Christmas Ale - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

tectactoe

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep brown, ruby red color; murky and opaque with a thick, fluffy, creamy, and long-lasting beige head. Sweet and malty aromas jump from the glass immediately upon pouring; wine-like in aroma, with grapes and phenolic smells meshing together. Apple skins, berries, prunes, and a subtle hint of clove from the signature Belgian yeast. In the taste, there are many more spices coming out than were in the aroma. Nutmeg, anise, ginger, tiny bits of cinnamon, maybe even a touch of white pepper. Some light cocoa notes all around, bready and thick in flavor, clove and some spicy bitterness hits fast on the tail end. Earthy, dirty, and again full of boozy fruits - plums, figs, apples, soaked in booze. Bread and a touch of rye in the aftertaste. Thick body, heavy, lots of fine carbonation.

A solid Christmastime BSDA that acts as a wonderful winter warmer. One of the things I like about most BSDA's are their complex flavor profiles, and this one is no different. Lots of things going on, but they work together well.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 12:36:23 | More by tectactoe

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

beernads

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -17.3%

05-08-2013 08:06:41 | More by beernads

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -17.3%

05-08-2013 00:05:42 | More by cadaugherty

Stugotzo

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-07-2013 21:26:34 | More by Stugotzo

Lare453

Florida

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-05-2013 22:58:58 | More by Lare453

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-05-2013 20:29:06 | More by Mebuzzard

CoolEthan

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-04-2013 19:42:27 | More by CoolEthan

Hefewiseman

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-04-2013 19:10:37 | More by Hefewiseman

RochefortChris

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-04-2013 03:20:59 | More by RochefortChris

KevinmusPrime

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-03-2013 18:24:42 | More by KevinmusPrime

hatfulofhollow

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-03-2013 15:06:36 | More by hatfulofhollow

MNBeer1017

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -17.3%

05-03-2013 01:24:27 | More by MNBeer1017

scotv

New York

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-01-2013 19:57:05 | More by scotv

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

05-01-2013 03:40:35 | More by yourefragile

zachattack555

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -5.4%

04-28-2013 21:36:27 | More by zachattack555

dansmcd

Australia

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

04-28-2013 11:24:19 | More by dansmcd

ngeunit1

California

4.28/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark ruby-black with a big finger of frothy dark khaki head. Fades slowly.

S - Sweet dark caramel malts, dark fruits, Belgian yeast, clove, coriander, pepper, other spices, candi sugar, booze.

T - Sweet dark caramel malts, raisin and other dark fruits, Belgian yeast, clove, coriander, pepper, other spices, candi sugars, some booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a warming, sweet, and lightly spicy finish.

D - Great balanced Quad. Good mix of yeast and malt flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 08:00:42 | More by ngeunit1

BierMeJohn

Germany

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

04-21-2013 12:04:39 | More by BierMeJohn

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

04-20-2013 14:28:19 | More by drgonzo2k2

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

04-17-2013 09:39:20 | More by Jason1337

Rick760Sd

California

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

04-16-2013 16:39:15 | More by Rick760Sd