On tap at Dog and Pony. Nice slightly tan head with a black body to seal the deal. Looks like a very dark Belgian. Head sticks around for quite some time. Sweet Belgian yeast and some sweet sugar/bubblegum aroma(s) coming through. This is quite the aromatic Belgian brew. Wow, this beer has a strong sweet yeast and candy sugar with bubblegum flavor. It isn’t very thick, or even smooth for that matter (relative to other Belgian beers), but it does have a decent texture. The sugar, yeast, and sweet bubblegum flavors stick out the most to me. Doesn’t have that slight alcohol taste that I am use to some Belgian beers having. Has some nice parts, but overall I feel this is rather boring for the style.

Dark ripe fruit, plums, figs, chocolate, roasted malts, burnt sugars, yeasty esters. Pours almost black with beige foam and some lace.Flavors of Dark fruit, dark roasted malts, chocolate, candi sugars, burnt sugary seweetness, banana esters. Nice assertive carbonation. Lingering sweet sugary esters. Light earthy bitter/dryness creeps in too. Creamier in the body than most for style. Not overly sweet as the roast and black malts balance this well.

(Draught) Pours an opaque dark brown body with a moderate beige head. Aroma of grass, grain, pine, dates, raisins, and spices. Flavor of candi sugar, roasted and black malts, pine, toasted grain, and spices.

On-tap at Elysian Fields and Tangletown. Dark fruits, plums, raisins, figs blackened toffee and strong hints of caramel. Outstanding flavor profile, estery and very alcoholic without any "hot" spots. Great Belgian yeast profile, easy sipping and very dangerous.

This definitely has the Belgian strong/dubbel aroma. Flavor is pretty good overall. Quite sweet and a little fruity, a pretty tasty beer.

Drat. Pours a dark brune body with an off white head. Sweet chewy fruity body with hints of pear plum and light apple like esters. Toffee with some dark roast y coco notes.