't Smisje Kerst
Brouwerij Smisje

't Smisje Kerst't Smisje Kerst
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From:
Brouwerij Smisje
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #83
ABV:
11%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,650
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 9.64%
Reviews:
78
Ratings:
117
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 10, 2024
Added:
May 16, 2003
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  3
Also known as Smiske Winter
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Photo of CBlack85
Reviewed by CBlack85 from South Carolina

3.71/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from an 11.2 oz bottle into a New Belgium Globe Glass.

There is no indication of when the beer was brewed, though the cap was marked "Lot 87", but I could not find anything on line to indicate what that meant.

The beer pours a muddy brown color. An aggressive pour yields a small head that recedes quickly, leaving behind a small ring around the edges of the beer, and no lacing to speak of.

The aroma is mild but complex, comprised of caramel, raisins, molasses, and dates, chocolate. There are also hints of dark bread and cherries. the beer seems to have an overall earthy undertone

The flavor, is similar to the aroma; a complex mix of dark fruit, caramel, molasses, dark bread, and a nice sweetness that offsets the spices that are absent in the aroma, but pleasantly present in the flavor. The mouthfeel is a bit thin and almost watery, low carbonation with a slightly sticky finish. No real booziness despite the 11% ABV

This is medium bodied, slightly thin, and with no real booziness to it.

Overall, while there is a general spiciness, none of the spices were prevalent enough to pick out. The beer is enjoyable, and interesting, but I don't think it is making any top 10 lists. I am glad I got a chance to try it, but I would not go out of my way to find it again.
Mar 10, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by alexsergio from New York

Jun 25, 2023
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

3.8/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This one pours a semi murky golden yellow color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.

This smells like dried raisins and dates, chocolate, leather, and molasses.

This is solid but slightly thin tasting Belgian strong dark ale, with some port notes that are reminiscent of leather, raisins, and dates. There’s also chocolate and a stale breadiness.

This is medium bodied, slightly thin, and with no real booziness to it.

I wanted a little bit more out of this, but it was still cool to try.
May 15, 2023
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
11.2oz bottle. No dating information on label or on the bottle but there are numbers on the cap that do not clearly indicate a date.
Amber brown colored body. Brief skiff of off white head. No lacing.
Aroma is faint, with peach, date, and grape.
Taste is sweet peach, raisin, and date, along with a more bitter note from sour grape and green apple. Mix of the sweet and bitter in the aftertaste.
Medium mouth feel with a bit of syrup. Rather still carbonation.
Similar to a port wine. Good balance of sweet and bitter.
Dec 24, 2022
Photo of DaveMaciolek21
Reviewed by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey

4.48/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Dark brown and ruby in the glass with a moderate, quickly disappearing head. Flavors are multiple dark fruits--you'll taste dates, figs, raisins, with perhaps a touch of molasses. The beer maintains is complexity through most of the glass--a little alcohol creeps in when it warms, but essentially a great choice on a cold winter night.
Dec 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.99 by M4CDO from Massachusetts

Oct 21, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Oct 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.06 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Feb 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Jan 23, 2018
Photo of SLeffler27
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours dark garnet brown and a bit hazy. A short-lived dark khaki tight foam settles to a thick blanket leaving no lace in a Rochefort chalice.

Rich earthiness marks the otherwise sweet aroma. Dark fruits such as raisins, dates and figs compliment pumpernickel bread. Warmth reveals prunes and Brazil nuts.

Strong flavors are revealed within a well-balanced sweet/bitter profile. This follows the nose with earthy flavors being more prominent. After the modest finish and warmth, some ginger is noticeable.

This is extraordinarily creamy with ample carbonation against a light medium body. It is on the dry side with alcohol well below expectations.

Kerst may stretch the style but it does so in positive ways. I found it to be just right while relaxing after work on a cold winter day before dinner.
Jul 25, 2017
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Here is an example of what happens when you take short-cuts in your (my) research.
I bought this because I recognized the brewery's name and had a few of their quirky interpretations... of which all were interesting and one superbly good.
So this bottle of Kerst hangs in my cellar, somewhat neglected because it is hard to know what you are going to get with Smisje. In a flurry of cleaning out my beer cellar to prepare for Fall, this one gets ramped up to the staging area in the cooler.... and I soon pop the top.

The research problem emerges quickly because I want a beer to soothe the Dog Days of Summer. Fortunately for me, there was enough alcohol in this beer that I could imagine it was January in Chicago... instead of the humid, heavy rainstorm in July that was passing through.

This is a great ale... but follow this advice: drink it when the temperatures are low.
Jul 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by StoutAtTheDevil from Alabama

Apr 05, 2016
Photo of Barnchaser
Rated by Barnchaser from Kentucky

4.07/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
2 finger plus head, Dissipating quickly. Effervescent. Pretty Ruby brown color.
Warm, Boozy and spicy.
Mar 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.24 by steverx8 from England

Mar 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.37 by GRG1313 from California

Jan 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.09 by jrfehon33 from Pennsylvania

Jan 13, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Sound_Explorer from Washington

Dec 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by jalop from Maine

Dec 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by bigred89 from Maryland

Nov 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Oct 23, 2015
't Smisje Kerst from Brouwerij Smisje
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 117 ratings