St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

Brewed by St. Bernard Brouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Watou, Belgium

Deep ruby color. Dark, but shows a pure redness in the light. Nice thick layer of foam. Strongly phenolic aroma. Vague fruitiness (dates, persimmon?). Spicy yeastiness. Huge sweet fruitiness. Cherries and maybe strawberries. Even a detectable leafy hoppiness in the finish. Do I maybe even get some chocolate in the finish? Now it seems like chocolate covered cherries. Curious and unique. The aroma becomes somewhat herbal and spicy, maybe minty or more like the crushed leaves of strawberry vines.

Pours a very dark brown with a huge, foamy light brown head. Smells very sweet. Molasses, candy sugar, dark malts, and spice come to mind and were all very prevalant. The flavor seemed a bit young, but was still quite tasty. Staying with the sweet theme, it had a good amount of holiday spice to it. I detected a good dose of cinnamon, alot of candy sugar and dark malts, with a mix of some dark fruit in there as well. Pretty tasty brew. Not in the Abt 12’s league by any means, but I think this could still improve with some age on it.

750 ml Bottle - Another excellent beer from St. Bernard. Caramel, malt, chocolate aroma. Fig ,Raisen, chocolate and yeasty flavors with a bit of spice. Would have rated even higher if the spice were toned down a bit with more malt flavor.

(Rating #100 for this beer) Corked bottle, post PP SAF: Rich mahogany with lasting frothy off-white head and very good lace. The aroma has notes of brown sugar, caramel, fig, cardamom, clove, earthy and slightly vinous esters. The taste has a big malty profile with rich caramel and sugar along with ripened fruit. Herbal and spicy tone throughout the tasting. There is a note of alcohol as is it still young and brash. The mouth feel is medium-bodied with a sticky and warming presence. Perfect for the season, get ya some.

bottle. mahogony with huge foamyhead. belgium yeast, rich nutty malts, strong spice aroma. spice up front. rich malt backbone. some dark fruits. mild pepper.

Bottle purchased and split two ways at Ebeneezers, Lovell Maine. Dark brown in color with a large tan head. Aroma of spices, belgian yeast, candi sugar, caramel and chocolate. Taste is fruity with vinous notes, also has chocolate, rich caramel, rum soaked raisins, and musty yeast. Medium to full body. pretty complex, and enjoyable. reminded me alot of their quad.

Bottle from Capone’s. Pours turbid deep ruby/brown with 3-finger khaki head. Aroma of caramel malt, red grapes, plum, chocolate, cherry, candi sugar, brown sugar. Complex aroma. Tastes rich, fruity, with red grape, cherry fig, spicy, caberney, vanilla, and an aroma that reminded me of those Fundip multi flavor packs with the vanilla stick. This one is very nice.

750 ml bottle shared with Ian. Thanks Ian! Pours reddish brown with a big white head. Sour apple, dark fruit, and raisin aroma. Taste is a little bitter more dark fruit and some apple. Nice big carbonation that finishes nice and clean. A winter warmer for sure, very nice.