De Dolle Stille Nacht - Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

33cl bottle that is either best by or bottled in 2003. Regardless, poured into an Oerbier oversized wine glass the brew appears a clear mahogany color with a finger of white cap that fades holding in a ring around the perimeter of the glass with a white coloration. Despite a careful pour, the brew has some particulate stuck in suspension. A light swirl revives a finger back to the surface and produces some faint spots of lacing effect on the glass.

The aroma is sweet smelling with a scent of caramel mixed with toffee grains. Right out the gate, some solvent booze character is present. Some fruited quality is noted blending into bready grain that smells mildly like current mixed with raisins or prunes/dates. When swirled, there is a bit of earthy character that emerges reminescent of other de dolle offerings and a mild touch of herbal hops.

The flavor is bready with grain and has quite a bit of caramelized sugary quality which imparts a significant amount of sticky sweetness. However, the perceived sweetness of this brew is short lived once the alcohol comes into play. The alcohol is fairly aggressive and accents fruited flavors like current, raisins, dates and prunes. There is a familiarity about this brew that tastes like belgian candy sugar with a hint of lemon and cardboard-like oxidation across the back.

This is a medium to fuller bodied brew with a moderate to lighter level of carbonation. For being what I believe is a 10 year old bottle, the alcohol has not mellowed all that much in this offering. Regardless, it is a pretty fantastic brew and one I will be sure to purchase more of when I get the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 03:46:25 | More by stakem

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-23-2013 20:30:11 | More by InspectorBob

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-19-2013 16:54:31 | More by drgonzo2k2

jtladner

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

05-18-2013 22:00:07 | More by jtladner

Liquoric3

Germany

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

05-14-2013 19:06:34 | More by Liquoric3

BierMeJohn

Germany

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

05-07-2013 19:14:07 | More by BierMeJohn

alamode

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

04-29-2013 01:54:18 | More by alamode

deNerval

California

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

04-28-2013 04:13:39 | More by deNerval

Reneejane

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

04-27-2013 23:37:36 | More by Reneejane

CanisMajor

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

04-24-2013 22:51:30 | More by CanisMajor

st9647v3

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

04-17-2013 03:04:00 | More by st9647v3

ThreeFishes

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

04-16-2013 22:57:07 | More by ThreeFishes

beernads

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.6%

04-11-2013 07:17:49 | More by beernads

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.6%

04-10-2013 19:20:45 | More by Rifugium

iL0VEbeer

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

04-06-2013 05:10:32 | More by iL0VEbeer

Jayhoop

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

04-03-2013 16:28:56 | More by Jayhoop

hopswap1

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -15.7%

04-03-2013 03:04:49 | More by hopswap1

bacasnax

Florida

5/5  rDev +20.5%

03-31-2013 23:14:04 | More by bacasnax

GrindFatherBob

New York

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

03-31-2013 21:21:38 | More by GrindFatherBob

aranton

New York

4/5  rDev -3.6%

03-27-2013 01:03:44 | More by aranton

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.6%

03-25-2013 00:35:42 | More by Sparky44

cfh64

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%

03-24-2013 19:20:55 | More by cfh64

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.69/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

33 cL 2010 bottle.

Pours a hazed golden apricot with a foamy white head, thick lace and good retention. Aroma of bubblegum, yeast, peach, booze, banana and bread. Medium thick body, heavy carbonation and a soft body. Flavor is hotter than nose suggested, with a ton of fruit (grape, peach, pear) and bubblegum and bready malt.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 21:59:03 | More by yourefragile

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.26/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

33cl 2012

Appearance. Pours a murky honey-brown with a finger of white head that doesn't last all that long.

Smell. Sweet fruits, mainly fresh pear, but also some orange and a bit of mango, some spicy belgian yeast and just a touch of caramel and grainy light malt.

Taste. Caramel and sweet orchard fruits, some spicy and earthy yeast, a little light grainy malt. Very nice and abv is very well hidden ...too well.

Mouthfeel. On the low side of full bodied, slightly syrupy, fairly soft medium carbonation.

Overall. A very nice beer with dangerously well hidden high abv and lots of nice fruity belgian flavours.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 02:02:31 | More by Rutager

aslamm75

Indiana

4/5  rDev -3.6%

03-21-2013 18:00:54 | More by aslamm75