Bush De Noël - Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Chestnut red/brown with an everlasting ring of foam. Not much lacing.

Sweet caramelly malts with roasty cereal grain. No hops, just malty sweetness with a Maillard effect. Light pomme fruitiness.

Rich, wooly, and boozy with caramel and toffee and candied apple. White grape, roast, candied orange, mild mulling spice, and alcohol sweet. Huge xmas beer.

Extremely big in strength. Soppy body and medium carbonation doesn't make good after the booze.

A classic in my book. A beer I drink every year despite its deficiencies.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2012 19:01:31 | More by thecheapies

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Nice brown-bronze color. Decent head. Lots of carbonation bubbles.

S - Hints of fig. Not a lot of real descernible smells to me.

T - Very smooth. Classic Belgian taste. At first, i thought there's no way this is a 12% abv beer. But toward the end, you could tell it had a lot more bite. Upon drinking my second one, the alcohol became much more noticeable. but still a very well-bsalanced beer.

M - A tad light for the %, but not watery.

O - Enjoyable. Very easy drinking. I wrote at first that it was quite easy to down too many. but after two, not really a problem. I will enjoy this again. Good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2012 01:00:04 | More by Beer-A-Lot

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – The beer was served a red-amber brew with a one finger off white head. The head faded fast to give a good level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is sweet of dark fruit aromas and a nice spicy and lightly boozy smell. The fruit aromas are of cherry and fig while the spice is of a light clove. A light nutty aroma is also present rounding out the other aromas nicely.

Taste – The taste starts out with the dark fruit detected in the nose with big tastes of raisin, cherry, and prune. Mixed with these are some other sweet candied sugar flavors. A light spice flavor then comes to the tongue along with some flavors of malt. Soon however , a good dose of alcohol flavor comes to the tongue in the form a brandy and wine like flavor. This when combined with the dark fruit flavors leaves a very warming taste on the tongue in the end.

Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is on the creamier and thicker side with a carbonation level that is slightly higher then would have been expected for a 12 % brew. The creamy body was very nice for the fruity and boozy flavors with the carbonation level at a bit of a higher level helping with the drinkability, without being overly carbonated and taking away from the tastes. Not bad.

Overall – This was a robustly sweet and flavorful brew with a very nice warming feel. A nice beer to sit and sip alongside the Christmas tree. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2012 01:30:01 | More by Darkmagus82

notchucknorris

California

4.38/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at pizza port Carlsbad

A: Deep amber color with a thin cream colored head. Some spotty lacing down the glass.

S: A good amount of dark fruit, Belgian yeast, candi sugar and bubblegum. Traces of raisin and brown sugar.

T: Tons of dark frui. Prune, raisin and plum with Belgian yeast, pomegranate and some burnt raisin skin on the finish. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 19:26:26 | More by notchucknorris

chinchill

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served (12 oz) in a tulip glass at Barley's in Greenville.

A clear dark amber with a fine, creamy tan head. The head has medium retention but leaves some very nice tiny-bubbled lacing.

Aroma: Has a clear alcohol presence but not objectionable; suggestive of fine cognac rather than just boozy. Approaches 4.5 -- very high for me for a beer with a 12% ABV.

Taste: Flavorful and refined, but not as rich or complex as some competitors (e.g., St. Bernardus ABT 12). Moderately malty, somewhat sweet, and quite fruity. Lightly spicy; more subtle than is often the case for a Belgian of this style.

Mouthfeel is not the strong point of this beer. It is admirably smooth but may be a tad under-carbonated. Warming but no burn from the alcohol.

O: Very well crafted seasonal brew with a high but well hidden/integrated ABV. A tad too sweet but nonetheless a fine Belgian well worth seeking out. Improved with warming. Exceptionally interesting and fun to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 15:44:29 | More by chinchill

nrbw23

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Pours a reddish brown color with pretty much no head or lacing. Just a handful of bubbles and floaters in the brew.

S- Pretty sweet smelling. Picking up quite a bit of caramel, darker fruits and yeast.

T- A fairly strong mixture of spice and sweetness. Alcohol is hidden pretty well. Taste is figs, darker fruits, yeast, nuts, and booze.

M- A bit on the lighter side of medium and a fairly good amount of carbonation.

