Bottle at home ... Thanks to Toni for this one ... amber colour ... lager nose ... and again a bog standard lager with just a possible hint of spice... some lemon quite bitter ... all round poor.

Thin, bubbly, light tan head rests on a pale brown body with a slight reddish tint. The aroma is soft and nutty with light spices that give the appearance of soda. Which would be quite alright if it weren’t for the whiff of rotting pumpkins. Earthy, perhaps some chestnuts as well. Flavour is very nutty and soda-like, but again vegetal qualities run roughshod over what’s an otherwise only slightly sub-par offering. Astringency in the finish, think pumpkin rind. Light to medium bodied with a watery texture and fizzy carbonation. The Fischer website mentions that this is brewed with citrus and spices, but nothing further of value. 65cl bottle, Duvel tulip, bbe 12-2008.

Swing top bottle(650ml). –Golden coloured, persistent medium sized white head. Aroma is sweet malty and alcoholic with notes of cereales, honey and something odd (maybe some vegetables). Very unusual Christmas beer.

65cl bottle from Auchan, Calais. Amber colour with lasting beige thick head. Smells like a biere de garde shandy, tastes like a biere de garde shandy, and is mildly fruity. The artificial lemon whilst not being vomit inducing is not nice. The finish has some spice. The worst of this season’s biere de garde noel beers so far. Oh by the way it tastes of shandy. Have I said that already?