Affligem Noël (Christmas Ale)

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

Pours a beautiful murky brownish maroon color with a purplish hue. The lively tan head fades to a consistant film. Aroma is deep and brandy-like. Initially it’s like a barley wine aroma. Toffeeish sweet notes, figgy fruityness, and sharper notes of green raisins and hints of alcohol. The flavor is nice. Smooth body with spicey fruity notes of plums, figs, rum-liquer qualities, woodchip, underlying slightly tart berry notes, green grapes, some alcohol burn on the throat, but not harsh, and a sweeter deep toffee malty finish. A balanced and highly drinkable Belgian Strong Ale.

Draught @ Kerstbierfestival 2006 in Essen, BE. Amber brown color with a off-white head. Aroma of yeast, fruit and roasted and caramel malt. Flavor is sweet with a good balance not much else.

The aroma is very citrusy and sweet with alcohol and caramel. The appearance is light red/brown with a large head. The flavor is not great but not bad. It is citrusy and soapy with some sweetness and toasted malt. The palate is smooth with some spices in the finish. Overall it’s not a disappointment but not great.

Bottle from Whole Foods. Pours a dark brownish color with hints of maroon. Aroma is very light and yeasty with hint of wheat. Smells somewhat like a hefe. Flavor is somewhat bitter and yeast right up front. Has a somewhat silky mouthfeel. Some spiciness. Not really all that exciting, just a good drinkable BSA.

Amazing all-around! There is nothing about this beer that isn’t good! I compared three different vintages: 2004, 2005, and 2006, and found that my favorite, overall, was the 2005. After laying the brew down for a year, the CO2 calms down a bit, giving way to a more creamy, slightly less effervescent drink, with all the complex flavors of a fine brandy!

I had this beer at a bevmo tasting in Laguna Niguel, California. This beer pours a medium brown color with a small off-white head. It had lots of caramel in the flavor.

750ml bottle, poured bright clear amber with a off white bubbles, fragrances of dark candy, carmel, malt, soft spices of pepper and cinnamon, taste of of lightly sweet malt and hops, has mixed signals, this had the fragrance of a triple & dubble, and taste of a dubble , this was nice.

Pours clear dark mahogany with a medium head. Nose is mostly fruity with a little port. Flavor is sweet with some hints of spice. The alcohol is definitely present, but not overwhelming.