La Choulette De Noël - Brasserie La Choulette

Patrick999

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review #600, a Christmas biere de garde on Christmas Day. Poured into a goblet. Shows very good head formation and a few rings of solid lacing. Fairly dark amber, could pass for an American Brown. Impressive presentation.

Smells like a very malty beer, with hints of cinnamon apples.

Lot of malt front to back, but no sweetness ever really manifests on the palate. The beer remains dry through and through, with a dusty mineral character typical and desirable in bieres de garde. Minerals, light spice and a faint suggestion of the apple noted in the aroma. A light hand was used with the spices here; they don't overpower the beer.

Dusty mouthfeel with significant bubbly bite.

Even though this is a Christmas beer, I think this is a pretty textbook example of biere de garde. It adheres very close to style, with minor Christmas-spice accents. Recommended for fans of the style. Good by itself, but as usual, begs for a nice food pairing. It would easily fly with Christmas dinners of all stripes.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 20:53:02 | More by Patrick999

BGsWo22

New York

2/5  rDev -47.9%

03-21-2013 00:12:36 | More by BGsWo22

impending

California

3.64/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

B+

750ml into a tulip. Pours a crystal clear deep copper amber garnet, minor tan cream colored head even with an enthusiastic pour, minor lacing.

Aroma is pulpy overripe fruits, honey, a hint of cherry and notes from a scotch ale.

Flavor is of generic fruits, a little honey and caramel. Quick dry twang quickly is a no bitter finish which fades pleasantly. Medium, smooth bodied, low carbed mouthfeel. Fairly subtle flavor which evolves nicely over a narrow range.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 05:57:50 | More by impending

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

01-30-2013 05:59:01 | More by spycow

sparx1100

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +4.2%

01-23-2013 03:27:23 | More by sparx1100

Hex92

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

First of all a caveat. My bottle was dated 9_22_12. Its December of 2012. So maybe the extra 3 months pushed it over the edge...but I doubt it. Overall a very average beer. I can' t remember what I paid for it, but its not worth getting again.

It just is nothing special. It has no remarkable characteristics. Its OK in the glass. It kinda smells good. And the taste is meh.

There are too man beers out there to pick this one up again.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 02:54:06 | More by Hex92

Sturmthis

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

11-23-2012 05:21:05 | More by Sturmthis

Prost76

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

10-29-2012 18:17:58 | More by Prost76

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a golden orange/copper pour, 2 fingers ofoamy off white head, nice retention.
sweet scents of berries, honey, bready, banana
a very sweet malty profile, full of fruity complexity! Getting a toffee / aramel like flavor up front with a sweet raisin, apple, banana finish. Very tasty ale!!
a highly carbonated medium body beer with a nice creamy feel on the lips. 
a nice surprise of a beer! Picked this 750ml up on clearance for $7 and it was worth every penny.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 00:40:27 | More by facundoCNB

wvsabbath

West Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

06-08-2012 02:28:43 | More by wvsabbath

taigor

New York

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

02-05-2012 12:28:30 | More by taigor

Keiner

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

01-25-2012 20:18:39 | More by Keiner

buyBinboaVodka

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a very dark cloudy amber with a large head that dissapates rather quickly.

S - The smell is sweet malts with apparent spices such as cinnamon, clove, allspice, and dark fruits.

T - The taste is fairly similiar to the smell with the spices coming through and some hints of dark fruits show up.

M - The beer is dry with high carbonation. It eveaporates quickly off the tounge and leaves the palate wanting more.

O - I''m glad I had this beer but probablt wouldn't go back to it. It was well worth the try though.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 04:23:11 | More by buyBinboaVodka

ROGUE16

Delaware

4/5  rDev +4.2%

12-01-2011 13:18:07 | More by ROGUE16

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +30.2%

11-25-2011 22:19:49 | More by Rochefort10nh

gregoryboytos

California

4/5  rDev +4.2%

11-23-2011 01:17:22 | More by gregoryboytos

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My second La Choulette biere, I spotted this at my local and I figured I would give it a try since I had hadn't had any La Choulette Ambree' in about ten years. This one pours a rustic muddled amber brown unsure of what color it wants to be in my glass with a big thicket of foaming khaki tan head. Fine lacing left behind on the sides of the glass this is definitely a french style farmhouse ale, not as funky as Belgian saisons/biere de gardes. Aroma has tart apples/green raisins and a thick layer of fresh baked breadiness, very nice mineral water tone as well binds things together with light herbal hops blended in. Flavor is complex a light air of musky horse blanket, with tart apples juicy plump raisins or plums, with a thick slice of bread with caramelized toasted malts playing the key role here. Strength is well hidden I wouldn't have guessed this had that much booze in it with a blind taste, mouthfeel is a nice juicy round middle with a big dry finish. Medium bodied effervescent airy carbonation very nice texture rolling off the palate with each sip. Overall a likeable biere albeit a bit expensive at 9.99 a 750ml bottle. However, I'm glad I decided to revisit this French brewery not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 14:48:01 | More by WVbeergeek

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Away from the light, La Choulette De Noël has the kind of brown tone that was popular in the corduroy suits of the 1970s. Against the light, however, it reveals a sun-scorched amber that is recurrent in the amulets of ancient Egypt. Indeed, this clear, silken bière de garde ("beer for keeping") looks like it's something worth keeping. And drinking.

