Nostradamus - Brasserie Caracole

Hex92

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My favorite style, and this is a pretty tasty representative.
A- looks hood, but the head dissapated quickly.
S- I wish I could put my finger on it. It has a distinctive smell, but I just can't place it.
T- I likre this beer a lot. Very tasty. All the usual flavor you would expect from the style, but it reminds me of Paulaner Salvatore too. Very interesting.
M- maybe a bit thin DD, but not overly so.

Overall a good beer that I will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 03:19:48 | More by Hex92

windypete

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-18-2013 14:49:02 | More by windypete

jimctin

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-15-2013 17:54:35 | More by jimctin

Noyt

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -14%

05-12-2013 04:21:41 | More by Noyt

BDstripp

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-08-2013 03:09:11 | More by BDstripp

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-07-2013 03:38:05 | More by Molson2000

GRUUMSH

Belgium

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-03-2013 08:48:33 | More by GRUUMSH

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

04-26-2013 22:25:57 | More by randylangford

twax

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

04-26-2013 03:30:21 | More by twax

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-24-2013 15:56:03 | More by Jason1337

tazzman

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

04-21-2013 20:31:59 | More by tazzman

ROGUE16

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev -14%

04-16-2013 22:02:54 | More by ROGUE16

AugustusRex

Ontario (Canada)

4.29/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I have had this beer a couple of times, it is one of the only BSDA at the LCBO.

I think that like a lot of other beers in the same style the taste is greatly effected by what you have eaten or drank earlier and on your mood.

The first time I had it all I tasted was vodka and cola and it was a drain pour.
The second and third time it was like a fine red wine; sweetness was demi sec, like an Amarone.

Great aftertaste lasts for about an hour tasting like Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 14:05:38 | More by AugustusRex

Mibarak

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -26.3%

04-09-2013 03:24:08 | More by Mibarak

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-09-2013 01:05:16 | More by beerhunter13

Mervjahn

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

04-07-2013 03:10:12 | More by Mervjahn

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-04-2013 01:22:02 | More by Sparky44

bacasnax

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

03-31-2013 23:15:45 | More by bacasnax

animal69

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -1.7%

03-26-2013 23:31:07 | More by animal69

KrisDLSmith

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

03-26-2013 03:03:25 | More by KrisDLSmith

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.38/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Poured this Belgian Strong Dark Ale from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Poured a dark brown/reddish color- produced a nice tannish head, great retention and left excellent lacing on the glass. The aroma consisted of plums, pears and yeast. Full bodied, there is a foundation of roasted malt, pear, plum, chocolate, berries and belgian yeast- dry finish. Very complex flavors, this is for sure beer that is to be sipped. Complex flavors remind me of drinking a dark red wine.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 17:02:19 | More by GossageBrewery

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: muddy, strawberry/rhubarb jam red/brown; pours a big, fizzling head with good retention

Aroma: not much coming forward, some fruit and spice, jam coming to mind again

Taste & Mouthfeel: fatty, yeasty flavour and mouthfeel jump out at first with mashed fruit; feels stronger than the 9%, good burn from the alcohol; some spice - cinnamon; toffee begins to come through strongly, nice and rich; great carbonation and medium body; yeast is unfiltered and has built some great character; cherry, cassis, banana, and even a little tart in the finish; flavours mesh but also surprise with each sip

Overall: love a good Belgian beer in this style and this one is an amazing example with wonderful depth, complexity, and full mouthfeel

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 15:41:53 | More by BGDrock

Beelzebeer

Newfoundland (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle, served in Chimay goblet, BB June 19th, 2014

A - Perfect. Dark dark mahogany, almost black until held to the light, dense creamy 2" head that lasts, nice lacing

S - Dark sugars, some leather. Typical for style. Maybe a little more faint than others. Could be my nose.

T - Hides the 9% well. A little burn when it's gone, but less than others. Light on the fig/date, more malty than sweet, raisin.

M - Very nice. A little chewy, little carbonation, very creamy.

O - Very nice. Good representation for the style. Think I might try to pick some more up before they're all gone.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 03:33:10 | More by Beelzebeer

harpus

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

03-19-2013 20:19:33 | More by harpus

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Nostradamus - the beer - reveals nothing. The dark brown colour and marble complexion make it so that you can't see anything inside. Saying much of anything about it is extremely difficult, especially since this bottle poured out completely flat (over-carbonation had made previous experiences quite messy, but decorative nonetheless).

Belgian yeasts have a serious talent for drama - they are typically loud with bombastic fruit and flaming spice - but this strain is actually quite tame. While you're likely to find traces of clove or pepper, the nose is actually rather sweet and simple. Brown sugar and raisins make a pleasant, if straightforward bouquet.

Many Belgian ales have layers of fruit flavour. This offering has only the one: raisin. Sure, I could entertain the notion of figs and prune, maybe even a squirt of orange juice, but essentially what you smelled is what you get - raisins and brown sugar. It is not as layered as a Quad and lacks the savory dimension of a Dubbel. Put another way: I feel I'm missing out a little...

The fact that Nostradamus is dark, high in alcohol and bottle-conditioned means it can age, which is good because the bubbles are as hyperactive as a classroom of kids with A.D.D. They sting the palate like small electric shocks, numbing it from the beer's more nuanced malty notes. Otherwise, however, it is smooth, satiating, and full of dark candi sugar sweetness.

Nostradamus has a seductiveness that has less to do with its flavour and more in its ability to help you forget about the world in the recesses of alcohol. Still, come cold temperatures and dark nights, it is an invaluable asset. And while fashions change with time, rich and malty strong ales such as this are truly timeless. My prediction: you'll like it.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 02:03:48 | More by biegaman