La Rullés Cuvée Meilleurs Voeux (Bière De Gaume) - Brasserie Artisanale De Rullés SPRL

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle. Same elven, shifty-eyed, besotted Belgian dude on the label, this time decked out as a beardless Santa, proffering us the best of wishes via this particular incarnation.

This beer pours a hazy, dark reddish-amber hue, with two fingers of tightly foamy, slightly puffy pale beige head, which leaves a wall of rarely-broken fuzzy lace around the glass as it slowly ebbs away.

It smells of lightly bready pale malt, a well-restrained earthy yeastiness, some ethereal banana notes, a bit of muddled black fruit, some clove, ginger, and cinnamon spices, and a dank, musty hoppiness. The taste is sharp, somewhat acidic dark fruit, nutty bready malt, softly lilting bitter cocoa, mildly zingy yeast, and some citrusy, leafy hops.

The carbonation is a tad frizzante, a testament to the ongoing frothy pours, the body a sturdy medium weight, and generally quite smooth. It finishes fairly off-dry, the bready malt, temperate fruit, and lingering yeast doing well to work together.

A decent winter indulgence, the savoury spices on the down-low, alongside a nicely multi-toned maltiness, and some equally tame alcohol warming. All in all, the preceding was a mawkish way of describing a simply well-integrated, tasty accompaniment to the various sugary offerings so prevalent at this time of year.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 05:38:31 | More by biboergosum

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

06-09-2013 00:58:22 | More by BigBry

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-20-2013 04:51:01 | More by Kmat10

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Reddish-black with a finger of frothy khaki-ten head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Dark caramel malts, Belgian yeast, clove, coriander, pepper, other spices, raisins, plums, other dark fruits.

T - Sweet dark caramel malts, raisins, plums, and other dark fruits, Belgian yeast, clove, coriander, pepper, other spices, a touch of banana.

M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet and spicy finish.

D - Great BDA. Good balance.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 05:46:05 | More by ngeunit1

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

04-26-2013 22:22:15 | More by randylangford

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Mad props to joemcgrath27 for yet another stellar hook-up.

A - Pours a slightly hazy ruby red with a solid thumb of head, solid retention and some sporadic lacing.

S - Classic dark Belgian with dark fruit notes, sweet yeast esthers, hints of figs and dried fruit, with a touch of cloves on the finish.

T - A surprising dark malt flavour comes through on the palette, hits of cocoa and leather alongside muddled dark fruits and hints of cloves. Dark cocoa an hints of espresso linger alongside some grassy hops and buttered bread.

M - Lighter bodied with loads of carbonation and finishes surprisingly wet.

O - I thoroughly enjoyed this brew, less heavy on the fruity flavours and a solid dark malt profile. Easily sessioned and well worth seeking out. I'm grateful for the opportunity to take this brew for a spin.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:58:49 | More by andrenaline

UCLABrewN84

California

3.65/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy dark orange-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, toast, dark fruit, and some spice aromas. Taste is much the same with dark fruit and char-like flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of roasty and spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some nice aromas but the flavors are a bit burnt tasting.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 01:22:00 | More by UCLABrewN84

skaboom420

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -16%

03-28-2013 20:05:02 | More by skaboom420

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

from notes
A - Swampy purple with light at the bottom, 2 fingers of head, half finger retention
S - Plumb and pear, light clove and spice, mild caramel
T - Big minerally note, leafiness and slightly grainy, strangely the belgian phenol flavours are outnumbered
M - creamy carbonation with a smooth feel, alcohol is well integrated here with not real bite
O - generally a pleasant enough Belgian Dark, however the label and timing left me hoping it would have more of an winter/xmas quality to it which it fails to deliver on, but still well worth a try

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 22:25:12 | More by joemcgrath27

BigLittleHokis

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%

02-25-2013 03:53:25 | More by BigLittleHokis

Pencible

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: This poured a cloudy mahogany with fluffy light tan head.
S: It smelled like earthy caramel and sour Belgian yeast, with some dark fruit and sourdough and candi sugar.
T: It tasted like toasted sourdough and earthy caramel, with some sour Belgian yeast and sweet candi sugar. It had a clean and sweet and sour aftertaste.
M: It was oily with smooth natural carbonation. Great body.
D: This was a nice BSDA, but nothing special. It would probably age really well, but it was also ok fresh. Decent.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 00:58:20 | More by Pencible

nmann08

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.4%

02-21-2013 22:47:21 | More by nmann08

thierrynantes

France

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (75 cl.) purchased from Biéres & Chopes, and tasted in 2013.

