Christmas Ale - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

Consumed Christmas eve 2011.

A: Things open up with a violent and loud uncorking. A cola-otter-brown pour yields a monstrous rocky, foamy head that was porous and moderate on the hold leaving splotchy sticky patches on the glass for lace. Near black coloring while in the chalice is actually a very dark burgundy when backlighted revealing a vigorous effervesce. Additional pours yielded a mushrooming effect on the head which showed more resilience in its stay of execution.

S: Sugary dark plums, sweet caramel syrup, with a good Belgian yeastiness can first be found on the nose with some musky damp grains. Soft traces of estery pear drop, sweet chocolate and bananas are also evident. A 10.0%abv that is very well concealed aromatic wise never giving any indication this is a hint above 5%.

T: Yeasty with chocolate, dried banana, and pear notes from the yeast. Sweet caramel some sugary dark plums, raisins and a very bready palate add some depth. The alcohol feels/tastes more at home like a 5% as with the nose, very well refrained. The yeasty nature is nicely highlighted with a light musky nature of damp pale grains. Sweet bready caramel, malty, lush flavor.

M: Edgy carbonation provides a good deal of activity on the tongue. Creamy, frothy texture, full malt body adds lushness with some raisiny alcohol hints upon the swallow.

O: Overall a great all around beer and worthy of a special occasion. Very easy drinkability despite its indicated alcohol content. Malty lush body with a good support of yeasty character makes this all you can want from a Belgian dark ale. Once again Brouweij of St. Bernardus and St. Sixtus (Westvlteren) seem to be in a league of their own when it comes per style and overall quality.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 21:55:11 | More by beerthulhu

Cozzatoad

Italy

3.65/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

750ml cork caged bottle

A- Foam immediately pours out of the bottle, and it keeps building inside even after a few pours. Slightly murky brown, with ruby hints if seen through light. Huge head that quite quickly recedes to about one finger of slightly off-white soapiness. Loads of lacing on the glass

S- Dried and dark fruits among a strong alcohol feel, with a faint spicy note to it. A hint of lactic acidity as well

T- A suprisingly dry and not so strong malt character (with some notes of caramel) sets this beer apart from most belgian strong ales and other St. Bernardus beers as well. A slighlty musty herbal feel plays a major role in this beer, though in my opinion it is not perfectly balanced with the beer's dry malt character. Strong alcoholic feel, with both plain alcohol and spicy notes from the esters. Assertive dark fruit notes of cherry, raisin and maybe more. A faint hint of lactic sourness as the smell suggested. Extremely complex, but a bit messy

M- It's dry malt charcter has this beer feeling quite light in body if compared to most belgian strong ales and given it's ABV. Alcohol can definitely be felt, and though it brings a nice warming feel it gets a bit too much in the way in my opinion. Average and spot-on carbonation

O- As i have already mentioned this beer is very complex but quite a bit of a mess. It still is decently drinkable and warming, but it's musty, herbal character just not gets in the line with it's dry malt character. I didn't notice bad or completely off flavours nor any other major issue, so i'm reviewing it

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 13:48:13 | More by Cozzatoad

UCLABrewN84

California

4.08/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Best by 8/3/16.

Pours a murky dark brown with a huge 3 inch foamy beige head that settles to a small cap. Base on the first pour I got mostly foam so I think there may an issue with the carbonation on this one. A latticework of thin rings lines the glass on the drink down. Smell is of bready malt, brown sugar, and some dark fruits. Taste is very much the same with a nice flavor of dark fruits (raisins, plums, etc.) on the finish. Like I suspected based on the pour, this beer has an extremely high level of carbonation with a very crisp and bubbly mouthfeel. Way overcarbonated in my opinion but without any indicators of infection or the like. Overall, this is a good BSDA and a very nice beer to sip on for Christmas night but the mouthfeel brings down my enjoyment of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 06:16:55 | More by UCLABrewN84

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.22/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Burgundy brown, with a fluffy tan head that forms a nice bubbly collar.

S - Sweet and tangy fruit, plums cherries, clove and cinnamon, apples.

T - Brown sugar, clove, cinnamon, dark plums, dried figs, apples, candy sugar, cherries, brown spice cake, anise, some light hop and peppery alcohol on back end. The aftertaste leaves glazed plantains on the palate.

M - Moderate carbonation, medium body, light on the tongue.

