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St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale - Belgian Strong Ale

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 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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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
3933.86/5.03.84/5.0Winter10%94.9Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
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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?  
jwardell (23), Newton, Massachusetts, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/510/103/519/20
Dec 12, 2008  
On tap. Deep, sweet aroma. Sweet yet sharp taste that keeps getting sweeter towards the candy sugar aftertaste. Deep black appearance. Makes every other holiday brew jealous!


 IrishBoy (2685), Bakersfield, California, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/104/517/20
Dec 12, 2008  
750ml bottle from GM Liquors in my St Bernardus Watou glass. Nose very raisiny, plummy, with caramelly sweetness and clovey spiciness. Clear brown with a small beige head. Flavor is sweet caramel, light alcohol warmth, lots of fruitiness, and a little peppery spiciness. Finish is fruity, spicy, and lightly sweet with a mild warmth.


jacobp51 (5), San Diego, California, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of St. Bernardus Christmas Ale does not count
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/105/515/20
Dec 12, 2008  
On tap at San Diego Brewing Company. 8 oz snifter. Very mild, sweet aroma. Very deep brown in color with light, lacy head. Very smooth in the mouth with pleasant maltiness a mild fruit esters. Overall a very pleasnt brew that feels right at home for the holiday season.


 nbutler11 (729), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/517/20
Dec 12, 2008  
On tap at Whole Foods in Chandler. Had this with a bowl of chili and actually felt like it was winter in Arizona. Pours jet black with a malty brown head that leaves gorgeous lacing. Looks as good as it tastes. Loaded with dark fruits, orange peel, cinnamon, caramel, bread pudding...all the holiday classics. Probably the finest holiday beer Ive yet to try.


 hapjydeuce (763), Del Mar, California, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/516/20
Dec 12, 2008  
On tap at OBriens. Murky brown color with rocky head and plenty of that St. Bernardus classy appearance. Malty aroma similar to that of the Abt 12, with raisin, plum and potpourri. Flavor is a bit sweeter, with more attention towards cinnamon and ginger spice. Some gingerbread sticking through on the finish. Still retains the Trappist-like yeasty body on the palate. Firm and thick mouthfeel. Goes down easy.


 luttonm (274), Belgrade, Serbia
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/58/104/517/20
Dec 12, 2008  
Tap at Stumbling Monk. Sweet, roasty spicy malt. Bright but heavier and paler than the exceptional abt12. Strong taste that is nice, a terrific beer but no where near as interesting or nice as the abt


 caesar (3020), Bunnik/Utrecht, Netherlands
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/515/20
Dec 11, 2008  
Tap at City beer, SF. Dark color, brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, some dark fruit, spices, licorice. Good strong malty taste in the typical bernardus way, but with a bit more xmas spices and slight less sugar. Very nice stuff.


 KAggie97 (2406), Ugly, Hot, and Humid Spring, Texas, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/104/517/20
Dec 8, 2008  
Corked bottle. Pours a perfect amber brown with a generous head; reminds me of a root beer float. Aroma is sweet, with hints of cinammon malt and bitter English toffee. Flavor is spicy cinammon diluted with tangy vanilla ice cream. Nice body that lets the beer sit lazily on the tongue. Very approachable despite the high ABV. Definite seasonal repeat.



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