Appearance : brown red color, with tan foramy head.
Smell : roasted malt and spicy aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : roasted malty ans spices flavors, with solid bitterness.
Drinkability : a good beer in the Belgian style Strong dark ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 19:52:31 | More by thierrynantes

IHyphySF

California

2.5/5  rDev -35.4%

01-29-2013 06:55:09 | More by IHyphySF

impending

California

3.04/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

C+

750ml into a tulip. Pours an opaque deep walnut, minor coffee colored head receded rapidly, minor lacing.

Aroma is of lightly charred malts, unsweetened rum cake ingredients sans the rum.

Watered down raisins and plums. Flavor has a nice subtle molasses note plus a hint of char, more would be nice. Thin bodied, feels lowly carbed. Far from bad but nothing stands out, lacks personality.
jd

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 06:12:47 | More by impending

seand

California

3.84/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark cloudy red with a fair amount of light tan hops. A solid blanket retains, leaving walls of lacing.

S: Lightly sweet and yeasty. Mild spices. Nothing overbearing, but overall it's a reasonably nice effect.

T: Thick but not overpowering sweetness, especially through the finish. There are very minor notes of spice. It's nice, if a bit one-dimensional.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation, pretty nicely matched to the flavor profile.

Overall, good, but just good. Nothing outstanding or really new. It's well done though, and I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:15:46 | More by seand

uturn

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

01-17-2013 21:37:41 | More by uturn

Beerenauslese

California

4.08/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass, body is a semi-transparent dark brown. Big foamy head and good retention, with sticky lacing and a cap of foam to the last drop.

Nose is sweet with toffee. Lots of seasonally appropriate notes of cherries, cola, coffee, plums, cinnamon and clove spices.

Tastes pretty smooth with notes of charred malt, and all of the above flavors. Maybe a little roasted pepper too.

Ample round carbonation with a creamy mouthfeel and some spiciness on the tongue.

This is a very nice winter warmer. While it has a Belgian dark strong ale profile, it also has some dry stout qualities. Packs a lot of dark wintery and spicy flavor into a beer that is just 7.3% and is not too sweet. Gladly will I drink more of this.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 02:59:58 | More by Beerenauslese

s4s

California

3/5  rDev -22.5%

12-28-2012 01:33:10 | More by s4s

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a reddish amber color with hints of light visible around the edges. There is a two finger slightly beige head which leaves decent lace. The aroma is of bubblegum, banana, and some dark fruits. The taste follows suit the beginning has a dark fruit flavor profile, this gives way to banana's along with nutmeg and cinnomon. The backend brings a big bubblegum flavor. The mouthfeel is moderatley carbonated and a little creamy. Overall it was a slightly above average beer. Everything was good but not great.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 02:14:34 | More by goblue3509

pixieskid

France

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Piked this up while in Belgium last year, didn't pay attention to the bottle date as it was November or so: turns out this thing was brewed in 09 and past off as if it were fresh (sitting next to the other xmas beers). Keep you're eyes peeled in Brussels people, the bottleshops in the city center seem to pray on the tourists (price gouging, etc.)

Pours a deep brown with a tint of red, 2 finger creamy head that lingers for quite some time.

Nose: toffee, some allspice, a bit of cocoa.

Taste: bittersweet chocolate upfront, balanced bitterness throughout, lingering cocoa notes with a touch of spices.

Mouthfeel: extra creamy with a frothy carbonation.

Overall: turned out to be pretty damn enjoyable, curious to try it fresh at some point.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 21:10:29 | More by pixieskid

aminobutyricacid

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%

12-22-2012 20:41:24 | More by aminobutyricacid

brotherloco

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

12-21-2012 05:33:33 | More by brotherloco

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

12-07-2012 07:47:51 | More by schnarr84

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into tulip 5/12/12

A very dark brown with a massive dense dark tan head that sits around for ages and leaves a few pencil thin rings

S the nose is impressive, reminds me of farmhouse yeast with some bubblegum, spice and faint banana, there's some brewers candy and spicy earthy hops with some faint coco and dark fruit, plenty happening in this department

T more coco but still not much, the yeast fades a little and some faint citrus I didn't smell, some plum and just a little hazelnut

M very creamy and a smooth beverage, very long nutty, earthy finish and no booze at all, perhaps one of the creamiest brews I've had the bubbles are working well

O solid stuff start to finish, complex and very easy to drink and great for a chilly evening. Smells and feels awesome and no room for complaints elsewhere

I'd drink this again and its reasonably at around 12$ it might happen sooner then later. Alberta shelves are getting jam packed with gems both hidden and sought after, keep'em coming

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 06:34:38 | More by wordemupg