Corsendonk Christmas Ale - Brouwerij Corsendonk

chadmoe1

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Notes from 12/12/11

A -- Deep golden brown with 1" light tan head; lots of lacing

S -- Belgian fruity yeast, raisin and pear notes

T -- Toast malty goodness, fruity yeast, raisin/currant, long aftertaste

M -- Strong carb, medium body

O -- Belgian beer + Christmas! Distinct Belgian flavors (fruity yeast, smooth toasty/lightly roasted malt, warm alcohol) with spices that balance. I could drink this over and over again!

Bottle, poured in snifter glass

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 01:24:56 | More by chadmoe1

BrianBoruma

California

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I've actually had this one several times on tap but reviewing a bottle recently purchased served in a brewery glass.

A: Thin white head over a dark brown body with rubyish highlights. Head leaves lacing as I consume it.

S: Fruits, dark fruits, spices are hard to distinguish, I like that. I get some allspice and cinnamon, maybe some anise.

T: Lots more dark fruits, a bit like raisins or plums, spices come forwards in the finish, definitely get a bit of anise in there and some cinnamon. Malt comes a bit afterwards and a slight warming sensation from the alcohol. Can't tell if the floral comes from phenols or hop selection.

M: Rather well rounded. Not too much malt roundness, like a true Belgian this one finishes dry, not syrupy for the amount of alcohol.

D: Definitely could have another on a cold winter night. Though past that would not be a good idea with the 8.5% Definitely makes it on the list of favorite seasonals though.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2010 07:05:48 | More by BrianBoruma

CherylM

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It is rich, full-bodied, dark beer which produces a lively head at first pour. It is malty and enhanced with flavors of candied cherries, almonds, cinnamon, spices. All the flavors mellow together nicely without being too sweet. It is very smooth, not a lot of carbonation, and the high alcohol content is not really noticable.. A delightful beer which I look forward to each Christmas.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2007 00:37:56 | More by CherylM

ryandurka

New York

4.6/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

very perfect dark beer. kinda sweet but not too much. very nice. i would recommend this beer. its a real pleasure. bought locally so its not too hard to track down and find. perhaps the seasonal side to this beer may make it hard to find later in the year.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 12:16:29 | More by ryandurka

DamDweller

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Corsendonk Christmas, 2009

Nice drinking beer that would go well with all food types, ranging from steak to a nice white fish.

Initial pour has an appealing chestnut color with a strong head. There is a slight citrus smell along with a heavy alcohol presence. Drank this beer right out of the fridge, which was a big mistake. It completely dulled the complex flavors. After letting the beer warm up a bit there was a nice chocolate malt flavor that cleared tongue quickly followed by strong taste of prunes and young cherries. At the end, a moderate hop finish showed itself and cleaned the pallet well. Considering the alcohol percentage and the initial smell, I was surprised to not taste much alcohol at all, especially keeping the style in mind.

This was a good beer and one that I wish I had more than one bottle of. It would be drinkable any time of year with a wide variety of foods. The mouthfeel is refreshing and yet the body was strong enough to be enjoyed during the coldest part of the year.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2010 00:12:23 | More by DamDweller

dcx10music

New York

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark brown that shows shades of red and even purple when held up to light. Semi-small off-white head and minimal lacing. Surprisingly opaque. Very easy on the eyes.

S - A tad mild, but the actual smell is quite nice. A fruity splash of grape is balanced out nicely by a sturdy roasted malt backbone. Nice, but I wish it was a little more pungent.

T - The elements of the smell sort of reverse roles in the taste. The roasted maltiness is the most prominent flavor and is complimented by a light grape fruitiness. Quite nice.

M - Perfect, in my opinion. Rich, thick, and creamy. This kind of brew needs those qualities, and this one packs them in spades.

D - Easy to down, but a little on the filling side. I could drink 2 of these, but largely because they come in such small bottles.

Notes - A wonderful holiday brew. Its biggest weaknesses have nothing to do with the actual drink: the bottles are too small, and it's only available at Christmas. Time to stock up!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 01:45:33 | More by dcx10music

jscottku21

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap, this ale was quite good. Spices including cinnamon and cloves were very distinct yet not overwhelming. Extremely drinkable, although the 8.5% will surely catch up with you, I would absolutely revisit this excellent offering from Corsendonk. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2006 14:41:58 | More by jscottku21

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

DeadGuyRyan

Ohio

4.72/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: A hazy beer with a ruddy brown mahogany color to it. Great tan head that hangs around as well as the lace.

Smell: Very inviting smell with floral notes along with malt and fruits as well along with chocolate hints as well. Reminds me of the holidays.

Taste: This beer is incredible rich with out being overbearing. Subtle nuances of spices and great malt flavor I get a great sense of figs and dark raisins as well. Smells of a pudding as well.

Aftertaste: This beer went down really smooth was creamy on the palate with a flavor that lingered around for a while. I would suggest drinking this beer slowly the warmer it gets the more the taste really present themselves.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 20:06:17 | More by DeadGuyRyan

DreamInOrange

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle with a best by date of 9/22/14 into a tulip glass

A- 1/4 inch thick off-white heady, very frothy. Dark amber in color with evident carbonation.

S- Candied fruit and sweet alcohol

T- Nice balance of candied fruit, chocolate, and spice. Quick taste of the alcohol at the swallow. Really smooth.

M- Really great carbonation, slightly slick.

