Corsendonk Christmas Ale - Brouwerij Corsendonk

nhindian

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle poured into a Fantome tulip.

A - A careful pour yields a dark brown beer with ruby-tinged highlights. Opaque but thankfully pretty clear from sediment. I can actually see quite a bit of carbonation on the sides of the glass and lots of bubbles stick to the sides. A 3-fingered head floats on top, lasting almost the entire beer, gradually shrinking. Lacing is pretty consistent and abundant.

S - I'm actually not sure what makes this a 'Christmas' version of Corsendonk, as I'm not getting much spices from the nose, and I'm not sure if there should be. There is a bit of spiciness I'd attribute to the yeast, but it could be some light spices added. Anyway, besides that, I get grapes, raisins, tobacco, a hint of leather, some banana. Some darker fruits and sugar. Typically Belgian.

T - The first thing I can pinpoint in the taste is a rum quality, like some rum covered cherries. This is only in flavor, however, as the alcohol is incredibly well-hidden. It's then sugary and sweet, fruity and leathery, and the malts add to a biscuity dryness. Finish is long, sweet, with a tinge of alcohol.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately heavy with medium carbonation. A bit of a spicy finish lends to it being a bit dry, but the sweetness lingers as well.

D - Drinkability is high. An incredibly easy drinking beer that has great flavor to it. Would've liked the aroma to be a bit more ... bold, and maybe something to distinguish itself as necessarily 'Christmas', but I really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 05:39:25 | More by nhindian

thehappybelgian

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

06-08-2013 04:00:50 | More by thehappybelgian

Purp1eOne

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-29-2013 01:14:20 | More by Purp1eOne

chefpeet

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

05-23-2013 18:02:37 | More by chefpeet

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-21-2013 19:59:25 | More by InspectorBob

Zimm

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

05-15-2013 17:33:58 | More by Zimm

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

05-10-2013 16:06:54 | More by twenty5

Stugotzo

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

05-07-2013 21:39:10 | More by Stugotzo

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-26-2013 23:18:48 | More by randylangford

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-26-2013 15:19:49 | More by Jason1337

Gww1864

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%

04-12-2013 19:44:11 | More by Gww1864

BoRaeCho

California

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

04-12-2013 15:33:55 | More by BoRaeCho

beernads

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-11-2013 07:15:33 | More by beernads

wmobley

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

04-09-2013 16:31:49 | More by wmobley

rudy2828

New York

4/5  rDev -3.8%

04-05-2013 22:13:14 | More by rudy2828

bacasnax

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +14.2%

04-01-2013 22:26:11 | More by bacasnax

Casey3236

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.8%

03-31-2013 09:04:44 | More by Casey3236

RickS95

Indiana

4/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown pour with quite a bit of red. While it's dark, it's a bit clear. The head is impressive. Several fingers thick, really nice retention, sloppy lace left behind. It's a dark off-white foamy looking display of bubbles.

Classic Belgian smell, though I question the Christmas aspect of the beer. Lots of dark ripe fruits. Slight caramel malt note. The slightest bit of alcohol.

A bit of a let down. The fruity flavors never really came through. There was some spice and maltiness, but everything in the nose never made it to the tongue. It's certainly not bad, just a bit of a downer after how good it looked.

It's an easy sipper. The taste is easy on the palate and the high alcohol doesn't overwhelm. The flavor is mostly neutral. The fruity sweetness never presents itself, though it's slightly tart in the finish. No real hoppy bitterness and only faint heat from the alcohol. Carbonated, dry finish. At the high end of medium body.

Better than any American rendition of the style, but a step below some of the other Belgians. A good beer overall that I'm glad I tried. Will be proud to have the bottle in my collection.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 03:02:26 | More by RickS95

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.86/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

33cl bottle into a snifter

A: Pours a very dark amber color with two fingers of off white head. Great lacing and retention.

S: Prunes are the strongest aroma present, moderately strong for the style. Nutmeg, orange peel, peppercorn, and a bit of licorice are also present.

T: Much milder than the aroma. Dark fruits are still there, but the beer is pretty dry. Peppercorn and citrus are there to balance.

M: A bit thin with strong carbonation.

O: The smell is quite nice - a nice array of dark fruits paired with great Belgian yeast esters. The smell doesn't quite have the punch or complexity that the aroma has. Overall good, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 00:31:15 | More by coreyfmcdonald

hreb

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I recently re-discovered this one at Brookline's Publick House, on draught. I subsequently picked up this 250mL mini-bottle, which I'm trying just chilled, served in a Chimay chalice. Best before end 20/08/15. Beer pours a rich brown color with an epic head of a lighter brown. Beer appears to be loaded with bubbles. Aroma is pretty subtle, but yeasty, slightly funky, and spicy. Spice ("natural" spice, that is) comes through much more in the flavor, along with a really rich body, and a mouthfeel that is definitely not too heavy for this heady brew. This Belgian is unbelievably easy drinking due to its fantastic balance and complex flavors. You'll get drunk (or broke) long before getting bored of these.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:12:47 | More by hreb

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

03-18-2013 22:32:27 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Duchesse

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.8%

03-16-2013 05:09:01 | More by Duchesse

ucsbmullet

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%

03-15-2013 01:01:56 | More by ucsbmullet

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -3.8%

03-12-2013 18:23:55 | More by Zachtheporter

ItsTheLimit

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Corsendonk Christmas Ale is a really lovely, deep mahogany-to-plum color with a really thick tan head. Leaves waves of lacing all the way down the glass. Lots of carbonation apparent, as well.

Smells of Belgian yeast, some dark fruit funk, alcohol and bread. Very inviting.

Tastes of dried fruit, yeasty bread, a little alcohol, but still extremely balanced. Really exceptionally complex, yet drinkable beer.

Great mouthfeel. Very smooth, almost velvety on the tongue.

Overall, this is an excellent beer. I look forward to drinking another and will definitely be trying this in years to come.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:25:03 | More by ItsTheLimit