De Dolle Stille Nacht - Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers

jrallen34

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I drank this on tap at the Map Room into a De Dolle tulip.

The beer pours a rusty brown with a nice white head, lots of carbonation. The retnetion is good as well as the lacing.

The aroma is malty with spice, honey and star anise.

The taste is nice, doesn't have a ton of the spice but very complex.

Good feel and drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2010 20:40:43 | More by jrallen34

berkey

California

4.28/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Trappist 01/13/10

Hazy pale amber in color, fairly light for a BSDA. Head is retained somewhat poorly relative to the style. Leaves some filmy lacing on the sides of the glass.

This is one potent bastard in the aroma department. From spiced apple cider to strawberries to dried apricots and back. Like a lethal blend of several types of Brandy distilled from different fruit.

Very clean on the palate but with spice and strawberries still out front. Nothing like strawberry candy though, more like fresh picked strawberries before they're completely ripe. The apricots from the nose are still a significant part of the flavor while the Belgian yeast character that was kind of crowded out on the aroma is more identifiable.

Body is inhabited my a modest population of very small bubbles. Not as highy carbonated as the bottled De Dolle beers I've tried but it works for this beer. The first small sips I could feel a slight alcohol burn in the mouth and throat but about halfway through I'm no longer getting that.

A delicious but intense brew. I was hoping to get in more reviews at this event but after this monster I have a feeling palate fatigue will set in soon so I'll stop here.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2010 20:56:16 | More by berkey

Travlr

District of Columbia

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draught at the source.
A: Cloudy golden with huge white head that lingered, then left excellent lacing.
S: Caramel malty aroma with light spice in the background.
T: Caramel taste with mixed spices, maybe nutmeg and cinnamon, and a chocolate finish. Well-balanced and highly complex.
M: Excellent body.
D: A winner.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2010 03:02:04 | More by Travlr

drabmuh

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer is amber and hazy. The carbonation level is low and therefore the head is diffuse and broken, gravitates to the edges of the glass. Lacing on the other hand is high. As the beer is drank the lacing keeps getting better and better.

The aroma is a mixture of bitterness and esters. Nice fruity smelling esters matched with strong bitterness like orange peels. The yeasty smell is also there.

The beer is a little sour and has a strong taste that I associate with tripels. The mouthfeel is a little thin and the drinkability is high. There is almost like an apple character to this beer. Beer is quite interesting and it lingers in the back of the mouth for a moment.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2010 18:44:43 | More by drabmuh

meechum

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at the Brick Store

A - Came to the table in a tulip glass. Nice hazy orange with a tight white head that fell slowly and left a good lace on the glass

S - Had a spicy smell to it with a whiff of raisin or plum and a citrus hoppy smell and just a little bit of a boozy smell

T - Very much like the smell..big fruity ester statement and a good citrus hop flavor

M - A little thick for the type of drink..and very boozy..made it a little bit hard to finish for me

D - Overall it was a very good beer and I think the brewer got what they were shooting for..I don't think I'll be looking this one up soon..but certainly a good beer

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2008 16:26:05 | More by meechum

DaggerEyes

New York

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a hazy orange with a thin head that disappeared rather quickly.
Nose was a bit tart loaded with fruit (figs, prunes, raisins, apricots, perhaps slightly fermented apples) and caramel brown sugar sweetness.

Malty sweet taste with loads of fruit and the caramel sweetness and a crisp and bitter finish. There is a slightly herbal quality to the taste as well

Alcohol is masked dangerously well, this one can really rock you in no time at all.

I would jump at the chance to have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2008 16:46:57 | More by DaggerEyes

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.6/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark orange, purple, amber mix depending on the lighting it seems. Good foaming head in the mini-snifter, chunky.
Smells of soft fruit and yeast. Banana and persimmon seem to take the first whiffs. Then on to tangerine and peach. Yeast gives it an extra richness.
Tastes well of the soft fruits and yeast. Sweet malt compliments well the fruits. Sort of glides through the mouth and swallows itself. Little effort enjoying this one.
Fantastic.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2007 23:54:45 | More by Mebuzzard

BeerHonky

New York

4.63/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Spuyten Duyvil, served in a medium sized wine glass. About three quarters full and a nice fluffy white head about two fingers tall filled the rest of the glass. Beautiful golden-orange color that is slightly cloudy. Darker at the center with yellow highlights on the fringes. Smells AWESOME with lots of fruity esters. I can pick out a lot of different citrus fruits, even some apricot, with some banana mixed in there as well. Spells JUICY. And sure enough, it is indeed juicy. Up first is a blast of delicious fruit esters that are very well balanced. Juicy pear, some citrus notes and a little gumball/banana as well. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel with light carbonation. Once past the fruit I got a nice, light malt sweetness that was mixed with a nice bit of dry spice flavor. Alcohol is well hidden in this brew which makes it a little easier to drink.
This is perhaps my favorite belgian ale to this day. Frickin' delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2007 22:29:29 | More by BeerHonky

