Bush De Noël Premium - Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a ruby-tinted chestnut with a creamy, lingering tan head.

S: Aromas of roasted nuts, yeast, cream, and toffee are very evident on the nose. The smell of this beer is somewhere between an English barleywine and a Belgian strong dark ale.

T: Notes of almonds, chestnuts, heavy cream, toffee, dark bread, pungent yeast, and vanilla bean dominate the palate. The finish is long, rich, and robust with notes of bread, yeast, and chestnuts being most prevalent.

M: Full bodied, firm, and dryish with a crisp effervescence not normally associated with this style. Very nice.

O: I really like this beer and have started to appreciate the efforts of Brasserie Dubuisson Freres more and more as time goes by. The only real knock I can think of is that this beer is not as smooth as the regular Bush de Noel. Still, this is a satisfying winter treat.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 19:06:34 | More by mrfrancis

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I love exotic holiday beers....this one didn't disappointing. From a corked and caged 750 ml bottle, this beer has Belgian written all over it. Funky, wild, and hugely interesting. The appearance isn't much to admire...golden-amber with a reddish tint. Effervescent, but no real head. The smell, however, is fabulous....sour cherries, yeast, earth, pepper, funk, spice, brown malt....wow. The taste has a lot going on as well...lots of alcohol warmth, without being overwhelming. It's a sour-sweet, malty, acidic, fruity, citric, funky blend. Nice. Not so attenuated that it lacks any sweetness, but very engaging. I loved this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 21:12:49 | More by Suds

obywan59

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I didn't think I was going to get much cork action at first, as it didn't seem to want to pop initially, but when it did, it flew across the room. Not bad.

The brew poured a murky, rosy-brown into my Duvel tulip. A 3 1/2 finger light-tan head that recedes rather quickly, leaving no lacing.

A rich, sweet, spicy and syrupy aroma explodes out of the glass. Coriander is evident, enlivening the aromas of raisins and prunes. A bit of grape imparts a winey aroma.

Grapes are much more evident in the taste, accompanied by more dark fruits and a substantial taste of alcohol as well. Coriander spices things up, and flavor of light bubblegum makes an appearance, also. Very sweet, but tart and winey as well. Somewhat cloying at first, but improving as it warms.

Medium-thick bodied with a peppery feel on the tip of the tongue, a light syrupy coating in the mouth, and substantial burn of alcohol in the throat.

This is a great beer! It's richness, and high alcohol content command respect, and it will parhaps become a worthy ritual in years to come!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 06:40:15 | More by obywan59

bucklemyshoe

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

#6 - 12 beers of Christmas. 750 mL bottle at 45* into a St. Bernardus chalice.

A: This pours a very dark brown color with reddish hues in light and a foamy, clingy, cappucino-looking, two-finger head.

S: The nose is intensely fruity with notes of bananas, cherries, plums, figs, and even citrus combining with cinammon, nutmeg, and alcohol esters.

T: The palate also shows wide assortments of fruits; tropical, citrusy, tart, and dark fruits all come through with some booziness throughout and an aftertaste of salt-free crackers.

M: The body is thick and syrupy with a creamy feel and, despite being heavily carbonated, is not prickly.

D: This is wonderfully crafted and is similar to Victory V12, but a little darker and thicker.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 06:33:13 | More by bucklemyshoe

pkpdogg

California

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Orange/amber color, very slight cloudiness.

S - Distinct presence of spice and high alcohol content. Faint sense of hops ... not too much to pick up.

T - The spices hit first, followed by the sting of the high alcohol content, which lingers on the tongue. The flavor mellows out with a nice combination of malts and hops. There's nothing really distinct or special here ... just a nice blend that keeps the fact that you're drinking a 13% ABV beer in the back of your mind.

M - Slightly thick and syrupy.

D - What I love about this beer is that it's really easy to drink for something that's 13% ABV. The spice really helps to hide the alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 07:02:37 | More by pkpdogg

htomsirveaux

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle tried 11 Feb 2009. Gift from A&P, thanks guys! Labeled as Scaldis Noel Premium, code of 'BBE 2011'.

