Bush de Noël (Scaldis Noel)

Brewed by Dubuisson
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Pipaix, Belgium

Pours a translucent red brown color. Has a mild tan head that goes away fast. Smells and tastes of booze, sour grapes and licorice. The taste has a nice deep body. I thought it tasted more like a strong port w/sugar near the end of my glass (as the beer warmed). Nice beer but the balance could be better.

Pours a ruby-brown color with a thin white head that fades but remains somewhat present until the glass is empty. Fruity bouquet nose with alcohol. Aroma of carmelized sugar and molases. Taste is boozey and the bottle could probably use some rest. Sweet malt and the hops are hidden the background but give good balance. Good palate and overall a nice amber seasonal.

Brilliantly well balanced, complex palate of many different flavours rolled into one merry flavour. Substantially sweet and delicious. The palate is so intricate. Yum. Sweet without being overly so. Bready feel. Caramelly. Great beer!

Botttle. Pours an ugly murky brown that lightens at the top of the beer. Almost no head, what there is is a whispy off-white that clings to the edge of the glass. Strong aroma if sweet malt with a spicy, peppery kick, citrus, juniper. Very rich, alcohol strong flavor

Very sweet, sugary, and heavy on the palate. Nice warming alcohol and a touch of hops. Good winter beer.

( 25cl bottle) pours clear dark orange-red and head that fades quickly. Nose of burnt caramel, alcohol, raisins, figs and bread. Taste is very warm alcohol, bready, spicy yeast, and chipotle-laced fruits. Finishes very warm, more bread, under-carbed with prunes and other dark fruits. I actually enjoy this one quite a bit in the small sample but wouldn’t want much more than the 5oz I had.

Very seductive beer. Loads of sweet toffee fruits and funky malts. Fizz is low which makes it great for a sipping style. The ABV lends some vry overt sweetness along with a licorice / aniseed character. I didn’t find it particularly hop but to be fair there’s a huge fit to combat the malts and sweet fruits. Some purnes and fruitcake to finish. Really good the alcohol is very well hidden. Needs to chill to lift the heavy palate.

25th April 2008 The worlds strongest christmas beer says the bottle! Actually the alcohol is well disguised. Amber ale with a little chocolate. Lacks complexity but very drinkable.