De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2000

Formerly brewed at De Dolle Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Diksmuide, Belgium

This beer just keeps getting better everytime I try it. The first time I had a large sample of it was June ’03 at the Hopleaf in Chicago. Before and since I have only had a small sample. I will take what ever I can get of this nectar. Gorgeous orange. Small head. Very complex nose. Oak, fruit, nutty. It has all those tastes in the body plus a nice funkiness. A slight lactic bite. Then a nice alcohol warming. A friend described it to me like this. It is like a flower blooming. As time passes it opens up into something new. I agree.

Kulminator, March 2004. Amber coloured. Notes of oak, cigar box, liquorice and dark fruits. Amazingly complex and pleasant.

[I had this one at the Kulminator in March 2004] The aroma is fantastic - dominated by sweet fruit notes; berries, cloves, and alcohol. The color is a slightly hazy amber with a small disappearing beige head. The flavor is very much like the aroma but combined with the alcohol prickling the tongue. This is truly a fantastic beer.

This is a gorgeous beer! Hazy auburn color that just reeks of clovey tanginess. So much different than the regular Still Nacht - the flavor here is just so big and complex, like a musky flemish red that isn't sour but coats the mouth perfectly. Fruity cloves, tangy but very smooth, such a complex beer. If I didn't know better, I'd almost call this a Trappist Belgian Red.

Aroma is of sour apples. Incredible slightly cloudy peach color, good head. Mouthfeel is balanced and damn near perfection. The palate is a bundle of apples, both sweet and sour, and some slight earthy flavors. Some vinous elements. Finish is clean and slightly cloying. Almost a flemish style ale. This is an incredible beer, now I know why people want it so bad!

Golden hue with nice creamy head and great lace. Aroma was beautiful almost a sherry like vinous character. Sweet wood nose leads to a fruity and yeasty esters. The aromatic hops shine as well. The taste is equal to the challenge. Sticky sweet with a tart acidic undertone. The fruity and bitter tones add to the complexity of this fine beer. Soft yet lively mouthfeel with a minor alcohol feel. Wow, great stuff. Get a taste if you can. Thanks Aaron for letting us share the love.

Oh. My. Golly. Bright golden. Luscious nose, woody, lots of vanilla, some quiet fruitiness. First impression on this hitting the mouth is a beautifully thick palate, rich and smooth, very much like what I expect when I hear the word "nectar". Just hugely vinous and full. Nice fruitiness, lots of soft melons and peaches. Spiciness and sugary character as well. Really some lovely stuff. To phrase my love of this beer, as we finished it at argo0's winter beer tasting I asked if I could take the bottle upstairs to the bedroom to spend a little "quality time" with it. I did, actually, and it was a beautiful experience. Or so I thought, but then the bottle never called me again. Bastard. Hope you get recycled into a Bud Light bottle, you insensitive ass.

Sparkling clear amber-golden body with a beautiful fine particled white head. Lacing is superb. Very nice vanilla, oak, winey aroma. Lots of sweetness and complexity up front then lots of vanilla and sourness. Syrupy thick body that hides the 12% abv vey well. Thanks argo0 for this beautiful beer.