O- Great example of this style, definitely would go back to this beer

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 01:16:03 | More by DreamInOrange

Benjiehorn

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

By and large the best Christmas beer that I've had this year. It helps that I picked the bottle up from Binny's in Lakeview, and it had been aging for a year on their shelf. Lots of nice vanilla and cocoa, a touch of cherry, some brown sugar, and a little bit of raisin. A slight carbonation tingles as it goes down, typical for most Belgians. A great Christmas beer, highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2009 21:01:31 | More by Benjiehorn

phrygian68

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Next to the Rochefort Trappist 8 and 10 this is the best belgian dark ale that i have had! pours a dark mahogany with a nice tan 2 finger head! smell is of dark bread,apricots,raisens and figs,taste is the same with low carbonation and a smooth malty finish,wow what a great beer! cant wait till next christmas!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2007 03:50:48 | More by phrygian68

VALIS666

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a huge head into a Duvel tulip glass. Very pleasant deep brown color held to the light. However, both the scent and the taste are far lighter than I expected. The most dominant smell I got was a watery, rusty scent, not particularly good. The taste is clean and smooth and strongly carbonated with a bit of spice and sweetness. A decent beer but far less robust than I expected.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 23:05:42 | More by VALIS666

drumstik

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This one came in a tin with a nice cartoonish christmas design. Sets the mood for the drink inside.

Pours a dark nutty brown with a nice thick off white head that grows slowly towards the top of my glass.

Smells of spices, bread, and fig with a very pleasant malty sweetness.

Taste is on par with the smell. Very dark mellow fig and malty sweetness. A perfect hint of christmas spices and that great belgian yeast sweetness. Yum!

Mouth feel is smooth with a bit of carbonation and slides down easy.

A fantastic christmas brew that is very enjoyable on a cold winter night. Heading out tomorrow to pick up some more!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2005 04:21:10 | More by drumstik

CelticAleMan

California

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From notes:

01/28/11

A - Brownish, but is dark ruby colored when held up to light. 2 finger head. Fine creamy tan foam with unbelievable lacing.

S - Dark fruits, figs, spices (clove, coriander, nutmeg, maybe a tiny bit of anise).

T - Sweet, spicy dark fruit. Molasses, candi sugar, mild spiciness (clove and coriander), caramel, and even a little chocolate in the finish.

M - Medium, creamy and well carbonated.

O - Awesome. I could drink these regularly, without a doubt. This has to be my favorite Christmas beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 05:36:59 | More by CelticAleMan

jsgpu90

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow. I really enjoyed this one. The beer poured with a slight white head that remained throughout. There was a very slight alcohol taste but it was masked by hints of citrus. There was a perfect amount of carboniation that allowed for the complex flavors to come through. I will certainly buy another one if I can find it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2008 02:05:04 | More by jsgpu90

Dasa1044

New York

5/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Picked this up as a Christmas gift, and shared gift with the happy recipient!

Pour: Dark brown, almost black. Not as thick as expected building a nice head.

Nose: Subtle spices, and mildly hoppy smell. Very pleasant.

Taste: Much lighter taste than the alcohol content would suggest. Definitely a surprise. Lot's of great flavors to discern. Cloves, Cinnamon and nuts.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth, not thick at all, very lively carbonation.

Overall: It really made the perfect Christmas gift. A beer to savior.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 15:55:17 | More by Dasa1044

shuriyukum

Maryland

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked this up @ the Brew Crew in Albany, NY. Came in a 4 pack.

A - The beer pours a nice dark caramel with a red hue. It has a foamy head (of which you'd expect from a belgian).

S - Mild, caramel, malty smell with a touch of yeast undertone.

T - Fruity, spicy, sweet.

M - the slight spice taste has a finish that ends mildly. The sweetness is not heavy in your mouth.

D - Sweet, smooth, and easy going down. Has notes of caramel, toasted malt.

Overall, highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2006 01:41:01 | More by shuriyukum

JeffH

Washington

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Deep brown with a light, quickly dispersing head
S- dried fruits, brown sugar
T- Crisp start with waves of dried, sweet fruit. Nice malt finish with a small amount of yeastiness
M- Lighter than expected with a high carbonation
O- Very good beer, looking forward to another soon

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 01:22:48 | More by JeffH

kstokem

New York

5/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had Corsendonk Christmas Ale on draught at Mahar's Pub in Castleton-on-Hudson just before Christmas. It was offered at $5 for 10 oz. or $10/20oz. I started with a 10 oz. but had to follow it with a second 10 oz. It was one of those "oh I have the perfect beer for me" evenings.

Unfortunately, this beer is seasonal. I went back after Christmas and it was gone. Mahar said he was trying to obtain another keg. It was being searched for among the diminishing stock of Corsendonk Christmas Ale in the Albany/Capital Region, NY.

I hope to check in with Mahar tomorrow to see if he was successful in getting more.

If you come across Corsendonk Christmas Ale
on draught, don't drink it, save it for me.

I have had Corsendonk Christmas Ale in bottles a few times before and it is great that way too, but to my mind, no beer is better in the bottle than it is when you can get it draught style. I did however, recently purchase 2 750ml bottles so I could enjoy the Ale sometime later this year.

I recommend the Mahar's Pub in Castleton on Hudson, NY. It is a small neighborhood off-shoot of the long term, well established Mahar's Pub neighborhood pub on Madison Ave. in Albany, NY. Both Mahar's are serious places to drink a huge international variety of great beers.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-18-2011 20:49:00 | More by kstokem