 TheBeerLover (1013), DC Metro Area, USA
Jan 26, 2006
Produced in 2000, Stille Natch Reserva is a very special, limited addition of De Dolle’s seasonal Christmas brew, Stille Nacht or "Silent Night." Stille Natch is a very special beer to begin with, but De Dolle really out did themselves when they decided to do Reserva. Stille Nacht is brewed with with pale malts, white candy sugar, is hopped, and then dry hopped with Nugget hop varieties, and comes in at a warming 9-10% abv. De Dolle boils this beer for 5 hours, making it a very high gravity brew. It is then bottle conditioned, and will continue to develop in the bottle.
Any vintage of Stille Nacht is a true gift to any beer lover, but a 750ml corked bottle of the Reserva is truly a Christmas treasure. Reserva takes it to a whole new realm. Reserva was produced in 2000, and was aged for 18 months in Bordeaux wine barrels before being bottled. This age in the wine barrels, gives an already incredible beer a level of complexity, flavor, and character, that is in a class by itself. Reserva comes in at a warming 12% abv, making a very potent beer as well.
Stille Nacht Reserva pours to a beautiful, hazy, deep golden color with a thick and creamy pillow of a head, and a lively and vibrant carbonation. The nose on this beer is incredibly complex and aromatic with big robust aromas just bursting in the air. Aromas of sweet malt, oak, candy sugar, deep vinous notes, spicy hops, and peppery alcohol flood the nose. The plate on this beer is rich and full, yet at the same time, has a nice bit of acidity, that dances on the tongue. Big, robust flavors of sweet malt, light caramel, oak, pepper, black berry, and vinous flavors, coat the tongue and glide down the palate. It is almost too much of a good thing, as your taste buds will be on bliss over load. Reserva finishes with more complex flavors up front, then ends with very vinous, acidic, and peppery flavors that linger on the tongue for quite sometime.
In a word, this beer is stunning. This beer was one of the most enjoyable beers I have drank, ever. The age in the Bordeaux barrels really give this beer a whole new dimension. The vinous qualities of this beer combined with the fantasic malty overtones and warming alcohol makes this one of the most delicous beers ever produced in my opinion.
sleepylopes (281), New York, USA
Aug 21, 2008 a great opportunity to try this beer thanks to the rb comunity. this beer was a bit like watching and old athlete in a come back fight. still good but past its prime. great balance and strong fruit presence, a little to mellow in body vs. a newer non reserva. surprisingly there was some alcohol in the nose along with yeast and light spice. i did learn something, don’t hold on to long to the jewels in your collection.
SETANTA (556), Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 5, 2008 Orange color, slight head rims the glass. Aroma similiar to sherry mixed with a yeasty bread. Taste like a sherry, vineous, with the flavor dry fruits, apricots, dried apples or mangos. Its a beer I think I could taste something different each time I tried it. Somewhat dry finish. Excellent!
JoeMcPhee (3865), Jackson Heights, New York, USA
Jun 29, 2008 Kudos to eyedrinkale for bringing this gem out to share. Deep golden orange beer. The aroma is awesome, rich orange peel, apple, pineapple and rich clovey/nutmeg spiciness. Peach and tangerine with a soft tartness over the sweeter estery character and apple pie spiciness. Loads and loads of yeasty complexity wrapping around a softly sweet honeyish belgian malt base. It’s got a nice basementy bit of age that is well integrated with all of the other yeasty characters. Awesome.
puzzl (1894), New York, New York, USA
Jun 26, 2008 Man, I never in my wildest dreams expected to try this one. Unfortunately, it would seems its past its prime, though still rather nice. The aroma is deep and complex, with anise, pineapple, licorice, and a light bit of alcohol. Though the flavor is rather basic and uncomplex, it is a nice mixture of fruit, deep spices, and a touch of tartness. Very mellow and balanced all around, with a wonderful sweetness.
beastiefan2k (1172), Lawrence (formely NYC), Kansas, USA
Jun 23, 2008 Most graciously shared by EDA, jez I never thought this would come around. I was as awed as the rest. I got one of the early pours from the bottle and then a little from the end to have a nice mix in the glass. Either way the first pour was still pretty murky, could not see through it but it definitely was a glowing golden color. It poured with a small head but it stuck around. Aroma is definitely aged, lots of aged malts that have turned into slightly cardboard but very sweet honey malts. And a cool yet weird moldy/sour old white grape. Lots of damp basement in the aroma as well. Taste is similar with less of the basement aspect but still plenty sweet. The ’basement’ maybe the oak. The yeastiness also really breaks through with lots of doughiness. As far as aged beer goes this is held up very well and is very nice to try, again as far as aged beer goes. So I will rate it as a good ’old beer.’ Thanks again Mike. 750mL bottle, white wine glass.
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