RateBeer

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
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
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?  
 BigBen2120 (688), Derry, New Hampshire, USA
4.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/510/104/520/20
Aug 17, 2009  
(Review written December 2008) 75cL bottle from The Lighthouse in Manchester, Maine. Pours a hazy but still translucent dark copper with a half inch of light tan head. Smells intensely fruity and spicy, with banana, nut, and chocolate notes. Tastes fruity, chocolatey, and spicy, with an underlying toastiness. Banana, nut, cherry, dates, and cloves all play nearly equal roles. On the heavier side of medium-bodied with ample carbonation. More of a sipper, though one sip most definitely invites another and this beer was gone long before I wanted it to be. Wow. Quite possibly the best beer this brewery makes, a phenomenal Christmas beer, and one of the most flavorful and complex beers I’ve had all year. Amazing!


 tarheels86 (732), Washington DC, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/103/515/20
Aug 16, 2009  
Christmas in August. 750 mL (split) into an Orval chalice. Pours a deep, cloudy mahogany with amber highlights with a one-finger tan head that leaves spotty lacing. Sour aroma with some overripe fruits, candi sugar, mustiness. Dark chocolate and cocoa taste with a fairly dry palate. A bit fruity and perhaps a bit too sweet. Spices show as it warms. 10% well hidden.


 Rynoplasty (507), Louisville, Kentucky, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/103/517/20
Aug 12, 2009  
Pours hazy dark brown with a tan head. Aroma is banana, spice, dark fruits and candi sugar. Flavor is nice estery banana, with caramel and roasted malts as well as a little bit of spice. Very good.


 thirdeye11 (520), Texas, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/516/20
Aug 9, 2009  
(750ml bottle) Pours a dark opaque brown, nice tan creamy head. Nose is slightly sour, dark dried fruit, banana, and spices alongside bready yeast. Taste is mild Christmas spices, bready and biscuity yeast profile. The finish is spicy, creamy, sweet and velvety. The alcohol is SO well hidden in this one. A very good Belgian beer.


 onystrom (782), Århus-Randers Crew, Denmark
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/56/103/515/20
Aug 8, 2009  
HAzy dark amber color with great head. Citrus aroma and citrus flavor. Nice palate (backlog entry).


 TaktikMTL (2771), Montréal-Nord, Quebec, Canada
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/104/516/20
Aug 6, 2009  
Bouteille de 750 ml, avec bouchon de liège, obtenue via Importations Privées Bièropholie. Arôme: Odeur d’épices et de caramel avec une pointe d’agrumes. Apparence: La couleur est ambrée brunâtre avec une faible densité de bulle. Présence d’un moyen col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de clous de Girofle et de caramel légèrement fruité avec une pointe de pamplemousse. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement onctueuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Présence de clous de Girofle en arrière goût. (Rating #2560)


 mar (1815), Dallas, Texas, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/517/20
Jul 31, 2009  
bottle thanks to thirdeye11. dark brown with a cream colored head. nose is belgian yeast, spices and dried fruits. not bad on the palate with a heavy flavor of nutmeg and other holiday spices. finishes with a healthy dose of belgian yeast and a pretty well hidden abv.


 arrogantb (700), Denver, Colorado, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/103/513/20
Jul 30, 2009  
Christmas Eve seemed an appropriate time top open this beer. It was very dark brown with a white head and the bubbles seemed really compacted together. It smelled like slight herbal mints, whiff of chocolate (barely detectable), and raisins. The flavor was raisin and plum-like. Decent stuff but the 10.5 ABV knocked me down. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 12-25-2007 17:40:07



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC