Serafijn Christmas Angel - Microbrouwerij Achilles

UCLABrewN84

California

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Lucky Baldwins in Pasadena, CA.

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy beige head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, fruits, and lots of honey aromas. Taste is much the same with a honey flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some solid aromas and flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2013 23:48:51 | More by UCLABrewN84

taigor

New York

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a small glass.

A - Poured clear light brown color with medium head that quickly dissipated leaving slight lacing around the glass.

S - Slightly grassy with hints of yeast and spices like nutmeg and pepper. Fruits like strawberries and bananas present as well.

T - Very sweet malts and yeast with fruits and hints of spices.

M - Medium bodied with average carbonation.

O - Very nice belgian pale ale but a little too sweet for my taste. Overall I would recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2011 19:47:33 | More by taigor

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes taken at the Armsby Abbey's yearly Belgian Christmas on 12/15.

A - Dark strawberry pour with a two finger head that quickly fades leaving clumpy side lacing.

S - Picking up some light funk as well as some light fruit notes that resemble, to me, strawberries. Very pleasant and enjoyable.

T - Unlike the nose, the flavours here seem almost watered down and subdued. The light funk is there along with fruit notes but its far more muted for my liking.

M - Medium carbonation nicely dances across the tongue. Really good mouthfeel.

D - Crisp and refreshing. Needs better, more prominent taste though.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2011 20:57:02 | More by rudzud

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had to grab a glass when I saw this on tap at Max's.

The beer pours the color of sweet ice tea with good head retention and lacing. Interestingly, I pick up some sweet ice tea on the nose, along with some orange citrus and considerable honey. The flavor profile replicates the nose in this moderately at most sweet beer. There is some light hoppy bitterness in the finish as well, which helps to counter and balance the sweetness in this beer. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, with a moderately long finish. Drinkability is pretty good, with the aloohol well integrated into the flavor profile.

Hmmmm.... while a solid beer, my recollection of the bottle I had was that it was superior to the draft version I'm trying now. Still a solid beer, but I confess I was expecting a bit more.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2011 18:32:14 | More by johnmichaelsen

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours cloudy orange amber color with a 2-3 finger fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Slight foamy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of cherry, raisin, pear, herbal, cinnamon, candi sugar, honey, and light yeast spices. Nice and well balanced aromas with good complexity and decent strength; very pleasant. Taste of cherry, raisin, pear, plum, cinnamon, herbal, earth, caramel, pepper, candi sugar, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of light fruits, herbal, pepper, cinnamon, candi sugar, caramel, and yeast spices on the finish for a bit. Good balance and complexity of flavors. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly slick and prickly mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice Belgian strong pale ale. Good flavor balance and complexity; very smooth to sip on. Really enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 05:50:16 | More by superspak

wvsabbath

West Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Copper tan/brown, 1/2 creamy head with some minor lacing. Some floaters are noticable.

Smell - Herbal fruits, some spices, dark fruits like plum and rasin. Not very strong smelling.

Taste - A nice mix of fruits and spices. Lots of cherry, grapes, oranges and plum. Spices add some peppery and herbal notes. Hops are present and give this a floral flavor.

Mouthfeel - Its bold, strong and lots of flavor. Fruits and spices coat tounge with some sweet and bitterness. Palate gets some malts, hops and more sugars. Aftertaste is strong and sweet.

Overall - Pretty good, lots of fruits and sugars makes this easy to enjoy. Not sure what makes this a christmas ale though, seems like a straight up strong ale. Worth a drink for sure.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 00:01:21 | More by wvsabbath

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle from Bevmo La Quinta CA for 3.99$

Appearance - Hazy amber/copper colour with an average size fizzy off-white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for around 4 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Herbal, corn, dark fruits, spices

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an above average amount of carbonation and I can taste candied sugar, grapes, and caramel/butterscotch. There is also a light amount of all-spice/clove spiciness and some coconut. It ends with a fruity sweet aftertaste and a bit of lingering spiciness/bitterness.

Overall - Really enjoyed this one. Great flavours that are well balanced yet potent. Doesn't necessarily strike me as a Christmas beer though.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 00:48:23 | More by spinrsx

SLeffler27

New York

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An enormous white cloud overtakes the glass and lasts a long time over a golden amber beer that seems to serve only as a medium for waves of carbonation. A coating of lace clings to the Dogfish Head snifter.

Perfumy with some fruits and hidden earth aromas.

Heavy on orchard fruit throughout with modest sweetness and a subtle, lingering finish that is drying and peppery.

Dry with modest alcohol and carbonation that surprisingly is less than expected from the appearance.

Another nice beer that perhaps has the Christmas tag more for marketing than for any other reason. That is unfortunate because this is a fine Belgian Strong Pale Ale in its own right.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 13:41:07 | More by SLeffler27

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.18/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A rather dark appearance for the classification as a pale ale, this was light brown with dark orange, red going through it, mild thin head, off white. Aroma was light on the clove and pungent Belgian yeast strains, some citrus rind.