A perfect Christmas beer! Sweet and spicy upfront and dry and satisfying on the finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 04:59:42 | More by StaveHooks

Agent1

Alberta (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally, after two years of wanting to open this 750ml, it has been poured and left to warm in my Watou glass. I am excited to see how this recipe will differ from the Abt 12, as it is still one of my all-time favorite beers. Let's see how the Christmas Ale compares!

Appearance - Very active. Held up to the light, you can see that this is fairly carbonated, creating an amazing beige head. Bubbly and creamy. Heavy lacing. A deep, deep brown with a faint ruby hue.

Smell - Ripe cherries and fig, heavy malts with a strong breadiness. A little bit of yeast and liquorice is noticeable, too. Lots to pick up here. Mostly dry fruits, some spices and alcohol. In fact, the alcohol is surprisingly pungent on the nose (definitely in your face). A light acidity consisting of orange peel, lemon but mostly cherries. Faint hops are present as well.

Taste - The alcohol definitely cuts through more than the Abt 12. It seems to have more edge. Dried cherry is the most predominant ingredient in this beer for me. Smooth Belgian candi sugars and plenty of toffee. Bready, like most St. Bernardus products. Faint notes of herbs and spices nearing the finish (perhaps nutmeg and cinnamon, but that may be my imagination!). Curious to know if this is aged in cognac casks, hence the cherry. Figs, liquorice, bitter orange peel, dry hops and alcohol. Again, the abv is definitely more noticeable compared to the Abt 12. Not sure how I feel about this...

Mouthfeel - This travels all throughout the mouth. Very warm and smooth. It stimulates the entire palate. In this sense I really appreciate it, but on the other hand, the alcohol pierces the tongue a little too much. It is not as hidden as the Abt 12 and a little less balanced due to this.

Overall - Personally, I do not find this ale nearly as balanced as the Abt 12. It is a great Christmas beer, but maybe not as quite as good compared to others I've recently had (see my other reviews). I love the cherries in this beer and I certainly appreciate the label! Fairly festive and the dried fruits and cherries really bring out an interesting quality to this. A solid Christmas ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 02:15:41 | More by Agent1

confer

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- What an amazing pour. Makes you wait for a few minutes before you can drink it though. Is a medium brown and a little cloudy, but the highlight is the huge head. (TWSS). It was like ice cream on the top of the beer, so thick and lasting so long.
S-It's got that sweet raisin/prune smell of a good quad.
T-This is nearly liquid perfection. So sweet with a small bit of heat and it seems to evaporate in your mouth.
MO- What a great beer. I'm halfway down my glass and it just keeps tasting better, the foamy head has calmed down but is still thick and creamy. Got this for Christmas from my wife and now want to go out and get some more.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 00:33:15 | More by confer

projectflam86

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle.

A- Pours a dark brown color with a thick sudsy head that leaves nice lacing.

S- Strong Belgian yeast and spice with some alcohol present as well.

T- Clove, banana, Belgian candy sugar, and alcohol in the finish.

M- Medium bodied with crazy active carbonation.

O- Overall a very nice Belgian/Christmas ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 23:36:07 | More by projectflam86

draheim

Washington

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

Third in my "three beers of Christmas" series.

750mL bottle (best by 7/27/2015) into a chalice. Pours a beautiful clear mahogany w/ a rich creamy off-white head.

Aroma is warm dark bread, rich malt, figs, spice, and sweet candi sugar.

Taste follows nose: fermenting dark fruit, sweet malt, yeast, raisins, spice, and some nice warm booze. Mouthfeel is full-bodied with a little tingle from the carbonation.

Overall another great Belgian Christmas ale. Not too much difference among the three I tried, and all are worthy.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 22:50:49 | More by draheim

Mahlik

Oregon

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle poured into tulip glass

A - Pours a dark brown with reddish hues. Pours with a big pillowy cream-colored head. Head retention is really solid. Head dissipates to a thick crown, leaving behind great streaks of lacing.

S - Such an amazing aroma on this beer. Dark fruits such as raisins and figs hit the nose first. Plenty of Belgian yeast characteristics. A great spice profile including cloves and cinnamon. Pleasant aroma of brown sugar pushes through. Some banana notes as well.

T - Dark fruits and bready malts make the base of the flavor. A nice blend of caramel, cloves, brown sugar and cinnamon enter along with some fruity esters from the yeast. Sweet but not overbearing. I know it's been said by many others but I think rum-soaked fruitcake is a good description.

