Bush De Noël - Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl

NuclearSoAndSo

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a beer mug.

Appearance- Pours a deep brown with about a half finger light brown head.

Smell- Smells like cherries or plums; dark fruits, maybe some grape notes. Smells kind of like wine to be honest, and you can pick up on the alcohol.

Taste- Fruit flavors are upfront with a definite alcoholic bite. Heat kicks in for the aftertaste. Again, this reminds me of wine, and in a good way. Festive.

Mouthfeel- Medium carbonation and a very smooth mouthfeel. A beer to savor slowly.

Overall- I saw this at the liquor store (not sure how long it may have been aging there) and decided to splurge a bit for Christmas and buy a bottle. I'm very glad I did, because this was a treat. Pretty strong and relatively pricey, but worth it in my opinion. I split this beer with my good friend and might make it a Winter-time tradition.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 14:52:01 | More by NuclearSoAndSo

eslemarc

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

8.48oz bottle in a goblet.

It has a very rich dark brown color, 3-4mm head of off-white cream, tightly gathered around the edge of the glass but puffier in the middle of the head. Minimal carbonation visible. The head quickly falls to sparse gathering around the edge.

The nose carries a great depth in the malt, very rich and fruitful. Very light notes of alcohol, maybe a very slight hint of pine hop. Mostly fruit malt sweetness and notes of yeast.

Light to medium bodied, much crispier than I expected even for a belgian strong, very strong in the booze department. It's quickly warming, very great winter warmer. Very big beer and very worth a taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 20:42:45 | More by eslemarc

nkurz129

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tiny bottle, 8 fl oz, and called Scaldis Noel, a Belgian Special Ale. I picked it up because I wanted something wintery to go with a hearty soup and it's glitzy label caught my eye on the shelf. Upon pouring, there is really no head and you can see the thickness as the beer leaves the bottle and clings to the glass. Perfectly transparent with a great mahogany hue, although not nearly as dark as, say St Bernardus or other quadruppels. The smell is very powerful, with almost wine-like overtones, defininitely some raisin notes. That is where I ceased to be very impressed. Certainly nothing wrong with this beer, but the taste is simple, molasses-like because of the 12% alcohol and very similar to the smell. It is not overwhelmingly thick like many beers of its high content and sweetness, but certainly a heavy beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2006 19:39:06 | More by nkurz129

dpool

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Almost a maple syrup color with a nice light head
S: Reminds me Christmas, hints of gingerbread and brown sugar.
T: Very pleasant, sweet to start with notes of honey and finishes with the nice warmth of alcohol.
M: Very smooth and silky
D: I definitly will try to get some more of this before the season is over, and it is very good on a cold night.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2007 04:25:45 | More by dpool

boldcity2008

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured into tulip glass hard.

A: did not get much lacing after a hard pour. medium dark brown in color cloudy. tiny bubbles in the wine.

S: plums/figs and a sweetness hits you first. Very malty. some alcohol hits you it. sweet sugar is the main thing you get.

T: sweet raisin fig, brown sugar, yeast, malt, some hops. Its a sugary sweet and some xmas spices like beer. boozey.

M: heavy thick syrupy, big time time after taste.

D: well 1 and I am done.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2009 22:42:21 | More by boldcity2008

belenita

British Columbia (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Reddish, runny, maple syrup. Little foam that diminishes quickly, lacing on the edge.

S - spicy, cherry, like Dr. Pepper

T - Dates, dried cherry, prunes, somewhat peppery, a bit sweet

M - nice light/medium carbonation with a smooth finish

D - Yes, probably the best Christmas beer I've had yet.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2010 03:09:44 | More by belenita

boulderaz78

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had to pack most of my Rochefort 10's to take home to Austin, TX since it's not sold there. I did share one Rochefort 10 with my wife, which set my palate into a tizzy, then followed it up with a Scaldis Noel which was an amazing way to wrap up our Christmas visit to Miami. The color is lighter and redder than the Rochefort, but the body is still rich and the taste is perfectly Xmas. Not as hearty as the Rochefort 10, but still has plenty of heft to it. Savor and enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2010 05:41:13 | More by boulderaz78

lungboy

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this 25cl bottle at Sam's in Chicago. Pours with authority-- not too much head, but enough to know you aren't going to be drinking a cough syrup in the next few minutes. It settled down with a thin head, just a bit more than a lacing if you catch my meaning.

