X-Mas Zinnebir - Brasserie de la Senne

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Taken in the lovely old bar 'Morte Subite' Brussels during Dec 2011. This is a great beer to 'people watch' with on a cold Belgian afternoon.

Looked good in its glass, a hazy dull brown body with a full biege head above.

The nose was a good mix of maltiness, fruit cake and spices, a Christmas feel to it I suppose.

The taste was simular to the smell, but with a yeast flavour coming through the malts, some hop bitterness towards the end of the sip as well.

Pleasant more than wonderful, thought it a bit lively, so slightly over carbonated for my taste perhaps.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2012 11:13:47 | More by BlackHaddock

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the Publick House in Brookline in a goblet.

A: Certainly not a pale ale but it must be mismarked on BA cause it wasn't advertised to me as such. Pours a dark brown but not impenetrable by light. One finger tan foam with medium retention and foamy lacing.

S: Certainly not an overpowering smell- smells faintly of yeast and dark malt.

T: Full dark malty flavor with chocolate notes and a bit of yeast. A very rounded finish but has a nice lasting flavor.

M: Interesting mouthfeel- almost like an Irish stout in that it's slightly carbonated and very slick with no hop bitterness.

Certainly an interesting brew- not one I've seen before- good to try but I won't actively seek it out again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2012 02:33:57 | More by Hopdaemon39

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Correcting the mistake pour from the other day... This beer poured a caramel brown color, hazy, with a small cap of tannish head that receded quite a bit but left some soapy lacing on the glass. I wouldn't consider this a BPA at all...maybe a BDA if anything. Aroma of cocoa and caramel apples. Nice taste, smooth thanks mainly I think to a lower alcohol content; baker's chocolate, apple skin, caramel, dark dried fruits (just a bit, really), light spices, and some bready yeast coming through. Medium mouthfeel, pretty smooth and drinkable, decent overall.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2011 13:52:22 | More by Rifugium

MsRif

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at Teresa's Next Door in Wayne, PA. Poured a hazy dark brown color with an off-white head that receded quickly, leaving spotty lacing. Had an aroma of spices, yeast, dark fruits and sweet malts. Tasted of yeast, cinnamon, plums, cherries and sweet malts. Very, very "Belgian."

Medium mouthfeel with light carbonation. I really enjoyed this brew. I prefer it slightly to the regular Zinnebir. I will absolutely get it again if Teresa's still has it on tap during my next visit!

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2011 00:16:16 | More by MsRif

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.63/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A burgundy red beer with a small head that only leaves some head at the side of the glass.

The smell is a combination of yeast derived smells of spicy, coriander, and malt smells like liquorice and cherries. The beer has a candisugar and dark crystal malty smell too.

The taste is nicely balanced between the yeast character and the malt. The yeast character is typical Belgian, notes of spices like coriander and cloves, without being added. The malts add a nice dark candisugar taste and there is a chocolaty and light dark bread crust taste to the beer. The mouthfeel of the beer is sweet and sticky. This beer is just a decent quad, and although I love it, it is not extraordinairy.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 20:45:33 | More by Absumaster

superspak

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours fairly cloudy reddish copper color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of raisin, apple, pear, citrus peel, clove, pepper, coriander, floral, grass, caramel, honey, toast, candi sugar, bread, and earthy yeast spiciness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of malt and fruity/spicy yeast esters. Taste of pear, raisin, apple, orange peel, clove, pepper, coriander, candi sugar, caramel, honey, toast, molasses, floral, grass, and earthy yeast spiciness. Lingering notes of light fruits, clove, pepper, cinnamon, candi sugar, honey, toast, floral, molasses, and earthy yeast spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity of malt and fruity/peppery esters; with a very nice balance of peppery spice and malt sweetness; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a lightly slick and fairly crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good Belgian pale ale style. Very nice balance and complexity of malt with fruity/spicy ester flavors; and very smooth and crisp to sip on. A nicely enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:00:54 | More by superspak

hustlesworth

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A- pale ale? Hell no, this is a Belgian dark ale. Dark purpleish brown, opaque and topped by a nice frothy beige head. When the foam settles, the swirls of sticky lace take the form of sliced lotus root. Odd.

S- simply put, fruity and spicy. Phenolic notes of pepper and anise along with dark berries, concord grape, black currant, and citrus peel. Side notes of banana and honeydew melon overlay stone, leather, and tobacco. Roasted and coffee notes appear as it warms a bit.

T- taste is darker and more savory that the aroma and those subtle hints of citrus peel now translate into substantial hoppiness. Macerated fruit skins, raisin and prune, stone and damp wood, and even though it's only 6.5% an unwelcome alcohol bitterness that stands apart from the bright lemony grassy hops. Flavor becomes porter-ish and a way, with hints of weak coffee. Lost bits of blueberry and currant fall off near the end and I wish they would have stayed. Finishes dry and yeasty with a black peppercorn spice kick.