M - Medium-full bodied with slightly more than medium carbonation. Big, rich and sweet. Alcohol presence is above average but this is not quite a sipper. The alcohol seems to fade away before the aftertaste. A nice dry finish.

O - Fantastic. I've made this beer a part of my Christmas morning traditions. A perfect beer for the holidays. I enjoy just sitting by the tree and indulging on the rich, sweet taste of this beer. The dark fruit, bread and spice elements all blend to create an amazing Christmas experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 21:17:19 | More by Mahlik

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.88/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from 750 ml bottle into a Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a deep and dark brownish amber red with lots of bubbles. Huge six finger bubbly off white head that slowly fades into a thin patchy layer. Leaves some good lacing on the glass.

Smell: Huge aroma of dark fruits leaps out of the glass. Raisins, prunes, figs, dates, and dark cherries. Lots of Belgian yeast with some hints of clove spice. Some hints of cinnamon and nutmeg spices. Also a hint of banana and brown sugar. Great mix of dark fruits and spices.

Taste: Just as great as the smell. Spicy Belgian yeast with cloves and banana. Huge taste of dark fruit with notes of raisins, figs, prunes, dates, and dark cherries. Also a noticeable presence of winter spices including cinnamon and nutmeg. Some caramel malts in the background provide some breadyness. Very fruity but not overly sweet. Spices add a lot.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with a carbonation on the higher side. fruity and somewhat sticky. Spicy and finishes dry. No alcohol heat noticeable.

Overall: A very good Belgian Dark Ale and one of the best Christmas beers in the world. Great use of dark fruits and spices.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 08:08:41 | More by MattyG85

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.85/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml poured into a St. Bernardus Goblet

A- Pours a monster beige head with tight bubbles and beautiful lacing. The beer itself is deep dark brown with reddish orange hues.
S- Big dark fruits that I expected. Rum soaked raisins. Burnt caramel, maybe even some honey? Grapefruit, a little alcohol, figs, pretty good stuff. maybe some figs and cinnamon as well.
T- A full variety of crazy flavors, different with every sip. Creamy caramel mixed with dark fruits, Some cinnamon and ginger make this thing come alive. Sugary sweet fruit aftertaste with brown sugar. Started to taste the alcohol after it warmed up a bit.
M- Boatloads of carbonation, its a truly living beer. Definitely a warming in the stomach because its 10%. This thing pours with a lot of foamy head so be cautious on the pour as the head goes nowhere.
O- Awesome beer. It is in my opinion, a little better then the 12. Its just like the twelve but with a slight Christmas kick.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 05:23:59 | More by TwelveOunces

fx20736

New York

4.45/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a St Bernardus chalice, served at cellar temp.

Dep chestnut brown with a pale khaki head and nice lacing.

aroma of fresh baked bread, bananas and brown sugar.

mouthfeel is light and frothy

taste of baked bread, plums, bananas and a clove-like spiciness.

Notes: Super! This is really good stuff. I've had 5 different beers by St Bernardus and love 3 of them; Pater 6, Abt 12 and this Christmas Ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 03:28:41 | More by fx20736

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

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

A: a dark red color with an equally dark red head. great retention and the brew leaves a pretty lacing as well.

S: sweet brown sugar. cinnamon. a little tobacco. a smooth maltyness that is a bit warming.

T: nutty and fruity. chestnuts and figs. caramel. little bits of roast. a good deal of malt on this body. the finish is a bit champagne-like. im gonna say it is actually a bit dry.

M: like i noted on the palate, a champagne like fizz on a very full body.

D: a delicious belgian dark from a brewery that doesnt really make a bad beer. wouldnt hate to see this year round. dangerously drinkable and hard to detect the 10%ABV on this tasty treat.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 03:04:32 | More by Jimmys

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: deep copper-red color, incredible rich pillowy tan head that kept it all the way, clear
S: milder nose, rich roasted powdered malt and marmalade with earthy leather
T: full taste, no readily noticeable EtOH, just a bit in finish, incredibly smooth and rich with deep chocolate and roasted malt flavors
M: rounded with incredible depth and balance, tastes like it's been aging for years

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 16:02:35 | More by wisrarebeer

Jerone

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark brown color with a one and a half finger cream colored head that sticks around for a bit, leaves okay lacing.

S - Dark fruit such as raisin, fig, dates and some nice yeasty and breadiness mixed in with malts and brown sugar.