The first scent is slightly more barley than yeast, and goes down with a sweetness that is offset by an astringent quality keeping it from finishing off with a sticky aftertaste. It is like candy that cleans up after itself. That last statement is a testament to the beer's ABV. After a few sips (and I mean sips) it becomes less astringent and more bread-like. However, the sweetness is always just a breath away.

I like it. Most certainly not a session brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2005 03:52:07 | More by lungboy

requiem960

Florida

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

The Scaldis Noel is a good Christmas beer that is very enjoyable. It smells of rasins and yeast and the taste is on par with the smell. Pouring an amberish color, this beer is malty and hides it's alcohol very well.

There is little carbonation and almost no head when poured. The mouthfeel is great, with very little alcohol on the tounge. Without reading the bottle, I'd have guessed about 8-9% abv.

As is my understanding, this beer is "brewed especially for the Christmas period. Scaldis Noel is a brilliant red, amber ale that will delight the most demanding connoisseurs." I don't know if I was delighted, but it was an enjoyable beer nonetheless.

Overall, this is a good beer for the holiday season. It's also a good, malty barleywine(esque) beer for enjoyment any time of the year. I'll probably pick up an extra bottle or two to age in my cellar for a few years to come and see how it holds up. I'd recommend the Scaldis Noel, and it'll be a yearly purchase during the Christmas season!

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2008 03:29:42 | More by requiem960

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

chainsawhutch

California

2.95/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 5

I just had Delirium Noel from the tap. It tasted identical. Sorry, I'm more partial to Delirium Noel. ; Copy-cat; Copy-cat; Copy-cat;Copy-cat;Copy-cat; Copy-cat; Copy-cat.

Sorry for the repetitiveness, but BA requires a certain amount of words. Just like the English teacher you hated in college.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2008 10:32:23 | More by chainsawhutch

chrisdenny

Texas

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Chimay Tulip

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.

I really like this beer, saw it on the shelf at Central Market and thought it looked intriguing. Then when I picked it up and saw it was a Belgian Holiday Ale, I had to get it...Glad I did, it was excellent.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 03:28:15 | More by chrisdenny

boognish523

California

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

Scaldis Noel on tap. Poured thick with a medium sized head.

A: was almost peach in color, dark.
S: smelled of apples, sweet
T: Tasted of apples as well, refreshing, not overly alcoholic flavor considering ABV
M: Thick yet light with carbonation
D: Definately a good choice and will revisit this one until not on tap anymore.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2008 00:24:54 | More by boognish523

Fuzzywort

Michigan

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

Small 250ml bottle, pours a reddish-brown with off-white one finger bubbled head, effervescence, there are lots of small floaties in this brew.

Aroma of yeast, brown sugar sweetness, dark fruit, some dark bread and cake mix sweetness.

Flavor of dark fruit and bread, a touch of dark candy and/or brown sugar sweetness in the background, there is pepper at the finish, faint spices that are tasted one of them is cinnamon, faint taste of alcohol but this did not take away from my enjoyment of this brew.

Mouth feel is a little more then medium, has some creaminess on the palate,

A nice Winter Warmer drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2008 04:21:17 | More by Fuzzywort

PatrickRNH

New York

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- poured into a snifter, full bodied, one fingered frothy head. Cloudy-copper/amber
S- Caramel and toffee mix
T- Slight butterscotch taste, tastes like you smell it, after taste of warm cherries, nice
M- Good mouthfeel, medium carbonation.
D- Easily drank and enjoyed, Nice beer to enjoy on a winter day!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 05:25:36 | More by PatrickRNH

four20man

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Delicious!

Poured in a Belgian small glass on tap. Light Brown Sugar appearance as it cascades down then settle in the glass. Fluffy, thick head with the same light brown tint. Scents of fruity notes and bread (fruitcake?).
Taste is smooth, sweet at first. The strong alcohol of this beer is subtle, masked by the light hints of sugar, caramel, cinnamon and (coriander?). Light mouthfeel, but the sweet taste lingers and warms on it's way down.
Easy to drink several in a session, but beware! The character can sneak up on you, though it often leaves one in a cheery mood. Just what one would need when properly celebrating the Holiday seasons.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2009 02:07:06 | More by four20man