Poured in 0.4 L Steiner Pils glass. Large creamy off white head. Well carbonated. Clear ruby brown color with a bit of particulate matter floating about. Aroma of apple cider, tart cherries and allspice, as it warms the spiciness comes to the fore with cinnamon and vanilla. Tastes of spicecake and warm ginger. Lots of apples and cinnamon. Finishes with a slight bitterness and an aftertaste that is caramel sweet and spicy. Medium body. Ethanol is very warming but not hot.

Nice example of a Christmas beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2009 17:39:06 | More by htomsirveaux

Greywulfken

New York

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: in a tulip: dark amber body, tan head a few fingers thick

S: boozy candied fruit and fruit cake

T: fruits, dark, soft and chewy; toffee sweet; bright, zingy spices

M: tingling, warming, crisp; smooth, sweet aftercoat

O: a great holiday drink - capitalizes on the seasonal flavors and sweets - strong abv keeps spirits high

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 05:57:51 | More by Greywulfken

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, best before 2014. Pours lightly cloudy red orange color with a 1 finger foamy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lace that lingers. Slight spotty foamy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big raisin, cherry, prune, caramel, apple, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, candi sugar, pepper, earth, toast, clove, and herbal yeast spiciness. Damn nice aromas with big complexity, strength, and balance. Taste of raisin, prune, pear, apple, toast, caramel, molasses, brown sugar, toffee, candi sugar, cinnamon, pepper, earth, clove, and herbal spiciness. Fair amount of yeast spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of complex dark fruits, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, molasses, toffee, candi sugar, cinnamon, clove, pepper, and herbal yeast spiciness on the finish for a while. Fantastic flavor complexity, robustness, and balance of flavors; with a good balance of spicy flavor despite big maltiness; with zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a slick and fairly syrupy mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is extremely well hidden at 13%; with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an outstanding Belgian dark ale! Huge balance and complexity of big robust flavors; and very smooth to sip on for 13%. A highly enjoyable strong Belgian style offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 05:01:08 | More by superspak

bambam2517

Arizona

4.34/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

750 ml bottle, chilled down to 45f and served in a tulip glass.

A - Considered the best way to describe the appearance of this one while I had a glass or two, so I hope I'm not too tilted when I say it looks EXACTLY like sweet tea. The haziness, the little particles floating around inside, the black tea color, even a thin layer of foam. I'll add that while the carboantion is still strong (which was not long out of my bottle) its like a dirty snow globe inside my glass. How appro for a holiday ale.

S - Loads of brown sugar, toffee, dessert wine and baking spices. Captures the essence of the season well and decently complex.

T - Sweet and more complex than the nose indicates. All the spices stand out individually here rather than blend together, seems like a different taste every sip. It is a bit more vinuous than I expected, more white wine than sherry or port. Faintly woody also, like oak or alder wood. Very good.

M - Its syrupy and strong up front. Dries out very quickly and finishes with little more than a warm feeling in the back of the throat. At 13%, how that can be done is a work of art IMO.

O - In the holiday ale context, I love it. Not quite up there with the best beers I've had, but I cant wait to introduce friends and family to this one each year when the holidays come around.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 04:30:53 | More by bambam2517

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

thanks to bitterbeerface for sharing this at the Lancaster County Brewers Christmas gathering '10 last night. Poured chilled into my Duvel tulip.

A golden amber w/ very good clarity and visiblly carbonation. The cap of white rises and holds well, the bead is tight and lace is spotty. I smelled a sweet and unique aroma as it was poured, obviously brett influenced and very fragrant with fruit and mild funk the floral ester is there accenting the mild malt and alcohol odors. The feel is very light for the strength, mild biscuit and subtle acidity w/ the light tartness and moderate carbonation work well in this and it is a satisfying texure albeit semi-dry in the finish.