Some alcohol warmth, relatively light body, again the light citrus rind aspect, very mild bitterness and hopping. I really thought it was more of a darker fruit, belgian strong dark ale type of presence moreso than pale. GF liked it more than I did, but I still thought it was a pretty solid offering. But this seems to be more along the lines of a different style, it doesn't have the dryness, hops or body of a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 20:37:08 | More by Beerandraiderfan

RickS95

Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an orangey-peach color. The head is a finger width of white bubbles. Head lacks retention, but a good looking example of the type.

Has a champagne-like scent to it. Pear and white grape mixed in with some peppery spice.

The white pepper spice is very prevalent. White grape is there. Actually finishes like a pilsner.

It's got a sharp feel to it. The spice pops. Very acidic. Medium bodied. Slightly sweet initially, then spicy and dry throughout the finish.

I don't see anything to suggest this is a winter or holiday beer. A Belgian ale--yes; a holiday beer--no. Not bad, just a bit above average for the type.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 04:18:15 | More by RickS95

impending

California

3.18/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

C+

750ml into a tulip. Pours a mid tone mildly hazy orange copper, cream colored head, ok lacing.

Yeasty aroma. A honey sweetness, minor phenolic note, slightly musty. Something overshadows it all but is not complimentary like an old brass shell.

Taste too begins sweet then turns to a minor bitter in the finish. The peculiarity continues but to a lesser extent. Somewhat fruity but it is solely defined by the yeast.
Light to medium bodied mouthfeel.

Not sure if this was to be a Noël brew as it is ok as a strong pale as a Noël it fails.
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 06:20:14 | More by impending

mrfrancis

Kentucky

2.28/5  rDev -40.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a hazy, ruddy amber with a puffy white head.

S: Really harsh on the nose. Caramel, woody spice, and orchard fruit aromas are swallowed by fiery alcohol and an odd metallic scent.

T: The alcohol hits hard, all but burying notes of caramel, apple, and biscuits. There is a heavy spiciness from the yeast and an odd, unpleasant metallic flavor present as well. The finish is dominated by flavors of alcohol, spicy yeast, and that unpleasant metallic tang.

M: Medium bodied, dry, and firm, but poorly balanced. Carbonation is rather prickly. Far from drinkable.

O: I'm hoping that something is wrong with this bottle because this is just plain bad. I doubt I'll go out of my way to find this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 21:02:30 | More by mrfrancis

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Small 11.2 oz bottle 330 ml bottle, whichever...this one pours a slightly hazed amber color with a fine white head forming thick even lacing patterns. Aroma has tart apples with a grassy earthiness going on with smooth flowing alcohol notes. A smooth hint of caramel in a well constructed easy drinking christmas amber ale, goes dow so esay. Very nice drinking Christmas ale goes down super smooth velvet texture, with even strong flowing carbonation almost effervescent texture going on. Great Christmas biere that I will revisit, when available what's funny is that I've never seen this one in my life.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 01:24:57 | More by WVbeergeek

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours five+ finger white head that fades very slowly, leaving some lace. Hazy amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Grass and malt nose and flavor has malt, hints of honey - nice mellow sweetness. $3.99 for a 330ml bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 22:28:55 | More by jdhilt

branko7

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A lot of foamy head, before settling down to a golden brown color. Not very carbonated, which I like. A sweet, malty taste, but with some hop crispness at the end. 8% alcohol not very prominent. Not too complex, but very balanced, refreshing, and drinkable. Tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 05:34:05 | More by branko7

DPFRD

Arizona

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

11.2 oz in a Chimay Goblet.

A- Pours a dull hazy orange, with a nice foamy head that laces nicely. Lot's of carbonation going on in here.

S- I get a grassy character accentuated by some pepper and hop presence. Had a more estery character when it was cold, but it is tapering off now. Kind of transparent,

T- Grassy notes are present when I taste it, they are accompanied by biting spice and some hop bitterness.

M- Thin to medium, with lots of carbonation. Reminiscent of seltzer.

D- If you can handle the carbonation, this thing goes down easy, but it really is puny on the palate.

O- Not bad at all, but it's just lacking character. It doesn't stand out anywhere but carbonation wise. Grain wise, it tastes almost dilute, but it still is pleasurable.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 05:52:16 | More by DPFRD

metter98

New York

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy dark golden yellow in color and poured into a snifter glass with a two finger high white head that has good retention properties. A light to moderate amount of carbonation is visible along with some yeast particles floating in suspension.
S: Aromas of malts, spices and yeast stand out in the nose.
T: The overall taste is somewhat complex and has notes of spices and hints of fruits. There is a mild amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and slightly dry on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer is easy to drink because the alcohol is well hidden and the dryness in the finish leaves you longing to take another sip.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 03:30:52 | More by metter98

Gavage

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pours a cloudy orange color with a 1" head. Some spotty lace develops.