O- I think I'll pass on this one if it ever comes my way again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2011 03:37:57 | More by nrbw23

callmeopus

Washington

5/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is sublime perfection. Starting with it's ruby and caramel color, that is a little deceptive in it's lightness, and ending with a burning boozy bite. I get the aroma of vanilla, nutmeg, and fresh cut douglas fir, that brings up a snow covered field peppered with small, fully decorated x-mas trees. The taste is gentle and sweet with various spicy notes (like ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon) popping up here and there. Each sip varies from the other, but none are disappointing. Scaldis Noel finishes in the throat with a light burning bitterness.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2011 18:43:47 | More by callmeopus

beerpirates

Belgium

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this On tap @ kulminator

A- Copper colored with hinting orange hue. Thin white head, dispensing out to a thin line around the glass.

S- First thing I thought was pear. Also smells a bit like apple as well. A bit of spice, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

T- Malty sweetness and candied sugar, followed by fresh apple/pear lingering on the palate. As mentioned above, the flavor does a good job of masking the ABV of this brew.

M- Well carbonated; feels very light and refreshing.

D- One of these will set you up nice; very warming if the temperature gets low.

Nice brew .

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2011 20:31:59 | More by beerpirates

clayrock81

Virginia

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a brownish body with offwhit but big head that left a lace ring down the glass. A yeasty, nutty smell, citric orange, some floral hop bitterness and a touch of spice in the aroma. A sweet and bready/yeasty, even woody taste first hits my tongue along with minimal carbonation for a little sharpness that balances roasted and sweet malt tasts as well as a citrusy, orange, dark fruit flavor taste. The ABV is hidden well and this is an easy and very tasty beer to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2011 11:16:04 | More by clayrock81

taigor

New York

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

Poured into small glass.

A - Poured slightly hazy brown orange color with small head that quickly dissipated leaving almost no lacing around the glass.

S - Caramel, toffee and malts with hints of cinnamon and spices.

T - Slightly sweet to start with dark fruits, almonds flavor. Has a taste of bready yeast and slight malty dry finish.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

D - Very good and enjoyable Noel ale. ABV is very well masked.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2011 20:54:40 | More by taigor

ToasterChef

Maine

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

Reviewed from my notes.
A: Dark amber/brown. Tan foamy head.
S: Malty spiced ale. Touch of cinnamon.
T: Dark fruit flavor--more like cranberry, not plum/prune. Bit of tartness, some fruit juice. Some alcohol in the finish. Vapors linger. Great strong holiday ale.
M: Medium body, lower carbonation. Not too much coat. Somewhat sticky, but it isn't distracting.
D: Very drinkable. Strength is fairly well hidden. Not over spiced. I'm glad I got a big pour!

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2011 15:17:46 | More by ToasterChef

brewerburgundy

California

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

25cl pour into a Scaldis Noel branded 'half snifter' at Alchemy, Murphys, CA.

The beer is colored much like a Dubbel, translucent rusty red. The head is impressive; a two or three finger pile of creamy light tan. In looks this is a lighter Belgian Strong Dark.

The nose has wonderful almost Flanders Red Ale-like sour fruit combined with clove spice, a little solvent, sweet malt, and candi sugar.

Flavors of moderate caramel, clove, other sweet spice, cough syrup, and toffee. I really like how it has that sour cherry going on too. A small bit of alcohol becomes apparent after warming, but not an unpleasant amount.

The mouthfeel was a bit fizzy at first but it calmed down near the end of my meal. It has a little acidity and a little chalkiness and isn't very thick for 12%.

I found it quite drinkable for a huge beer, though I sure did feel it. It seems like a melange of characteristics of different Belgian styles that works together well.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 22:34:54 | More by brewerburgundy

Tone

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, amber color. 1/5 inch head of an off-white color. Decent retention and decent lacing. Smells of sweet malt, pale malt, hint of spice, and yeast. Fits the style of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of spice, strong hop, and slight sweet malt. Overall, nicely dry spiced - good blend.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2011 02:24:27 | More by Tone

Hojaminbag

Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The body is red at its heart, but the rest of the beer is a glowing orange color in . A thin line of tan head sticks around for a bit, but definitely doesn't leave any lacing.