GClarkage

California

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

05/25/05- On tap at the Toronado in San Francisco, CA

Presentation- From the tap into a tulip glass. ($7.50 during happy hour)

Appearance- A golden approaching orange color. About a 1/3 inch tight bright white ultra creamy head. Average lacing left.

Smell- Kind of a sweet and sour scent. An overload of scents, but none of them are standing out. Sweet for sure though.

Taste- Tons of stuff going on in this brew. My friends were floored when they took a sip. It's got sweet tropical fruit flavors. Almost the kinds you would find in a daquari or something. Maybe peach, nectarine, papaya, etc. It's also got a super sweet taste as you swallow like cotton candy. It has a tad, just a minute tad of bitterness from the few hops. You can sense the alcohol though, even though it's not even 9%.

Mouthfeel- Sticky sweet elixer with ultra low carbonation. Makes if feel like a 12%abv when it's not.

Drinkability- An excellent nightcap brew. Maybe even with a dessert with tropical fruits in it. Or maybe pair it with a chocolate dish. Either way it goes down smooth and really warms you up inside.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2005 00:31:25 | More by GClarkage

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Muddy Pig, St. Paul, MN...

Very sedimented medium brown, dull and sort of muddy looking. Thickish head settles as brown grey skim of 1/8 of an inch. Not the most attractive of beers. Laces in wide loops. Candied fruit aroma, sweet, like the bread and candies of hot cross buns at Easter. Full mouthfeel and very low carbonation, would come off as lush if it wasn't for prickly cinnamon and alcohol tones. Lots of fruit flavors come through, tempered by yeasty flavors and an awful lot of residual sugars -- what hits me especially is mincemeat with a coal-like bittering as the brew rounds out. While not my favorite as a pie flavor, it works at least intellectually in the brewer's art, the flavor profile is to be respected here, in my opinion. Comes off as very alcoholic to my tastes. Smooths pleasantly as it warms up. But still, for me, gloppy and overly sweet...

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2005 19:18:01 | More by ADR

bigbelcher

Arizona

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not any christmas type spices in it but a great very sweet malty brew. I had it on tap. It poured a cloudy brown color. Lots of yeast in the keg I guess. Very drinkable but you have to like sweet malt flavor over hops. A nice beer to enjoy year round not just at Christmas time.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2004 20:20:47 | More by bigbelcher

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on tap at RedBones.

Poured a hazy, amber brown color with thin foam that settled flat. The smell was a very nice sweet caramel and dried fruit (figs, raisins) aroma with some malt. The taste was full of dried fruit flavors, with some caramel malt sweetness, some sugar, and a vinous grape flavor. Very nice. The mouthfeel was smooth and sweet with medium body and low carbonation. The sweet fruity flavors lingered on the tongue. This was a very enjoyable beer, great for sipping and savoring.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2004 23:18:48 | More by UncleJimbo

drewbage

California

4.97/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Sampled at Lucky Baldwin's prior to the 2004 Belgian Beer Fest. This was a 6 year old keg that Dave had squirreled away somewhere in his pocket universe devoted to odd ball keg storage.

The beer was poured into a Duvel glass which allowed the aromas to collect, congregate and swirl.

Aroma is clean white sugar just turning to a very potent caramel that's been drizzled over peaches.

Flavor continues the spiced dried peach theme, but this time it adds bananas and pineapples to the mix of carameled fruits.

The finish follows with a flavor that reminds me of the sauce for banana's foster, alcohol, amaretto, buttery slick and caramelized brown sugar.

Astounding! This is dessert in a glass and not your run of the mill, honey let's buy a pie from the grocery store dessert. This is dining at the Ritz, tuxeoded waiters and dishes enflambe type of dessert. A sure rarity, but it points to the possibilities inherent in a well aged De Dolle product (assuming the beer's in the bottle is clean).