T - Taste is similar to the smell but more prominent on the yeast and bread, there is also some toffee notes as well with the dark fruit. Also a touch of spice in there but not too much.

M - Medium verging on full bodied beer with a touch of carbonation to make everything meld together.

O - A great Christmas beer that I recommend to anyone who likes these types of beers.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2011 15:22:03 | More by Jerone

rapidsequence

Virginia

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

750 ml bottle, poured into a snifter-- several times. It was $13.25 from Pints O'Plenty. This years vintage- bottled in August.

Appearance: Dark brown and nearly clear. The head is off white to light brown and enormous. It fades to a stiff centimeter of tightly bubbled foam, and that never completely fades. Thick lacing. This is a winner.

Smell: It has that powerful, wonderful, distinctive St. B yeasty aroma. Spicy without being overly cloved. Dark fruits-- more plums and red grapes than raisins and prunes. A little cherry. Really great.

Taste: Very spicy, fruity, and yeasty. Like a rummy fruitcake. Its not as deep and rich as the ABT 12, and its more spicy tasting. Near the end there's a little yeasty tartness, then a bitterness that is probably orange peel. Not a fan of orange peel, or any similar citrusy bitterness in Belgian beers, so this takes it down a notch for me.

Mouthfeel: Its of course highly carbed, appropriately, but soft and not tingly. Feels big, but thins out slightly at the finish. Really good.

Overall: Excellent beer. As above, I could do without the bitterness, but its a great Christmas beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 01:31:39 | More by rapidsequence

russwbeck

Virginia

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Rustico for their Festivus Event.

A: Muddy brown pour with hints of orange. A finger or so of off-white head 4

S: Tons of Belgian yeast and candied sugar, mixed with Christmas ale spices 4

T: I'm impressed by how much this tastes like a Belgian instead of a Christmas ale. Very tasty with the spices stepped up a notch. Sweet and appropriately seasonal. 4

MF: Light to medium body with good carb. 4

O: I liked this, but it didn't overwhelm me. 4

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2011 04:06:00 | More by russwbeck

jdense

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml. bottle, 2009 vintage, shared at Twelve Beers of Christmas tasting, 12.18.11.

3/4 finger medium brown head, slow dissipation with some lacing over dark brown opaque body. One of the best smelling beers I've had in a long time, pronounced stone fruit presence, plums, raisins, red currants, a little bit of pluots, balanced nicely with floral hop aromas. Taste features the above stone fruit profile with healthy dose of caramel malt or dark candi sugar which provided quite a bit of residual sweetness. Mouthfeel is well on the full side of medium, good effervescence, a surprisingly astringent mouthfeel given the inherent sweetness. This has to be one of the world's best Christmas beers especially when aged, though drinkablility is a bit impaired by high ABV.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 14:58:58 | More by jdense

AmericanGothic

Iowa

4.38/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a corked and caged 750 ml bottle into a Unibroue tulip.

A: Pours a cloudy, medium brown color with two fingers of billowy, pale tan head. Exceptional retention and lace, vigorous carbonation.

S: Sweet, stewed figs and cherries, cinnamon and cardamom.

T: Much like the smell, except more intense. Spicy figs and cherries, also a little banana and prune. Sweetness is fairly low but not absent. Peppery spice floats over the other flavors and gives them something to play off of. As the beer warms, cinnamon and brown sugar joins the flavor profile. Still later, some dark berry notes. Very complex.

M: Full bodied, but the carbonation keeps it afloat. Faintly astringent.

O: This is a very tasty beer. The most interesting thing is the way the fruity and peppery esters separate from each other, makes for a very pleasant beer. I will need to have this again before the holidays are through, probably more than once.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 01:52:59 | More by AmericanGothic

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Belgian Strong Dark Ales are very well suited for the holiday season even without the spicy additions common to Christmas deserts. The sweeter, succulent, and savory yeasty spice and fruity esters make for a complex staple layered on the supple malt base... absolutely sublime.

St. Bernardus' Christmas Ale pours with a rusty copper appearance with dark orange highlights and hints of garnet here and there. Mild haze and yeast caused a diffused glow to permiate the glass. A froathy mix of tightly and loosely knit head character shows great staying power and intricate patterns of lace upon the glass. A very solid Belgian look, albeit a touch light in color compared to others of the style.