The aroma has lots of cherry, some malt and a ton of booze.

Three flavors are equally powerful in this beer: malty toffee, candied sugar, and alcohol. Toffee comes first, and it is definitely my favorite part of the beer; it also saves this from being a cloying, alcoholic mess. The candied cherry is pretty powerful also, and it leads into a very strong, warming finish that includes the noticeable taste of alcohol. Simple and really boozy.

The body is rather thin for the high ABV, but the high carbonation makes the overall feel works pretty well.

Although lacking in complexity, this beer certainly does the trick of warming me up. With that said, it is pretty damn boozy and doesn't hide that fact very well.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2010 15:02:13 | More by Hojaminbag

Pencible

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: This poured a clear mahogany with fluffy tan head.
S: It smelled like rich dark fruits (prune, plumb, raisin) with wild yeast and brown sugar and candi sugar, and a bit of biscuit and esters.
T: It tasted like sweet caramel and brown sugar and raisin, fairly earthy and dry, with a little esters and wild yeast and alcohol. It had a sweet aftertaste with some alcohol heat.
M: It was oily with smooth natural carbonation. Nice of draft.
D: This was a fantastic dark Belgian ale with delicious scent and taste. Not super complex, but still very enjoyable. Alcohol was noticeable, so it was better to sip but not challenging to finish. Age would probably help improve and mellow this beer, but it's already excellent fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2010 17:15:57 | More by Pencible

djbreezy

Washington

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

Holiday Ale Fest 2010 in Portland, OR

appearance - golden nectar, low head, low retention

smell - toffee and fruit

taste - various fruit, candy, toffee

mouthfeel - thick molasses type texture, oily, slick, full body, sticky

drinkability - amazing, tasty, complex, enjoyable, i'd even call it a session beer despite the 12% abv (for the winter maybe!)

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2010 03:36:25 | More by djbreezy

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

With intense alcohol and fruit flavor, this strong Belgian Ale shares the bed with caugh syrups and Jagermaiseter.

The pour is a little brighter on the amber side rather than dark as the name suggests. Creamy and decently bubbly, the weight of the beer keeps the effervescent muted. Nice creamy head laces fairly well, while retaining well considering the alcohol content.

Fruity and alcoholic, the nose brings in cherries, figs, and grape esters with a fruitcakes like (candied) sweetness and rummy (almost boozy) alcohol scents. Sweet and spicy to the nose.

Flavors start with a burst of cherry and fig. Raisons and red licorice can be found in the complex taste as the beer warms. Candied and dehydrated fruits from pineapple to cranberry give mild tartness/vinousness to the confectioner's sugar taste and estery composition. Delicious and decedent even with the alcoholic intensity.

Sweeter and sticky early, the beer's creaminess fades and ushers in the alcoholic spice with a prickly warmth. Sweet and dry in the finish, the beer sticks around, making it much more of a savory sipper than a more drinkable brew.

A good strong Belgian Ale that seems to be pushing the limits beyond proper balance and clean flavors. Adding stress to the palate because of its challenging strength, it's more like a brandy than with which the beer drinker's palate is accustomed.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2010 19:42:43 | More by BEERchitect

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

3.78/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Brasserie Beck.

A: Reddish brown opaque body with a small white head and some lacing.

S: Lots of sugary dark fruit and cherry aromas come through with hints of spices as well. Buttery malts come through as well, very nice aroma.

T: Not as complex and delicate as the smell, lots of alcohol burn dominates here. Flavors of cherry, clove, dark fruit and malty yeasty flavors come through, though again lots of alcohol heat covers up a lot of the complexity.

M: Medium bodied with lots of burn to it. Nice winter warming qualities though.

D: Good, but just really hot.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2010 00:35:53 | More by Dreadnaught33

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Scaldis Noel.

Appearance: Poured on-tap into a Scaldis chalice. Sizable head on a mahagony/brownish body exhibiting fine clarity.

Smell: Creamy malt, Belgian ale yeast. Theres an overall pleasantness to the nose. After some time, there is a hint of ethanol, but not strongly.

