Baladin Noel du Baladin

Brewed by Le Baladin
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Piozzo, Italy

Dark brown with a pale beige head. Some lacings. The smell is of dark malts, ripe fruits, powdered cocoa, mild spices, caramel and hints of plastic phenols. The taste is sweet with notes of caramel malts, ripe fruits, spices and sweet alcohol. The finish is mildly bitter with notes of spicy alcohol and herbal hops. The taste is not as big as the smell had me to believe. Slightly unbalanced due to too the alcohol being too powerful. Medium body, smooth mouthfeel. A good beer, but it lacks a little complexity and the alcohol is too prominent. Also, it felt like it developed poorly in the glass. Serving type: bottle (Copy of old Beer Advocate review)

it poured out darker then i thought, like a brownish honey with a tannish thin head that fell kind of fast. the body is a deep cloudy amber brown with very little light penetrating through it. the aromas are coca cola, roses, sweet chocolate, alcohol, and caramel malts with tootsie roll scents rolled in. it more carbonated then expecting, hits your tongue light and finishes medium bodied. i do indeed taste a spicy peppery flavor that was indicated by the commercial description, but it is not overwhelming. i get some bitterness when it finishes, but not to much. very malty and complex with light hints of toffee, and caramel, some type of tropical flower, sage, parsley, and chives. aftertaste is smooth and complex as well but does not linger for to long and is enjoyable. pretty good Italian brew.

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Bottled 750ml. -Dark brown coloured, small to medium pale brown head, chocolate and plums in the nose. Sweet malty, dark fruits and alcoholic with notes of chocolate and spices. Nutty notes in the finish. Smooth and very drinkable for 9% ABV. Great Noel and so far the best Italian beer I’ve tried.

(Bottle) Deep reddish brown and clear. Medium sized white head. Molasses and malts in aroma. Full bodied palate with medium carbonation. Malts, black pepper, molasses, chocolate, bitterness and sweetness in taste. Sweet and lightly bitter aftertaste. Perhaps a bit too sweet.

Bottle: Poured a deep clear ruby color ale with a large off-white foamy head with good retention and good lacing. Aroma of sweet malt with light dry fruits and fruity ester is quite enjoyable. Taste is a well balanced mix between some caramel Belgian malt with balanced sweetness, dry fruits and light fruity ester in the finish. Body is about average with good carbonation with no signs of alcohol. Well done but additional body and spices could have benefited this beer.

750ml Bottle: Aroma of tart fruit, slight funk, and Sprite. Poured brown in color with a medium-sized, tan head that lasted throughout. Cloudy. Not sparkling. Full of small, medium, and large-sized particles throughout. Complex flavor is lightly sweet and lightly tart. Tastes of tart fruit, cocoa, malts, light wood, slight caramel, and light dark ripe fruits. Medium body. Lightly dry texture. Average carbonation. Cocoa, caramel, and light tart fruit finish is lightly dry. 9%ABV is undetectable.

75cl bottle. Thanks to Madsnp. Pours dark brown with a small creamy head and lacings. Sweet toffee, vinous and lots of spices. Warmth and full palate. Again very yeasty - and very tasty Baladin.