Bush De Noël - Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl

nhindian

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

250ml bottle poured into a Delirium Noël bottle. It seemed appropriate!

A - Pours a very dark mahogany-colored body, bordering on the darkest levels of brown. It's pretty clear for the most part with lots of tiny bubbles of carbonation streaming from the bottom of the glass, rising to replenish the head. Speaking of the head, it has excellent retention, and when it finally levels out, it leaves a half-inch thick cap that sits casually on top. Lacing consists of thick bubbles which sporadically stick to the glass, but it's nothing much special.

S - The smell is interesting and consists of multiple elements of various Belgian styles. The aroma has a nice phenol quality of it with plenty of bananas, figs, Belgian yeast, grapes, malts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and alcohol. Certainly unique and makes me want to get in and taste it!

T - After one sip I'm a bit overwhelmed. Where as in the nose the alcohol is more concealed and relegated to the back of the smell, in the taste it plays a more prominent role and is apparent from the start. Not to say that it doesn't integrate well with the taste, but don't expect it to be hidden. The spices of the nose are more subtle as well, but give the impression of cinnamon sugar coated raisins. The bananas and cloves curb each other to streamline the assortment of flavors into interesting combinations of flavors. The finish is long and sweet, and has a good mixture of sugar, grapes, and alcohol.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately light-bodied with good carbonation. Given the amount of bubbles seen in the glass, I was expecting a lot of carbonation but what is presented is definitely acceptable. Leaves a decent amount of coating on the palate.

D - Drinkability is moderate. It was a tough choice to pick this bottle given the size of the bottle and price, but I feel the size is a blessing for this beer. It's easy to drink and the flavors are interesting and work together great, but the alcohol will easily creep up on you. I keep getting drawn to drink, but the flavors are complex enough to delay the entire bottle over about 30 minutes or so.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 23:24:18 | More by nhindian

desint

Belgium

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-24-2013 11:55:29 | More by desint

kvnstfrd

Missouri

1.25/5  rDev -68.9%

05-23-2013 04:53:00 | More by kvnstfrd

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-21-2013 19:56:08 | More by InspectorBob

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-20-2013 22:30:33 | More by Slatetank

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-11-2013 15:22:55 | More by mikeburd1128

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%

05-10-2013 15:27:15 | More by twenty5

Ciocanelu

Romania

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-09-2013 12:29:28 | More by Ciocanelu

jwat

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-07-2013 03:54:46 | More by jwat

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

04-26-2013 15:20:33 | More by Jason1337

Metatron6

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

04-10-2013 22:15:03 | More by Metatron6

Sparky44

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

04-04-2013 01:26:46 | More by Sparky44

RochefortChris

South Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -31.6%

03-31-2013 02:32:32 | More by RochefortChris

reitzbrewing

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +24.4%

03-27-2013 02:34:58 | More by reitzbrewing

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

5/5  rDev +24.4%

03-23-2013 07:35:33 | More by grahamboudreaux

BGsWo22

New York

4/5  rDev -0.5%

03-20-2013 22:30:31 | More by BGsWo22

harpus

Alabama

4/5  rDev -0.5%

03-20-2013 17:35:26 | More by harpus

alelover

Michigan

4/5  rDev -0.5%

03-13-2013 19:02:25 | More by alelover

Herky21

Iowa

5/5  rDev +24.4%

03-11-2013 23:23:06 | More by Herky21

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%

03-11-2013 05:21:51 | More by spycow

ommegangpbr

New York

4.08/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Not a pretty version within a style that is normally very visually impressive. Color is diluted cola color with cola like foam.
Scent is much more striking, even from afar. Developed yeast/sugar things going on. Fresh baked bread mixed with candy shoppe.
Probably the most impressive feature of this beverage is the 12% alcohol that is very difficult to detect. Seriously, very very difficult to tell it is that strong. Really quite smooth and enjoyable all around. Not at all sugary or syrupy in a style that can err in that way. Worth sampling and resampling.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 03:21:14 | More by ommegangpbr

elNopalero

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2012 Update:

Bottle opened after 2+ years of age.

I like the little bottle—it’s the perfect amount for a personal-sized serving of a high gravity beer. If this was in a 750 ml bottle I don’t think I’d get a chance to open it anytime soon. As it is I sat on it for over 2 years.

Poured a clear, light ruddy raisin-colored hue with a thin, tight lace ring.
The aroma has a dried stone fruit touch—raisin, fig, dates—but there’s an overpowering phenolic alcohol aroma that dominates and overpowers it. The aroma is off putting. The more time I spend with it the less pleasant I find it, unfortunately.

Flavorwise its lightly raisin/fig/stone fruit/fruit cake, with a caramel malt finish. The booziness doesn’t come across as strongly on the sip but it’s still evident.
What can I say. It still doesn’t excite me. Eh.

Previously: This has a light amber color with a good amount of lingering foam. There is a muted aroma belying a lot of flavor on the palate. Noticeable booze. At 12% there’s no where to hide but it still plays well. The malt profile dissipates rapidly under it, and it carries a bit of a bite. Another year on this and I think we’d be good friends.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 06:54:03 | More by elNopalero

Peyton5410

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

02-21-2013 13:06:55 | More by Peyton5410

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

25cl bottle into a snifter

A: Pours a medium amber color with a finger of white head. The color of this beer is quite light for a BSDA.

S: Dried apricots, plums, prunes, and a hint of licorice. Nutmeg and orange bitter spiciness is there, but it's fairly restrained. Smells quite boozy.

T: Fairly light on the palate for the style. I get dried apricots, but not as much prunes and plums as the aroma. A bit of peppercorn and orange bitters. Overall, the taste is not nearly as complex as the aroma. This is also very, very boozy.

M: A bit light with light carbonation.

O: Not bad, but I'd like more dark fruit and more esters. Extremely boozy, too.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 01:34:34 | More by coreyfmcdonald

Stinger80OH

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +18.2%

02-18-2013 11:45:12 | More by Stinger80OH