MF- body is on the lighter side of medium but still has a hearty grain feeling. Dry on the cheeks and fiercely carbonated, the stinging bubbles add to its thirst quenching abilities.

D- once again this IS NOT a pale ale, and the look, aroma, and taste bear no resemblance to one. It's not bad either considering it being a very hoppy dark Belgian and the wolf label art is quirky and interesting. Dry and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 05:09:32 | More by hustlesworth

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.51/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

this didn't amaze me, and it didn't seem that christmasy. the pour is dark brown with quite a bit of floating yeast sediment. the head is gorgeous three inches tall and just off white, thick, with good retention in my tulip. the nose is somewhere between a Belgian dub and an American brown ale, its malty with some cocoa and roast, but also sort of sweet, and a little tannic like its been finished in red wine barrels. the flavor is the same, becoming almost tartly acidic as it finishes. some residual sugar and fruit notes. nice frothy mouthfeel at first, but the carbonation dies down quickly and it gets pucker from the acid and too sugary at the end. hard to explain really. also my bottle is listed at 7.8% abv I think, and I agree with that more than I do at 6.5%. good buzz on this one. overall an okay xmas beer that leaves out the spice, but its far from polished. overpriced at 5 bucks a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 01:30:16 | More by StonedTrippin

beerdrifter

Germany

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up at a great little beer store in Arlon, Miorge Mihoublon. Murky amber-brown pour with two finger off-white head with decent retention and great lacing. The nose is fruity and spicy with hints of nutmeg, clove, dark fruit, caramel, and just a touch of banana. The taste is complex and spicy with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, brown sugar, plums, black cherries, raisins, and just a bit of ginger. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly fizzy with an odd sour-bitter finish. This is what I like a Christmas beer to be. Spicy and complex. A solid interpretation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 17:00:01 | More by beerdrifter

brystmar

New York

2.7/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nice looking pour with good head. Body looks a bit thin. Nose has biscuits, booze, dark fruit, and malt. Kinda strange but not bad.

Taste is just weird: musty and boozy, hints of smoke (wtf?) amidst the fruit further confuse my taste buds. No spices whatsoever. Finish reminds me of an ashtray. Weird & unfocused.

This beer is about what I'd expect from a novice homebrewer trying out a style he doesn't understand at all. Avoid.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 06:35:53 | More by brystmar

RickS95

Indiana

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A sharp looking beer, but nothing pale about it. Dark mahogany brown, very rich looking. Thick pour. Head is off-tan, a finger thick and gives a creamy finish when it dissipates.

Very malty nose. Bready. Caramel.

Malty taste as well. Biscuity, it follows the nose. Earthy hops, finally something resembling a pale ale. Maybe the slightest bit of coffee in the swallow. As it warms, the breadiness really shines.

Mouthfeel is reasonably complex with several layers. For just a second early on, it's almost sweet, but then an earthiness takes over from the malts and carries into the slightly bitter finish. All the while, it's creamy and full bodied.

It's a good enough Belgian pale ale, but it has nothing to do with Christmas or winter or a seasonal. Still, it's a bit different than most other BPAs and that's not a bad thing.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 04:50:04 | More by RickS95

DevilsCups

New York

3.63/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2oz bottle into Duvel Tulip.

A - Hazelnut brown, slightly cloudy pour with a beautiful pillowy bone colored head. Lacing is superb.

S - Clean is the best way I can describe it. Actually smells like a bunch of American pale ales I've had. Pale malts, slight hop notes. Tiny bit of grassy aroma.

T - Slightly tart bite with a very interesting bunch of flavors. First you get the pale malt and the outside hop-bite. Then comes something I can't quite pin. It's a perfumy grass note that isn't at all unpleasant, and actually rather unique. Brown sugar makes it's way in midway through. A bit of a witbier-influenced finish and a touch of clove.

M - Slightly fizzy and good mouthfeel. Not thin or thick, toes the line in the middle. Not a palette scrubber but enjoyable.

O - Pretty good for a style I rarely venture into. Maybe I'll seek out some more. From what I remember of my Ommegang-heavy days, this is a nice BPA and would recommend if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 05:14:02 | More by DevilsCups

SLeffler27

New York

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This seasonal is dark bronze with a chestnut glow when put to the light. There is a one inch, dense almond head slowly dropping rings of lace as it settles to a thick blanket for the duration. There is some sediment covering the bottom of a Dogfish Head snifter. This one appears too dark for the Belgian Pale Ale style.

Has a spicy nose with nutmeg, ginger, and some alcohol fumes. With some warmth, peach and prunes can be found.

Prominent malts are well balanced with hops. This is closer to a brown ale with wheat bread flavors and a building bitter toasted finish.

