 Gypsy19 (625), California, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 3/5 | 9/10 | 3/5 | 16/20 |
Nov 7, 2009
I really like it when a brewer offers holiday/seasonal wishes with their offering. Okay, so maybe its not the same lineage of folk that have been brewing Affligem ales since 1074, but the fact that a brewing tradition has been around for close to a millennium now still speaks to me in a way that I haven’t further words to explain (even if it is now owned by Heineken). I think what I’m trying to say is: What year is it? Does it matter? Is it 1009 or 2009? Who cares, let’s enjoy a Noel ale:................................ Pours a dark brown, somewhat cloudy, with a medium-sized light-brown head that initially sticks, but then collapses into itself rather quickly. Aroma is a little alcoholic at first, but then the molasses and brown sugar aromas come into play quickly thereafter. No hop notes detected in the aroma, just traditional Belgian maltiness and sweetness. Ultimately it is a very pleasant aroma. Wow, I really dig the malt body in this brew; Very "edible" beer here with lots of thick brown malt and brown sugar, just the way a Noel should be. A little hop counterpoint is starting to come around now, though not interfering with the soulful sweet malt. My esophagus gets a little warmer with each sip. Average mouthfeel for the style; silky, but a little uncarbonated. Maybe I’m just in a celebratory mood, but I’m really enjoying this one a lot. Overall, excellent. Thanks Affligem.
branspra (219), Arlington, Virginia, USA
| 3.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 4/5 | 6/10 | 4/5 | 14/20 |
Nov 29, 2009 Bottle. Pours a dark amber color, cloudy with a very large, frothy brownish head. Aromas of roasted malts, raisin, ginger, and hints of banana. Mouthfeel is average carbonation, full body, creamy texture and a long finish. Taste is light sweetness, medium bitterness, lightly sour, with flavors of raisin and malts abound. A good Christmas beer but I have had better ones from Belgium.
scrizzz (1269), kirkland, Washington, USA
| 2.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 5/10 | 3/5 | 5/10 | 2/5 | 8/20 |
Nov 27, 2009 Dark brown tinted red, rocky uneven tan head. some prune and cola (dr pepper) aroma, mostly hits me as stale syrupy soda. Biting alcohol, nearly piercing. More prune and cherry leads to old wheaties, followed by cheap dark rum. Nothing redeeming, drainpour.
beergod (100), Austin, Texas, USA
| 3.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 6/10 | 3/5 | 16/20 |
Nov 22, 2009 Smells of a very soft cocoa, bananas foster, and of french toast. Pours a very nice effervescent copper with a nice head. On the palate, much like the nose, but surprisingly mild and balanced. I definitely feel the bouquet was more prominent to the nose then to the palate. All in all, nice Belgian but would have like more on the palate.
kwerikson (95), burlington, New Jersey, USA
| 3.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 5/10 | 2/5 | 7/10 | 5/5 | 13/20 |
Nov 19, 2009 cork is dated at 08/2009 .750 bottle. it pours out dark oarnge with a finger thick head that was very bubbly and dark beige that fell really fast leaving slight traces of bubbles behind. the body is dark maroon with some light penetration and bubbles rising from the center and sides of the glass. the aromas are sweet malts, sugar, plum, toasted malts, apple juice and sweet grapes juice. it is medium bodied with a grainy mouth feel and a little to much carbonation for me. i taste caramel, fennel, apples, grapes, sugar, and toasted and roasted malts. its pretty sweet and the alcohol is really well hidden deep inside this beer. it finishes almost dry with a really enjoyable aftertaste that i would not mind tasting for a good while. so far the best christmas beer i have had in the 2009 holidays.
deyholla (695), Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| 3.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 5/10 | 4/5 | 13/20 |
Nov 17, 2009 Bottle. Poured a slightly cloudy dark amber with lasting medium yellowish eggshell head. Aroma has notes of nutmeg, yeast, cinnamon and alcohol. Quite a strong note of alcohol on the tone with a spicy undertone. Quite thick on the tongue.
swoopjones (1900), Buffalo, New York, USA
| 3.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 14/20 |
Nov 17, 2009 Bottle. Chestnut colored. Noted of dried fruits, orange, cherrycough syrup. Christmas fruit cake. Medium mouthfeel. decent
rudolf (1758), Buffalo, New York, USA
| 3.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 3/5 | 6/10 | 3/5 | 13/20 |
Nov 13, 2009 Tasted blind. Amber, big white head. Nose is oxidized, fruitcake, maraschino cherry, childrens cough syrup/ludens cherry cough drops. Flavor is fruitcake, alcohol, medicinal cherry. Maybe some berry towards the finish w. more alcohol.
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