Zinnebir Christmas (X-mas)

Brewed by Brasserie de la Senne
Style: Belgian Ale
Brussels, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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On tap @Moeder Lambic. Spicy, with a dark red colour, it has a persistent foam. Sweet smell with a light bitter aftertaste. Malt and toasted notes. Very good.

Brown coloured beer with large diminishing brownish head and no carbonation visible. Spicy sweet roasted aroma. Full slight creamy and sparkling palate. Finish is roasted spciy bitter (rather bitter).

Bottle, 2012 vintage, from mi-orge, mi-houblon. Opaque dark brown, beige head, some lacing. Nose is yeasty funk, some light summery peaches, grapefruit, then dark plums, raisin, cinammon and ripe cherry. Malty, touch of sour. Mouth is busy, light fruitiness, grape, white grape, some other fresh fruit before the domination of bitterness comes along. Quickly dies to leave spiced maltiness, cinnamon, brown sugar caramelised raisins. Sweet, gentle end, touch of booze. Creeping bitterness long after the swallow. Good, but not brilliant.

Bottle. Pours clear dark amber/red with minimal white lasting head. Aroma is malt, raisin, apple?, fruits, wood. Taste is black currant, spices, raisins, hops and sweet malts. Medium sweet. Body is medium, oily. Finishes woody-dry, somewhat hoppy and malty, the taste lingers for quite a while.

Bottle. Nah... I can’t really put my finger on it. A lot of things going on here... heavy on the malts and a vinous elegance... yet quite anonymous?

On tap at Poechenellekelder. Deep brown in colour with a thick white head. Initial impression malty, with some Belgian yeasty spice in there, but then a surprisingly strong floral hop character comes through. Finish is medium bitter. Hides alcohol strength well, but still a little warming. A very nice hoppy take on a traditional winter ale.

Bottle. Pours dark brown with off white head. Nose/taste of fig, nutty malt, toasted bread, buttered biscuit and caramel and - metal pipe. Unfortunately, the metallic notes dominate the finish. Otherwise, this beer would be a 3.5+. Would like to rerate in case just a bad bottle. Medium body.

Murky brown with a rapidly disappaiting head. The nose is pleasant and fruity with some winter figs and white grape. Highly carbonated and extremely bitter on the palate. There is a hint of ester and some fruit, but an almost metallic flavor mars the finish.

Poured a clear, brown with a light tan head. This isn’t much like most winter-styles, there’s a bit of corriander flavor (maybe some nutmeg), but this is mostly a hoppy Belgian brown ale that finishes with a big bitter kick that’s a mix of dry chocolate and orange peel. The main flavor tastes like caramel with toasted bread crush and a hint of sweet chocolate. Overall a mix of bitter candy malt flavors. Interesting, but not amazing. Certainly worth a try.

330ml bottle. Pours a deep amber, with a beige head. Malty aroma, caramel, toffee, spice, orange peel, hops. Semi-sweet, medium to full bodied, medium bitterness, creamy CO2. Quite malty taste, caramel, toffee, chocolate, hops, fudge, ashes, nuts, slightly oxidized? (2012-04-12)