Fizzy carbonation and a dry, full body with light astringent alcohol.

While enjoyable, this one falls short of the Christmas specialty style. One will enjoy it with a simple meal.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 13:38:17 | More by SLeffler27

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Belgian pale, I think not. No matter, so it's dark. I'll drink it.

Dark cherry, mahogany, brown pour. A bit hazy. Nice whipped head, a bit dirty white. Great lacing. Quite nice to look it.

Dark fruit aroma with some coffee and chocolate. For the most part the fruit is foremost. A bit of cocoa here and there and the coffee is green. Some booze, too

A sort of a tartness on the fruit in the flavors. Some red plum up front. A hint of herbal spices comes next. The coffee is soft and green, like beans still on the tree. But it's the fruit that comes through in the end. Sharp with some tannin on the end. Some strawberry very faint.

Drinks fairly well, a bit boozy, but nice

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 05:38:14 | More by Mebuzzard

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle picked up at State Line in Elkton, MD. Served in a De La Senne tulip.

Pours a moderate caramel color with a light tan head and some good lacing. The nose carries some nice yeast tones with a bit of spice and fruit and some additional light spice in the background. The flavor falls along the same lines and is fairly well-integrated with everything going on, including the malt. Medium body with good carbonation and a slight chewiness. Good brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 13:28:38 | More by Thorpe429

GRG1313

California

3/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dark carmel brown with a nice firm, but quickly fading, head.

Nose is salty carmel and toffee; hints of hazelnuts and sugared coffee. Undertones of plum.

Mouthfeel is medium/thin and without a lot of appeal.

Flavors are just plain weird. Burnt coffee and green peppers; big celery mid palate and green herbs. Finish is bitter medium strong coffee. All in all a burnt grain character. End finish is bitter burnt coffee.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 01:46:33 | More by GRG1313

Gehrig

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big, white foamy head tops a muddy brown body; tons of lacing and sturdy duration leave my highly impressed with the appearance. Good, malty nose, a bit smoky, a little spicy (ginger, cinnamon) peeks through, somewhat fruity (berry, cherry)--overall quite nice.

X-Mas tastes good, no question. It's rather fruity and rich with roasted malt (caramel, a bit of dark chocolate), but it doesn't quite fit a style. It seems a bit more than a BPA, but it isn't as spicy and robust as a Winter beer. In good part, its straightforward characteristics make it a bit more difficult to discern just where this fits. What would make this easier to determine its fit--and which would surely improve its already nice flavor--are some more strongly defining characteristics: letting the fruit take charge, for example, as so many good Belgian beers do. That would really take this places.

My mouthfeel score might be a bit generous, for it starts out rather effervescent but flattens out a bit at the end. The good, smooth malt content and texture atones for much, and enhances an already accessible, tasty beverage.

X-Mas is surely a good beer and, for $3.49 a pop, it's worth a nod and try. It isn't an overly complex, overwhelmingly tasty Belgian, it's hard to peg quite where this fits stylistically, and I am not sure just how much this stands out among a bevy of good seasonal beers one can procure at this time of year. But X-Mas is good stuff, and I approve of it.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 01:02:21 | More by Gehrig

augustgarage

California

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I've got a few belate Christmas ales to consume, so let's start with a Belgian Pale Ale. I enjoy regular Zinnebir, curious how this compares. Surreal and gorgeous label art I should mention. ABV is listed as 7% with this batch. Poured from a capped 750mL bottle into my Troubadour tulip. Bit of a gusher...

Very nearly opaque thanks to the heavy quantity of yeast/lees. Murky pale copper body with fulvous highlights where light is allowed through. Large persistent fluffy beige head with sticky thick lace.

Potently yeasty nose full of phenolics (taking the place of Christmas spice?), rustic barley notes and a wave of noble hops. Smells much like a dark saison.

Tart palate entry gives way rapidly to a spicy yeasty bready mix of flavors which are jumbled together making picking out individual tastes difficult. Black pepper, sourdough starter, rye, toffee, faint caramel malt, faint ganache, with a nutty/tea-like finish. Each element is rather subtle, but the overall impression is robust. I think this is a bit older so probably the hops have faded compared to a fresh bottle, but I have nothing to compare to...

Effervescent, medium-bodied, lightly warming.

Delicious lightly complex blend, but a bit muddled style-wise. Nice to have a "Christmas" ale that doesn't depend so heavily on nutmeg/clove/cinnamon/etc. It seems you can't go wrong with Brasserie De La Senne.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 05:16:43 | More by augustgarage

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this at the Lancaster county brewers Christmas Party 2010 -not sure who shared it, but I had it in a cervoise slightly cooler than cellar temp.