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2004 18:44:19 | More by drewbage

Gusler

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a slightly hazy and deep amber color with a frothy bright white head that piles high upon the body, as it desiccates the lace forms an encircling sheet upon the glass. Nice cotton candy sweet nose, caramel, ripe fruit dominate, fresh and crisp, a real treat for the senses, start is moderately sweet, perfectly malted and the top middling in feel. Finish is timidly acidic, the hops benign in their bite, sweet and sherry dry aftertaste, a fine beer and one I enjoyed immensely.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2004 21:42:03 | More by Gusler

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at Redbones. Pour was a dark cloudy amber, head which settled down nicely. Aroma was of caramel. I found the taste to be of candied caramel. Mouthfeel was rather full, but very smooth and sweet. Definitely a sipping beer, I thought it would make an excellent dessert beer. Good, but a little bit goes a long way.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2004 17:33:16 | More by PatandDavid

UnionMade

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

1998 vintage sampled around Christmas 2003.
The beer is a burnished brass, served in an Orval chalice. Slight cloudiness. A gigantic froth of almond head attempts to break free of it's glass encased existence, standing about an inch out of the chalice. It loses it's battle quickly, but retains some spirit by maintaining a firm covering throught the course of the beer. Loads of sticky brussels lace let the glass know who's boss.
The aroma is gigantic, detectable from 2-3 feet away. Hugely malty and sweet, with copious amounts of candi sugar. Extremely fruity, with dates, pear, plum and some orange peel sweet & sourness. Some spicy tartness, with a sweet, liqueur-like alcohol presence. Faint herbal, floral hops, with a touch of clove like phenols.
The flavor starts with soft caramel-like maltiness, incredibly sweet and sugary, similar to white, refined sugar. The sweetness carries through the entire sip, supported somewhat with a bit of tartness in the finish, but miraculously not quite cloying. Candi sugar is apparent throughout. Monstrous estery sweetness comes through on the top of the tongue, bleeding into the finish like two colors of oil paint running together. The fruitiness hints at nectarine, plum, dates and some green raisin tartness, with just a siggestion of sweet orange peel. The alcohol is completely hidden under the sweetness. A pleasant yeasty tartness, with some spiciness, bolsters the finish. A bit of peppery flavor comes through. Some saaz hops, perhaps? Very full bodied, with huge amounts of unfermented sugar. Active carbonation provides a spritzy smoothness that carries the sweetness well.
This brew comes off more like juice than beer, with a stickiness clinging to the lips and a monstrous sweetness. This would be a terrific, albeit expensive beer to give to that girl you know that only likes fruity, neon colored mixed drinks, and claims that beer is gross. Not that it's unpalatable for a connoisseur, but it's an accessible flavor for the uninitiated. The $8 price tag on my glass will definitely prevent another round, but I don't think I could handle another anyways. The sweetness gets to be a bit much, and the last few sips become cumbersome.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2004 13:51:16 | More by UnionMade

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

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

MRsojourner

Massachusetts

3.76/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

aroma of fresh leather, light pilsner and fermented grapes
color is a light copper with a thin head that dissipated quickly leaving a slight film
this drinks more like a mead than your average Belgian pale ale. you get a lot of raisin and blackberries and that special b grainy flavor along with a touch of spice that finishes quickly leaving you with a dry finish and not much of an aftertaste
The alcohol is definitely present and warms you up as this is a sipper and not something you would quaff but a treat to be savored.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 23:43:49 | More by MRsojourner

cavedave

New York

4.53/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

2012 edition

A lofty, off white head, long lasting and threatening to overflow, tops an extremely yeast-floatie beer of cloudy copper color.

Smell is full of luscious sweet fruit syrup aromas, peach, nectarine, plum join nice spicy and alcohol sweet for a perfume delicious.

Taste is all of the fruits and spice of the nose, plus some really nice vinous components, and the sweet isn't syrupy in the mouth, As it nears room temperature it really starts to shine some herbal and malty complexity, with just a righteous amount of tasty bitter entering into it. Delicious.

Mouthfeel should be cloying and overdone by the sweet fruit flavors, but isn't. Despite look the carb. is med./perfect, the cling is clean, and the finish is just juicy/spicy enough.

Fantastic beer, just superb, really hides the alc., I guessed it at 8%. It's just right in all the ways it tries to be, and they all play well together. Highest recommend.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 20:49:32 | More by cavedave

Brandywine

Washington

4.41/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: A deep hazy, golden orange. Poured half a finger of an off white head. Gigantic alcohol legs. A thin film of bubbles stays on top. Big lacing.

Smell: Banana, clove, nutmeg, breadiness, raisins, a baked or sugary aroma.

Taste: Bright yeasty fruitiness. Hard to describe but banana and orange and spices comes to mind. Spices come out more in the middle. Definitely getting clove. Lemon mixes in with the fruit. The breadiness doesn't feel heavy and the high ABV is completely hidden in the taste.