The taste is very good, lots of mellow malt toastiness with a slight cherry like tart edge that envelopes with subtle spice from the yeast and fruit taste in the flavor is increased by the brett influence and slight spicee w/ moderate alchohol heat and influence in the taste. The finish has a semi-sweet quality, very festive and vibrant. The flavor has a good deal of horseblanket and cherry with a slight currant and mild pepper accent w/ sugar plum quality roundng out the taste. The drinkability is superb, I was sad to see the bottle emptied so fast, I enjoyed the wild yeastiness and funk - a Tasty Treat! thanks Bob!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 17:27:08 | More by Slatetank

jsanto

New Jersey

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

A. very nice christmas bottle that goes with a evening of holiday cheer. it poured a little cloudy with a little head oh foam.

S. smelled like a barleywine with a alcohol hints. maybe a little other flavors in there like vanilla and caramel, but the alcohol stood out the most to me.

T. first sip, i said this was better than expected, and enjoyed the taste to the very last drop. it was good cold, and even as it sat it stayed just as good as it warmed up. i sipped it slowly.

M. very enjoyable, then the alcohol flavor disappears, and the aromas kick in there. maybe a little vanilla, spice, caramel and just a good combination of flavors.

D. wish i had a little more. i will remember to get this beer every christmas.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2008 03:41:08 | More by jsanto

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Full, garnet hue,a little rosy, creamy head above. Soon gone.

Spice and fruit in the nose. Apple, grapefruit, & plum. Soft, furry, & boisterous, all at once.Cinnamon & ginger, clove.

Taste: Mmm...mysterious Belgian yeast and malt doing it's thing, exotic fruit and spice, again. Zest citrus snap meets the darker fruity feel, combined with spicy kick and plump biscuit malt.Delicious.

Full bodied, bursting with flavor, brimming withha incomparable Belgian feel...orange meets cinnamon meets lavender plus...all that more...Ym.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 07:26:41 | More by feloniousmonk

MrHungryMonkey

Texas

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

Nose is ripe with Belgian funkiness, slight sourness, lots of fruit and malt. Topical fruit with apricot and mango as well as softer lemon/orange. Very slight vinegar. Pronounced chocolate roast over bready/cakey malt. Smells quite good.

Pours a deep mahogany, mostly clear, with a massive rocky head. Looks wonderful.

Rich malt, bright fruit, and what that?... ah yes... alcohol, and lots of it. Fairly punchy carbonation. Dark rich malt - slightly syrupy. Significant sweetness, intense yet subtle and seductive. Tastes good. Feels good.

Like Bush Abree it has a tight balance and strong flavors, with a slightly stronger alcohol and a significantly larger bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2009 05:04:18 | More by MrHungryMonkey

Herky21

Iowa

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

T: Warming alcohol on the peak of the taste with the middle delivering a light honey sweetness. Hops bitterness is almost totally masked.

Appearance: Burnt amber hue with a great white head, probably two-ish inches and lots of belgian style bubbles.

Smell: Raisins and caramel with the alcohol close behind.

Mouthfeel: It's very smooth. The alcohol warms your tongue and sticks to it with a slightly bitter, biting way.

Overall: It's 13% alcohol and it is deceptively smooth and drinkable. The flavor is subltey aromatic yet full and good all of the way through, even with a sweet, lingering aftertaste.

It was $3.99 for the 8.2 oz. bottle. I would pay $15 for the larger size next time. Definitely a great beer and an interesting winter twist on a Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 02:02:50 | More by Herky21

MisterClean

California

4.53/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip at Lucky Baldwins

A - Poured orange in color with a 2-fingered head. Dissipates moderately with a slight lacing.

S - Dark belgian candi sugars, prunes, and slightly spicy hops.

T - See the above.

M - Perfectly balanced. For a 13, where's the alcohol kick?

D - Excellent example of a belgian take on the winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2008 01:04:17 | More by MisterClean

neobob187

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bomber.

Temperatures are dropping, this looked like a Belgian Christmas Ale that's pretty good and I'd never had it so we got it. Now let's open it!

A: Appearance is a very nice deep red color. I didn't read the bottle quite honestly, so I was expecting more of a deep brown, like a belgian dark strong. There's also a considerable amount of sediment in this pour. We aren't anywhere near the bottom yet, but I can see bits floating around. Still, it's not affecting the taste.

