Affligem Noël (Christmas Ale)

Brewed by Brouwerij Affligem / De Smedt (Heineken)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Opwijk, Belgium

750ml bottle from Wholefoods. Clear reddish brown with a short lived fluffy head. Caramel and spice aroma. Taste of toffee and sweet spice with a semi-dry finish.

Not impressed by this one, maybe I got a bad bottle. Pours clear copper, thanks to the artificial caramel coloring, with a medium off-white head. Flat flavor. Caramel, malt, apple, corriander, nutmeg, and yeast. Problem is nothing really popped out, so everything seemed to drown itself out.

Hazy, ruby-hued muddy brown colour with a rocky, beige head that fizzles down to a ring clinging to the sides of the glass. The nose is of orange peel, corriander, candied sugar and light pitted fruits, like apples and pear. The flavour has that typical bubble gum yeast, an herbal hop bitterness, caramel malt backbone, corriander apple, and a slighty astringent, bitter yeast finish. The palate was medium bodied, effervescent and dying.

This beer has a very cloudy appearance to it and is pale brown with a ncie thick head to it. although the head fades rather quickly there is still some laceing along the glass. The aroma is of peat,apple,cardamom, citrus, and yeast. As you drink it there is a nice initial tang on the tip of your tounge but fades so quick. there is also some nice flaovrs of yeast and apple and lemon grass which gove it that nice tang initially. the palate has such a dry finish to it.

2006 vintage. 750 ml. botle. Pours a slightly hazy deep amber color with some orange highlights. Creates a thick, tight and rocky head with excellent retention; however, minimal lacing. Somewhat tame but pleasant aromas of caramel candies, crystal malts, figs, plums, raisins, spices and a touch of ethanol are enjoyed. Nice full and round mouthfeel with the expected lively carbonation level of a Belgian. Flavor is respectable , like the aroma, just somewhat tame and muted. Starts out with sweet notes of caramel candy, amber candy sugar, Grape Nut cereal, raisins and dark fruit cake. Mid-palate some cardamon/nutmeg-like spiciness kicks in with just a hint of hop bitterness in the finish. A pleasant warming alcohol presence finishes things off. In the end a decent holiday Belgian Ale, but not all that memorable.

Hazy red in color with a thich beautiful looking head. Aromas are of licorice and other spices. Slightly alcoholic bite. Malty strong with some spice flavors. Makes me almost wished I would have saved it for around Christmas.

Aroma is a nice spicy scent with caramel back tones. Color is a bright amber with light carbonation and a head that drops down quickly. Taste is crisp and spicy. Starting with a full/medium body it goes down easy with a strong fizzy feel. Finish comes on with a sweet malt flavor that is then backed by a spicy flavor and a full spicy bitterness. On the end is a sweet Brass like flavor that makes it feel a bit like a homebrew. Its a nice Christmas Ale but it seems a bit more like a home brew the a Belgium Ale.

Name: Affligem Noel
Date: 01/09/2004
Mode: Bottle
Source: Whole Foods Market, DC

clear brown with ruby highlights, sweet spicy aroma that quickly fades, light malt flavor with lots of spices in the finish leaving a bitter impression
-------- /> Name: Affligem Noel
Date: 02/02/2006

the malt has ripened into some nice rich fruit, light bitterness that is well balanced now

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4