Mouthfeel: Very full but not too chewy, with just enough carbonation.

Overall: An awesome Belgian strong pale ale. Very well balanced between fruit and spice with no booziness.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 03:36:46 | More by Brandywine

Jonada

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 Vintage. Served in a tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a rusty golden color, with less than a finger of white head. Hazy with quite a bit of sediment floating in the glass.

Smell: Sweet ripe fruits, pear, apple, clove with a spicy powdery Belgian yeast character. No hop presence at all.

Taste: Very sweet from start to finish. Other than that the taste follows the aroma. Lots of juicy apple and pear flavors. Additional notes of white grape, honey, vanilla, clove and spice. The alcohol is masked very well.

Mouthfeel: Body is on the lower end of full. Medium levels of carbonation.

Overall: This is a really interesting beer. You'd think this would be a sipper given the high sweetness and ABV, but it's surprisingly drinkable. I would definitely have this again, and would really like to try the Riserva version.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 01:58:51 | More by Jonada

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.44/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The mad brewers at De Dolle have reprieved themselves- they must cheer with delight after ushering this beer to market- because there's absolutely nothing to be mad about. This is a superb strong Belgian golden ale that spans the gamut of who's who in Belgian beer flavor; and does so with finesse, balance, and quality.

The Christmas ale pours with a stern honey amber color that trends burnish bronze in the body, but coppery about the thinner edges. The strong ale builds a mousse-textured ivory head that laces with the classic essence of Belgian lace. Its unfiltered appearance yields a yeasty haze that get the beer to glow like a dim nightlight.

Resting just behind the honey-sweet aromas are the tangy tartness of vinous fruit- white grape, wine rot, sugar cookie, sourdough, and orange blossom all play into the stunning and varying aromas. A heightened floral note of honeysuckle and clover decorate the stronger malt and ester notes with a sense of finesse and refinement. Spicy cloves and white pepper tickle the nose... and we haven't even discussed the taste yet!

And it with a honey sweetened upstart with a pep of savory kettle caramelization that the early palate favors a supple sugary introduction. Yet the beer quickly draws in an earthy display of hops that contribute elements of spicy wood and grass notes in balance. Still, an estery complex that's comprised of a plethora of fruits span the taste of pear, apple, peach and apricot. Candied versions of fruit emit with the emulation of lemon drop, "Pez,", and cotton candy. Finishing with the vinous Chardonnay taste of white grape, pepper, alcohol, and racy acidity- the beer covers all the bases and does so with impeccable balance.

Reluctantly full in body, the zesty carbonation of sparkling with rushes across the palate and lifts the bready-rich textures of malt from the mouth. This ushers in a malty-dry middle palate that favors fruity dryness heading into finish. Late dryness seems mostly from high alcohol warmth, but is aided by moderate acidity, wine-like tannin, and receding grain sweetness.

As the beer closes, I don't feel that I have fully explored all of the beers slight nuances or it's powerful complexities. I simply hope that this review has given you a glimpse into the shallow impressions that I gained from this session. Still, a heightened sense of dryness, even at the determent of 10% abv. just might improve it's character.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 06:45:05 | More by BEERchitect

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.68/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Double review here, averaging the scores of a back-to-back tasting of 2010 and 1984 vintages. Thanks to Hopstoopid120 for the fresher of the two, and beerpirates for the older - a birthyear beer for me!

2010
A: Clear orange-amber body and a finger of persistant off-white froth that leaves nice lace. Excellent. 4.5

S: Rich, intense candi sugar. Toasty, caramelized almonds and tangerine. Really nice. 4.5

T: Ripe fruit, caramelized sugar, and smooth alcohol. Simple and delicious. 4.5

M: Medium body, lightly sticky with lively carbonation. Good. 4.0

O: Yet another excellent De Dolle offering - distinctive, flavorful, and delectable. 4.5

1984
A: Clear, dark red-brown body with a cap of frothy tan foam. Great carbonation for an ancient brew! Unbelievable. 5.0

S: Ancient indeed. Basement mustiness, sherry, and dark fruit. Crazy old, crazy good. 4.5

T: Follows the nose with the addition of terrific lactic and cherry tartness. Smooth, rich, complex, and wonderful. 5.0

M: Smooth, slick, lightly but creamily carbonated. Couldn't be better. 5.0

O: Wow. This was one of the most spectacularly good cellared beers I've ever tasted, and particularly meaningful since it's as old as I am. 5.0

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 02:59:17 | More by woosterbill