S: The smell, is very nice. I get a lot of very strong bubble gum esters. Also, it has a spiciness I can't quite place. Cloves, mixed with perhaps some sort of dark fruit. Fig, or raisins perhaps.

T: Now to the taste! It's surprisingly sweet for a 13% beer. Very nice, no alcohol burn at all. I do get the typical malted candy and bubble gum flavors expected, but there's also a slight spice backing it up. Very christmas-approriate.

M: Mouth-feel is very smooth. No bite and not extremely carbonated.

O: Overall I find this quite enjoyable. Way better then Nice Chouffe, and I adore the Chouffe beers. This one is just way more balanced. If you're looking for a holiday beer to bring over to a family's house, look no further. It's super drinkable and a great belgian ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 04:01:02 | More by neobob187

StoutSlayer

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Sitting here in the middle of nowhere at a cozy B&B with my wife, I can't think of a better beer I could have selected to compliment the environment. December, a farmhouse Bed and breakfast, in a parlor with a glowing fireplace, over the top christmas decorations, and classic carols. As I crack the Noel it pours a deep broze and I let it rest while I flip through some pages of the local newspaper. Before I take a sip a good 5 minutes goes by and I notice there is still great head retention, and compact little bubbles are still making their way to the top. The smell is wonderful. Christmas in a bottle.. Everyhing is rich, a beautiful strong toffee aroma combined with friuty esters reminiscent of figs and raisins. Alcohol is evident in the nose as an afterthought; but to my surprise it feels quite understated when I learn it has a whopping 13% abv! Just what a Christmas brew needs to get you through the stress of the holidays and keep you warm. The taste compliments the nose perfectly. Unlike some beers the taste is exactly what the aroma represents itself as. Big, delicious toffee, Carmel, and friuty flavor. Some spiceyness but subdued. Also a little hotness from the alcohol, but again in no way representitive of it's true ABV. The drinkability is scary. It's amazing how flavorful this brew is whitout being heavy at all. Drink this how I am now- slowly by a fire. An awesome beer to match this holiday. You will not be dissapointed.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2008 00:49:28 | More by StoutSlayer

brdc

Wisconsin

4.68/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Large corked bottle, fresh from this season, poured into a goblet.

Beautiful orange-red in color, with a thicker foamy light tan head than I expected given the high ABV. It coats the sides, and keeps a collar. Very good looking.

Sensational aroma, dark fruits but also lots of strawberries, sweetish caramelized malts, opening way to a full bodied, creamy yet quite drinkable brew that offers multiple layers of malty sweetness without being excessive, a fruit smorgasboard coming and going, well balanced by a nice warming alcohol.

Very impressive, a perfect brew for a winter storm, one of the best Christmas beers I ever had.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2007 01:18:33 | More by brdc

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

4.78/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is quite good. It pours an orange red, with great off white head that retains quite well. The nose is very strong with thick candy sugar smell and dark fruit company and some slight spice. The taste is incredibly creamy and sugary. very smooth with some candied or baked fruit flavors. sugar lingers hard on the lips and in the finish. Very smooth mouthfeel, creamy and thick, but not to chewy. The drinkability is most drinkable 13% I have ever had by a long shot. This could be dangerous to those who dont know its 13% so for all of you getting a bottle BEWARE THE 13%!!!! warn your friends. great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2008 07:00:35 | More by AKBelgianBeast

rborthwick

Virginia

4.93/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a dark amber with a bubbly head. Top of head melts quickly, but a half inch of head lingers and provides nice lacing. Aromas of prune, malt and biscuit. Taste is of malt and prune with a little bit of hop entering over time. Nice backbone of alcohol, but this one is amazingly drinkable for a 13% abv. This is my absolute favorite beer on the planet to date and has become a Christmas tradition for me. Each year I wait to be disappointed vs the last, but I have yet to have that happen. A must have for spoiling yourself over the holidays. Instead of wine, pony up for a bottle of Scaldis.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2008 01:47:52 | More by rborthwick