The beer's Styrofoam-like head doesn't hide the fact that it smells like a musty basement. Mildewed fruits and moldy bread give this the pungency of the best French cheese money could afford. A soft nuttiness and light caramelization marks the malts, while its musty, woodsy, cellar-like character is simply unparalleled - and impossible to imitate.

I love French wine. I also love French beer (as well as a lot of other things French). But no one ever claimed that the French could brew a more flavourful beer than their Belgian or German or English counterparts, and I certainly won't refute that. Like most French beers I've had, this has a simple profile: moderate maltiness with a slight hop presence.

As per the French diet, this has a super-fresh breadiness. The malts in this offerings are made slightly buttery by light caramelization, which relates with it a plate of dried fruits (figs, raisins and prunes) as well as an initial cheese-like taste. The resounding impression is that of stale tootsie-rolls (a dubiously enjoyed flavour.) Beers like this provide all the evidence needed that farmhouse products (beer, cheese) share common origins.

The aftertaste coating my mouth is that of fig jam and chestnuts. How typically French. The beer is faintly savory, perhaps hops are responsible for this nearly imperceptible herbal element. It drinks with ease, although can't claim to be as refreshing as other lighter, paler ales. Like a bottle of wine, this is best slowly enjoyed, and is wisely shared.

This brewery is a survivor. They've been doing their thing - the French farmhouse thing - since 1885. Unlike a lot of Belgian "abbey" breweries, you can be assured that this artisanal French operation is the real thing. Although the true art of Bière de Garde is basically as lost as the music of the Aztecs, you still have a chance to try the distinctiveness of Europe's forgotten brewing country - buy a La Choulette product.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 20:34:37 | More by biegaman

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a two finger high off white head that slowly died down but never completely faded away..
S: The smell is somewhat earthy and has aromas of caramel and spices.
T: Sharing similarities with the smell, there are flavors of caramel, plums and spices in the taste, which has a slight amount of sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer is very easy to drink; the spices keep it interesting but don't overpower the taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 01:39:07 | More by metter98

jibbyvonjibb

California

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark ruby color. Clear. Very classy. Large foamy head.
S: Toffee, a bit too much.
T: Candi-like toffee sweetness. Fruity: figs. Bit of rustic huskiness in finish that often shows up in Biere de Gardes.
M: Medium body and carb. Finish rather sweet, since there's little to balance it.
O: A caramel candy sweetness reigns in this beer. I can't say I'm a huge fan, though others may like it. Personally, I wouldn't buy it again. But it's not a bad beer - I just tend to prefer drier ones.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 02:16:12 | More by jibbyvonjibb

thierrynantes

France

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer bottles (75 cl. & 33cl.), tasted in 2009/2010.

Appearance : amber color, with white foamy head.
Smell : malty aromas and spiced.
Taste and mouthfeel : malty and caramel, nicely spiced.
Drinkability : a good beer in the French style "Bière de garde"

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 05:48:50 | More by thierrynantes

rdickey

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep reddish amber. Moderate fine white head dissipates relatively quickly.

Smell: Bready malt notes dominate, although there's a subtle hint of dried fruit. Not much hoppiness is apparent.

Taste: The breadiness continues to dominate initially, but it's quickly augmented by some berry notes. The finish is surprisingly dry, as a subtly spicy hop presence makes itself known right at the end.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body - almost bouncy.

Drinkability: Pretty high - the almost effervescent mouthfeel goes a long way here.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 22:20:20 | More by rdickey

mwilbur

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750 mL bottle into tulip.
A: Pours a clear reddish-amber with moderate carbonation producing a rather thick 2+ inch thick head. Good retention and lacing. Very nice.
S: Sweet caramel malt, soft citrus and spice, and a hint of banana and clove.
T: Soft banana and melon. Yeasty bread. Mild clove and spice. A musty note and dried cherries too. Hint of black pepper. Sweet caramel malt and mildly spicy hops linger in the background. Understated, but a nice mix of notes. This one was nice to begin with and grew on me over the course of the bottle.
M: Light-medium body. Soft and smooth to begin with...turning toward a mildly acidic bite midway through. Pleasantly effervescent. An understated, but nice lingering finish. Superb for style.
D: Highly drinkable. An excellent example of style. I believe this is also a very accessible quality brew...bring it to a holiday party and watch the converts discover the true joy of beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2010 05:19:53 | More by mwilbur

megahurts4

Louisiana

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

La Choulette de Noel

Appearance: Honey colored with a medium-large head, and good lacing.

Smell: Sweet candy caramel, slight apple, and malts.

Taste: Malts, apple, caramel, slight yeast (visible, too), and subtle spices.

Mouthfeel: Medium with a smooth, malty texture.

Overall:
How about dessert? This would be great for dessert. The smell is very sweet, but the brew itself is not overly sweet. It has that malty dopplebock-like caramel backbone. It is very smooth and easy to drink, but not too watery.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 03:54:20 | More by megahurts4

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle on sale for $10. I was not sure what to expect from this beer but I was a little surprised how much I enjoyed it. It was a dark amber color with a good head. The smell was spicy and dusty, not bad. The taste was spices, dust almost like a dark saison but also made me think of Christmas spices which could be the power of suggestion at work. Overall I thought this was a good beer but I would not revisit it. I will however purchase their framboise next.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2010 02:15:32 | More by ArrogantB