Big Sky Biere de Noel

Brewed by Big Sky Brewing Company
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Missoula, Montana USA

750 ml bottle bought in Jackson, Wyoming. Pours a nice ruby color with a thick beige head. The aroma is very nice; some spices, brown sugar and yeast, sweet fruits also. The taste is pretty nice, but mellow; some yeast, cloves, pepper, fruits, and a big fluffy mouthfeel. An easygoing quad, but pretty nice.

capped 750. Thanks, Riverside! Always been curious about this one. Pours opaque and super-dark brown, with ruby highlights. Headless, laceless. Big tart nose, kinda vinous and cheesy. Completely flat. Tart, red-wine-y, fruity mid-palate. Long tart finish. Seems a little overwhelmed by its time in a barrel, and it’s out of balance, but there’s still a lot to like here. It just gets ya.

750 mL bottle purchased at the Davis Food Co-Op. #62 of 1800. Aroma is weird. There is a light pepperiness with some sweet breadiness. Not overly aromatic or distinctive. Modestly hazy garnet-amber body with a frothy, large tan head. Somewhat sweet, caramel start. The middle of this is kinda boozy. Very metallic, swampy flavor to finish. Plenty of dry, woody flavors are also in there. Not a fan of this at all. Too many off flavors.

750 ml green capped bottle #176 of 1800 poured a clear dark tarnished copper with a lasting amber head. Aromas oftoffee, brown sugar, dark fruit and spice. Palate was medium bodied and smooth with a warming finish. Flavors of burnt carmel, brown sugar, plum and spice with a smooth warming lingering spiced sweet finish.

Bottle 282. Beautiful mahogany pour with hints of garnet around the edges and a 2-inch fluffy eggshell head. Aroma is of dark fruit, cocoa, cherry skin, caramel, and molasses. Flavor exhibits a nice nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger spiciness that adds to the brews flavor and complexity. Highly drinkable, medium mouthfeel...a very tasty holiday brew!!!

Bottle 324. Pours a deep plum color from the bomber with a creamy tan head. Definitely looks like a begian quad, but flavors arent quite as dense. Smells and tastes of dark cocoa, dried citrus rind, slight cream, mild hops, cinnamon, and tart cherries. Well balanced and themed for the holidays. probably the best Big Sky beer Ive tried.

22 fl oz bottle. Pours murky orange with a creamy off-white head. Mild milky and slight spiced aroma. Flavour is smooth and slight milky. Mild spiced and light hoppy. Mild spiced and yeasty finish. Light liqourice and spiced yet also smooth caramel malty.

Appearance: Pours a soiled, murky brown body with a few stray bubbles but nothing I’d dare call a "head". Smell: Tart fruity aroma with a dusting of cocoa powder and cinnamon. Taste: Begins with a tart cherry and plum fruitiness with a good ladle full of sweet syrup. Only a vague dark maltiness in the background. Not much in the way of hops or bitterness here, either. Pinch of cocoa, cinnamon, and maybe even nutmeg tossed in. Pop of alcohol on the finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Mild carbonation. Drinkability: I tried and I tried, but I just didn’t dig this one. Maybe next time! January 2009 Update! Bottle #177 of 1800. Appearance: Pours a hazy, brown body with a fizzy, light beige head. Smell: Aroma of concentrated burtn caramel cubes with a light, pleasant fruitiness, and an even light wisp of alcohol. Taste: Sugary sweet maltiness with a very rich, satisfying caramel flavor. Light touch of dark fruits. A montage of spice, sour yeast, bitterness, and alcohol before arriving at the dry finish with a lingering scorced caramel flavor. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Well carbonated. Drinkability: Now that’s pretty good. Far, far better than the version I had last year. Way to turn it around, Big Sky.