Yeasy, spicy, fruity, and sweetly settled on the nose. Fruitcake-like aromas give a glimpse into the cherries, apples, figs, grapes, dates, plumbs, and sweetbread notes that set the malty and estery start to the session. Rummy alchols tickle the nose and give a sweet and vinous note to the aroma.

Delicious sweet malts give the impressions of confectioner's sugar, supple malty sweetness, and savory desert breads and coffee cake. Fruity with grapes and raisons, plumbs, and prunes, stone fruits, dehydrated dark fruits, apples and cherries all play into the estery mix as provided by yeast. Yeasty spices also attribute notes of corriander, black peppercorn, cinnamon, and a pleasant citrusy note that might be curaco additions or hop derived. Rum-like and red wine alcohols seem to be the catalyst that brings all the flavors together to give the rounded impression of rum-soaked fruitcake.

Up front sweetness gives the early impression of cloying or heavy sweetness. But the beer seems to evaporate off of the palate, much in the same was as does cotton candy- leaving a powdery dry alcohol warmth and only a memory of sweetness. The beer weighs effortless on the late palate and stomach for a remarkably drinkable session for such strength in both taste and alcohol. Assisted by strong effervescent, the beer lifts off of the tongue with ease.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale does all that world class Belgain Strong Ales are expected to, and with many extraordinary nuances to set it apart from the mere good ones. An absolute delight with each sip as new flavors reveal themselves with each visit to the glass. The descriptor words for this beer are seemingly endless.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 18:13:21 | More by BEERchitect

mynie

Indiana

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

Pours uncontrollably fizzy in a not very nice way. It's good looking once it settles, but that takes too damn long.

Smells of strong, wonderful fruit esters with big nodes of bananas and peppers along with plums, pears, and gigantic yeasty cloves. Very nice.

Tastes like it smells only good god it is as smooth as red velvet cake. Caramel gets overtaken by fruit, which gets overtaken by spice, which gets overtaken by boozy burn, and then everything ends on more spice, but then, even after that, there lingers silky smooth fruit with more bananas and the burn, holy heaven above the burn does not abate.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 07:02:35 | More by mynie

Dmart1223

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Interesting beer, if you can get it. It's kind of like fermented fruitcake.

Christmas Ale pours thick, with LOTS of almond-white head that sticks around and plenty of carbonation. It's dark maple brown, a little cloudy, with some hints of red.

The smell's where I got the fruitcake. Just fruit all around, the most interesting of which was either pineapple, pear or both for some reason. I also might've gotten some melon and berries.

That fruitiness also comes out in the taste, which gave me hints of the above fruits, as well as also cherries. The Belgian yeast gives it a funky taste, and the 10% ABV, rather than sticking out, warms your soul.

This is a big, bold beer with a lot going on. I'd like to store one of these for a year to see the difference.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 04:28:19 | More by Dmart1223

gatornation

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap

A-pours a ruby brown color with a light tat puffy head nice collar and lacing

S- was dark fruit with spice like cinnamon and nutmeg some fig

T- was better nice spice and belgian yeast with some toffee and coffee some chocolate

M- medium carbonation with some really nice spice tastes mixed dark fruit and hops, loads of flavor as it warmed

O - a nice strong dark ale with a nice crispy spicy flavor

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2011 21:18:26 | More by gatornation

beerpirates

Belgium

3.9/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

75cl bottel poured into a tulipglass

Bottle. A deep red beer with a thin tan head. The aroma has notes of over ripe fruits, yeast, spices, alcohol, prunes, and a bit of wood. The flavor is sweet with notes of malt, caramel, alcohol, over ripe fruits, prunes, and yeast, leading to a dry alcoholic finish. The alcohol prickles the tongue.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 19:18:38 | More by beerpirates

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2011-12-16 in Columbia, PA

A - Pretty clear, dark mahogany with a 2-finger head that quickly fades to 1/2-finger leaving mild lacing.

S - Sweet and earthy spices, dark yeasty bread, dark fruit, citrus and alcohol.

T - Dark dried cherries, toasted fruit cake (is there such a thing?), apple cider, a little funk, mild hop bitterness, alcohol. Dries reasonably well and leaves a sweet-sour-bready aftertaste.

M - Medium body and medium-high carbonation. Viscous and champagne-bubbly.

O - Seems like an effervescent Imperial Saison with some holiday spices. Quite pleasant. A nice holiday diversion.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 11:37:27 | More by Tucquan