Taste: Fairly standard belgian ale here. Malty, creamy, with just a hint of hops on the back end. The malts are mild and have a sugary flavor, paired with a mild roasted edge. Just the faintest hint of spice, which was nice.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: Medium to full bodied. Warming in the winter months. Although this is a fine beer, this year's vintage lacked character that makes a truly great Christmas beer. And perhaps it was too young when I had it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2010 16:26:41 | More by Stinkypuss

Brabander

Netherlands

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

When i visited the Kulminator in Antwerpen i got in a conversation with an older Belgian couple who sat there at a table. I asked them what they could advise me and they pointed out this beer. It was on tap and i got the beer in a Bush glass as it should be. Nice dark red/brown colour with a little head. Carbonation was not visible.

Taste was very nice. Sweet but not too sweet and some dry notes. The alcohol was well hidden in the flavour.

The older couple told me that this beer becomes an addiction; after the first glass there will come more...they are right! Good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2010 11:14:52 | More by Brabander

ThaCreep

Belgium

3.55/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

Perfume of the cellar, a feeling of old, rotten with the fruit liqueur second printing. The look is sweet and syrupy, sweet and mouth with a noticeable alcohol presence. A little cleaner on the palate, like Bush, but with strong caramel malt presence. The finish is syrupy and is immediately think of cognac. It goes very well as a digestive.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2010 19:21:33 | More by ThaCreep

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.65/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This review was from around Christmas time, on-tap at the Dunedin House of Beer:

A - Reddish amber like a Jerez Brandy, save for the small head that encircles the rim.

S -A rich Port nose is immediately apparent, segueing into some roasted grain and alcohol that transforms the vinous quality into a Cognac impression.

T - Rich buttery flavor has hints of everything decadent: cocoa, vanilla, caramel, honey, winter spice, and bubblegum; a citric, peppery and savory hop; and Cognac. Every one of those elements is present in only the most moderate level, with the exception of boozy Cognac sensibilities, of which there are plenty. This is a tremendously special brew on draft.

M - Nice, like a velvety barleywine; it is not syrupy either, despite low carbonation and relatively high viscosity.

D - This was a great selection for catching up with an old friend over the holiday; an exquisite sipper. Nice choice Z!

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2010 23:42:15 | More by ktrillionaire

ProfessorHomer

New York

4.43/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Scaldis Noël - what can I say but "Wow!" What a HUGE seasonal. Had this on-tap at world-famous (but exceedingly odd) Mahar's bar in Albany.

Appearance: Deep reddish/brown in color with nice big white head. Nice lacing on glass.

Smell: Malty, you can smell the aroma the alcohol prominently, as well as raisins, figs, cherries, prunes and plums, even. Rummy too. Like liquid Christmas!

Taste: Yes, you can taste all those and the big alcohol presence to boot. Like being kissed by the Christmas beer goddess herself. A HUGE beer very balanced between malts, hops and alcohol. Sip slowly!

Mouthfeel: Big bodied with long, spicy/ sweet finish. Lightly carbonated.

Drinkability: A very dense, complicated BIG seasonal beer

A very long, slow drink. Outstanding, in fact! Would loved to have had a pipe with it, but no smoking in NY bars. I already look forward to redrinking this beer next Christmas!

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2010 18:18:40 | More by ProfessorHomer

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap 12/29/09 at Julian's in Providence, RI, served in a snifter glass.

A: The beer is a dark reddish brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of dark fruits, caramelized malts, Belgian yeast and some spice.

T: The taste starts with a dark fruit and caramel sweetness that is followed by an alcohol bite, which you would expect from a beer with 12.00% ABV. Then a hearty malt character and a Belgian yeast breadiness come in. The hops presence is mild but where it should be for the style and provides some balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, very strong kick, good representation of style, this is a good Belgian-style beer to sip on for a while since it's so strong, but there are others in the style I would choose first.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2009 17:18:56 | More by TheManiacalOne

hrking

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on draft at The Fickle Peach in the downtown beer mecca of Muncie Indiana..per capita the greatest craft beer city in the US..no shit!.. Poured a golden hue with a nice lacing.. Noticeable fruity Belgian esters from the yeast and Candi sugar is obviously used in the brewing process. Easy drink ability for what I would say drinks more like a triple..nice winter treat!

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2009 14:35:57 | More by hrking