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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 
3943.86/5.03.84/5.0Winter10%94.9Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
View Statistics  P 

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?  
 rickgordon (3285), Göteborg, Sweden
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/515/20
Jan 30, 2008  
Bottled. Thanks to Reinhard. Hazy brown colour with big head. Belgian yeasty in aroma, along with candisugar, higher alcohols and bit fruity. Flavour is sweet at first, up next is pomerance, Belgian spicy yeast and darker fruits. Soft, rounded mouthfeel with goof malt balance. Finishes pretty short and is dry at that point.


 beerbuzzmontreal (2909), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/59/103/518/20
Jan 25, 2008  
Very pleasant aroma of spices,chocolate, malt and licorice with some sweetness. The pour reveals a murky brown color with a medium tan head. Excellent flavor of spices, licorice, chocolate and malt. The body is medium with a liquorous texture and gentle carbonation.


 charlotte (1997), Vanlřse, Denmark
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
Jan 25, 2008  
Hazy brown colour with medium head.Taste is strong and fruity really power full Christmas beer,feels vinous and are well balanced.


 beerbill (1918), Laurel, New York, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
Jan 21, 2008  
750 ml bottle. Pours a cloudy brown with some rust highlights when held against sunlight. Moderate, creamy and bubbly light tan head that lasted until about mid-glass. Very pleasant aroma of brown sugar, caramel, raisins, cardomom and alcohol. The flavor is caramel with just a little bit of brown sugar along with some cardomom and raisins. The finish is very much like a brandy with plenty of wamrth from the alcohol. A very enjoyable winter beer.


 brigg (213), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jan 20, 2008  
(bottle) Dark brown body and huge, fluffy brown head. Powerful dark fruit aroma, sweet and vinous. Medium-full body is lively with carbonation on the tongue. Tingling sensation gives way to a very sweet brew - fruit, malt and some alcohol evident. Very sweet but complex.


 CapFlu (3480), Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/103/516/20
Jan 20, 2008  
(750ml bottle) Purchased at Whole Foods in the Denny Triangle, Seattle, for $12.99. I was going to save this for Oakes weekend visit but his recent review clears the way for me to hoard this myself.. bah ha ha! Pours a lively, carbonated deep mahogany-brown beneath a lofty, foam beige head. Nose of prune, fig and Christmas spice. Taste comes across as thinly malted, iodine, pear, prunes, cherry, yeast and alcohol. Good stuff.


 stubby (325), Santee, California, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/105/59/105/517/20
Jan 19, 2008  
Delicious dark strong. Kind of middle of the road for style, but one of my favorite styles and breweries still. Dark fruits, spices, bread and overall goodness. Some heat from the high alcohol and thoroughly enjoyable.


 Oakes (8057), gone rambling, Vietnam
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/104/518/20
Jan 16, 2008  
Dark brown colour. Gorgeous head and lacing. Intense deep fruit - plum, raisin, breadcrust, chocolate and fresh apple - in the nose (yeah, those aren’t all fruits, I get that.) Big, strong, but smooth body with lovely fruit and milk chocolate character. Firm malty, alcholic and still fruity finish. Lovely brew.



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