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St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

Percentile
98
overall
Brewed by St. Bernard Brouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale

Watou, Belgium

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
4063.86/5.03.85/5.0Winter10%95.2Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
Commercial Description:
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is the youngest descendant in the illustrious family of delicious Abbey Ales by Brewery St. Bernardus. This specialty beer of 10% alc. vol. is characterized by its deep dark colour, with a creamy, thick head and a full, almost velvety taste with a fruity nose. It's a seasonal ale, brewed annually for the holiday season. The long winter nights are perfect moments to savour this ale with or without friends and to enjoy its unique, complex taste and after-taste.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
sundevil27 (45), , New Jersey, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jan 2, 2009  
750ml bottle poured into a goblet. Well balanced. Some hints of fruit, and full on the mouth. An overall nice Christmas ale from a great brewery.


 stefanje (938), (Santee) San Diego, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
Jan 1, 2009  
750ml bottle from Bev4less. Pours a hazy chestnut brown with a big beige head that shows plenty of lacing. The aroma is rich with Belgian yeasts, dark fruits, spices and sweet malts. The flavor is overtly sweet with sugar and spices (mostly nutmeg, cloves and allspice), cola, vanilla and dark fruits. For added complexity just a touch of funky sour makes itself known on the back end of the tongue. The mouthfeel is full and malty. The finish is long and sweet with lingering rock candy and nutmeg. Overall: A superbly well crafted winter warmer.


 Bragesnak (2257), Aarhus, Denmark
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/513/20
Jan 1, 2009  
From Voldby, DK. Bottled, 311208. amber with white head. Aroma of dried fruit and malt. Flavor is caramel and cane sugar, X-mas spices


 djd07 (733), Houston, Texas, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/518/20
Jan 1, 2009  
400th rating. Bottle shared with potter. Pours a cloudy amber color with a large frothy light tan head that lasts awhile. The aroma is a sweet malt with dark fruit. Good sticky lacing on the glass. The taste is caramel, raisin and brown sugar. Hides the alcohol well. A good Belgian strong ale from at bernardus.


 RedSox2004 (354), Pacific Palisades, California, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/104/517/20
Dec 31, 2008  
Pours dark ruby red and brown with a frothy two finger head that dissipated to a strong film and left solid lacing along the side of the glass. Subtle aromas of dark fruit like raisins and plums, and a bit of caramel. Flavor profile was strong and complex, and featured a pleasantly sweet fruit taste and plenty of biscuity malts. In the background were caramel, black pepper, brown sugar, and various spices. Full bodied, plenty of carbonation, nice malty aftertaste.


 AR (423), Georgia, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Dec 31, 2008  
Rich and Thick. The flavors area an ever-changing sensory experience. It begins with a wine-like grape flavoring and then caramel and sugars step forth. Also bread, cinnamon, and a few other random taste thrown in.


seta18 (12), Boston, Massachusetts, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
Dec 30, 2008  
Much like the other St. Bernardus beers, they will not dissappoint. Color is dark, taste has hints of various spices. The aroma also gives you the smell of these spices. Had on tap, will have in bottle soon to compare.


 nramsburg (200), New York, New York, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/517/20
Dec 30, 2008  
(Bottle) Smells of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and sugar. Small head with deep amber body. Little carbonation. On the palate, lots of malt ad spices. Becomes sour midway through. Lots of deep dark fruits appear. Impressive beer.



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