Christmas Ale - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

4.15/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 750ml brown cork and cage, cool Christmas-themed Bernardus label. Stamped on the top of the cage is 5-27-15 (Guessing that's the best-by date, but I picked this up last year). Poured into two Chimay glasses and split with my wife.

Appearance: Warm mahogany brew with beautiful garnet highlights. Lots of carbonation and a big light tan cap fades to a creamy half finger after a few minutes and leaves some gorgeous sheets of lace.

Smell: Lots of bready yeast, red wine fruitiness, and some Belgian (yeast) spice. Perhaps a hint of candy sugar. Really nice.

Taste: Lots of dark and red fruit (cherries, sweet red wine) with notes of cellar, earth, and a hint of candy sweetness. Green apples on the finish. Mild (balanced, and nowhere NEAR hot) alcohol, ends dry, with a very light bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Awesome; creamy, fluffy, tingly...perfect for the style.

Overall: Even more than the sum of its parts; this usually goes for between 11-13 for a 750 and is relatively widely available. At that price, I think this is (still) after several years is probably my favorite BDSA/Quad out there and, honestly, is close enough to give Westvleteren 12 a run for its money.

A = 93

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 02:01:29 | More by BedetheVenerable

chippo33

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-14-2013 04:34:48 | More by chippo33

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-11-2013 23:07:22 | More by Kmat10

Nolen12

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-11-2013 03:31:25 | More by Nolen12

ripweblo

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -17.3%

06-07-2013 20:09:14 | More by ripweblo

FIN

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-07-2013 18:09:15 | More by FIN

woodenbones

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

06-06-2013 19:52:03 | More by woodenbones

kinmundy77

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

06-04-2013 23:23:33 | More by kinmundy77

DemoniChris

Nebraska

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-04-2013 11:46:35 | More by DemoniChris

DerekMorgan

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-02-2013 19:22:06 | More by DerekMorgan

BobaFret

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-02-2013 02:38:23 | More by BobaFret

Rwalford74

Australia

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-31-2013 09:42:05 | More by Rwalford74

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-31-2013 01:38:15 | More by mattsander

CCutch

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-29-2013 17:11:35 | More by CCutch

mrlucid98

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-26-2013 20:39:26 | More by mrlucid98

WKole81

Illinois

3/5  rDev -29.1%

05-25-2013 12:32:15 | More by WKole81

eawolff99

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-25-2013 03:31:27 | More by eawolff99

shehateme

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-24-2013 23:13:54 | More by shehateme

jayhunter357

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-24-2013 23:07:54 | More by jayhunter357

desint

Belgium

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-24-2013 11:04:43 | More by desint

bsquaredd7

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-23-2013 22:49:08 | More by bsquaredd7

johntfox

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-21-2013 01:00:33 | More by johntfox

ajtorres311

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-16-2013 15:45:06 | More by ajtorres311

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -23.2%

05-10-2013 16:13:07 | More by twenty5

justforrazors

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-10-2013 01:30:35 | More by justforrazors