A hazy caramel color w/ an abundance of floatees - thin beige light cap w/ tiny bead. The smell is of spicy yeast and slight toasted grain w/ hints of wood and caramel w/ a mild aroma of raisin. The feel is great with dry woody, spicy texture. Moderately carbonated w/ subtle phenolic elements and lots of earthy dry and spiced accents w/ subtle astringency and toasty textures w/ light alcohol.

The flavors are good w/ strong yeast presence w/ lots of Belgian character which includes phenolic mild medicinal tinge w/ a medium level of spiciness which complements the slight stone fruit and mild toasted flavors well. The malt has an earthy flavor and the gentle woodiness expresses well with the other elements of the yeast. I was enjoying this at the end of the party with several other BA's and this impressed me that it was able to stand out amongst many other quality Belgian and English strong ales in appearance. I would definitely try this one again.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 14:07:51 | More by Slatetank

metter98

New York

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer poured slightly cloudy dark brown in color with a two finger high beige head that quickly faded into a ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass. Yeast particles are visible floating in suspension near the bottom of the glass.
S: There are aromas of spicy hops and notes of dark fruits in the nose.
T: The taste is rather complex and has flavors of spices (pepper stands out in particular) and yeast; there are also some hints of dark fruits and sweetness. There is a light to moderate amount of bitterness in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied, smooth and somewhat dry on the palate with a medium amount of carbonation.
D: The beer isn't that difficult to drink because any traces of alcohol are well masked. The amount of dryness and bitterness decrease in strength as the beer warms up, making it more balanced.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 03:44:16 | More by metter98

ToasterChef

Maine

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from my notes. Served at Novare Res as part of their bottle room clearance sale. It's a brown and ruby colored beer that looks dark and opaque. A small tan head sits atop the liquid. Many interesting scents in the aroma, such as plum, chocolate, rum raisin and an overarching mild sweetness. The flavor is malty. I can taste cherry juice and a little bit of alcohol. The finish seems to be slightly acidic. It isn't spiced, nor is it overly warming; I don't feel as though this beer needs to be a winter seasonal. It has a body that straddles the line between medium and light. As a swish it around my mouth, it foams up greatly. There is a small slick coat left behind. It's a pretty drinkable beer with nothing offensive about it, but after awhile I'd need to order something hoppier. Still, worth trying a bottle if you get a chance.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2010 12:11:12 | More by ToasterChef

Shakujin

Japan

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle at Delirium Cafe Reserve in Akasaka, Tokyo

Appearance: Black with some light brown highlights.

Aroma: Strong semi sweet chocolate and coffee.

Taste: A lot more flavor than I was expecting from this guy. Taste is less on the sweet side and more on the coffee chocolate side. Those flavors come in first followed by some citrus(?) hop flavors and a substantial bitterness in the back. Hit me as a cross between dry stout and an American pale ale, something like that.

Mouthfeel: Light-Medium.

Drinkablitiy/Overall: Much different from what I was expecting from the Xmas label. Could see myself having a few, especially with the flavor packed into the small package. Could do some interesting desert pairings, or perhaps some well grilled veggies, match the burt flavors with the grilling and the hops with the tanginess of the veggies.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2010 01:52:57 | More by Shakujin

rtepiak

Poland

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pour takes me more as a brune if anything. solid amber with an off white head. the bartender a fan of the brewery said was it was just malt and hops make all those aromas. great nose. coriander, orangepeel, beligan sugar equally blended with malt. palate is peppery to my surprise. with a nice malt character. nice caramel, nougat quality. very broad and easy to drink. with a nice board palate but a light fluffy body. great beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2010 19:58:18 | More by rtepiak

glid02

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased from Green's on Ponce in Atlanta.

Pours a hazy dark amber color with a two-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of lightly toasted malts with hints of light molasses and loads of spices that are almost tea-like. As the beer warms the aroma sweetens a bit and hints of plums waft out.

Tastes similar to how it smells, although not as smooth. Lightly toasted caramel malt flavors with mild amounts of toffee kick things off. Overripe dark fruit flavors join in midway through the sip along with hints of nutmeg. The fruit flavors carry through to a slightly muddled ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass however I'm not sure about another.

Overall it's been a few months since Christmas and while I'd hoped this one hadn't turned over too much I have to think that it has. Still not a bad beer but not worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2010 00:48:11 | More by glid02

melitameister

New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Rich brandy color with some cloud from the bottom dwelling yeast which I pour cause I like it in my drink.
S - complex and balanced with some spice (clove, alspice), malt, candy sugar, hint of fruit (cherry, pineapple) and hello from the happy little yeasties.
T - Burnt maple sugar, lemon, vanilla, brandy, leaving with a fine hops bitter nicely balanced with the malt, fruit and spice. Long with lots going on.
M - Creamy and rich
D - With a name like X-Mas Zinnebir, who would think this was not all that dark, not cloyingly sweet, just a fine tasty concoction. Hope I can find more.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2010 23:10:52 | More by melitameister