Smell: some yeast, bread, and a bit of spiciness is easily detected.

Taste: caramel, spicy yeast, pears, green apples, some bready tones, and a mild bitterness create an interesting strong ale.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp throughout. Short but spicy aftertaste.

Drinkability: easy to consume this beer despite the style. Not a bad beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 21:39:04 | More by Gavage

BennyL1

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into New Belgium globe

A - Beer is a pale amber color with a very good fingers worth of foamy white head.

S - Yeast and bready aromas make up most of the nose. Some citrusy fruits in the background as well.

T - Starts off fruity followed by yeast flavors. Warming alcohol and a nice spicyness round it out.

M - Medium body with a high level of carbonation.

D - Good drinkability. Sold Christmas brew from Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 03:22:15 | More by BennyL1

rtepiak

Poland

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pour is a cloudy amber with a slight off white head that doesn't have much... nose is a plum, pine tree and pine apple. the palate is that with an ale like consistency that makes it feel surprisingly not Belgian. although the yeast quality is there with a pollen honey note that doesn't over do it. the beer is a tad boozy and the nose has a distinct belgian sugar cane quality to it. as it sits it opens up like a triple almost. plum citrus becomes floral. there is subtle hay from munich malt... some clove... all in the lace of a honey comb. slight pepper finish with a mineral dryness although not outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 09:13:55 | More by rtepiak

srandycarter

California

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Murky apple cider, near white puffy head, reduces to ring. Some cling lace.

S - Fresh, bready, deep malt. Sharp note from almost juicy fruit type fruit.

T - Taste goes with smell. Nice bread, good fruit and a slight sour tang at the end.

M - Medium body, tons of carb, nice balance.

D - Despite the ABV, pretty pleasant. Would have a few.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 05:18:04 | More by srandycarter

bashiba

Iowa

3.95/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured a slightly cloudy amber/orange with a huge and pillowy white head with great retention and lacing.

The smell was very bready and funky with lots of yeast and caramel malts mixing together nicely.

The flavor follows the smell nicely with a grainy sourdough bread malty body and a light bit of funky yeast and just a touch of grassy juniper hops making for nice balance.

The mouthfeel is very creamy with lots of zippy carbonation.

Nicely drinkable and very balanced, yet kind of boring for a christmas specialty beer, good, just not what I would have expected.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2010 00:16:44 | More by bashiba

Blakaeris

Iowa

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours hazy bronze-orange in color with a massive, dense white head that leaves sheets of sticky lacing.

Aroma is surprisingly strong yeasty funk. Bready, musty, and a touch medicinal.

Taste is caramel malt with hints of toffee. Then an herbal orange peel bitterness with coriander and white pepper takes over. Subdued pineapple and melon. Finishes with a dry musty quality that lingers.

Mouthfeel is medium-full.

Overall an interesting and flavorful ale. Not as sweet as expected. Herbal and musty in a good way.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2010 00:12:25 | More by Blakaeris

dahlen22

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Looks: Orange/yellow hue with good carbonation and head.

Aroma: Fruits, spices.

Taste: Complex brew here. Starts off smooth with hints of orange and honey. Then upon being taken down, it gets spicy and the spice and alcohol warmness linger around for a bit. Finishes with more fruits (oranges, pears), caramel, breadiness, and a bit of nuttyness.

Overall: I REALLY like this Christmas Ale from Belgium. Strong enough to keep you warm during winter, yet drinkability is high as is the ABV, and that is a great combo. Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 23:48:49 | More by dahlen22

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Cap dated 14/07/11.

A: Poured a dirty orange with a swirling turbidity that eventually settled to a medium dense haze of micro particles. A spongey chalk colored head lapses after a brief while (2 min.) to a thin skimpy coating with no real sense of lacing. Two small jet streams of micro-bubbles rise at a fairly rapid rate.

S: The nose was musky and yeasty with some wet bread. Originally it was fairly strong but it dies rather quickly as did my interest. Damp orange peels and not much else picked up spicing wise.

T: Spicy oranges and caradamon are first to get noticed. Soft evergreen hints with light notes of licorice come through as well. There is a gentle alcohol warming but overall is generally well mannered for 8.0%abv. Warm, musky fruit (pears) come compliments of the yeast with touch of honey toasted malt sweetness.

M: Medium-full body with a honey like consistency. Flows very smooth around the tongue with very little carbonation detected. Decent but really nothing exciting. Finishes off with a boozy caramel sweetness that was somewhat dry.

D: Decent drinkability by itself, though wouldn't be to excited about this in multiples. Not a lot of complexity or warmth per style and in the end ends up as an average experience.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 22:06:38 | More by beerthulhu