De Dolle Stille Nacht

Brewed by De Dolle Brouwers
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Diksmuide, Belgium

Definitely my favorite beer of 2008. Hoppy/sour/belgian barleywine? Beautiful copper color, and a dense pillow of head. Supreme retention. Pineapple and sappy esters. Aromas of white pepper and stone fruits. Flavor is deep, and would be cloying if not for the infamous De Dolle carbonation. Residual sweetness is evedent, yet lends a tartness leaving you quenched and thirsty for more. Exquisite brew.

Cloudy deep straw color body with soft white head. Big sweetness up front with heavy influences of belgian candi and fruit syrup. Apple and spice dominate the drink with some sweet berry components. Mild belgian yeast notes and some sweet, tart citrus on the finish. A drink to savor.

Bottle. Potent malty ripe fruit aroma. Clear orange-copper body, large white head. Highly carbonated, but mouthfeel still manages to be rather soft. Very fruity well-balanced flavor, berries and plums, that is sweet but not overpoweringly so. Alcohol content is heavy, but well disguised. Excellent beer.

I did not plan for this to be my 300th rating, but I am damn glad it is! Notes from a tasting a couple months back. Pours a cloudy blond. The alcohol is strong on the nose but with some spiciness and fruitiness, certainly some apricot in the aroma. Interesting flavor, great sweet on dry balance flavors of cinnamon cherry alcohol and vanilla. One of the most delicous and fitting Christmas ales I have ever had!

This was a surprisingly good beer, especially given the 12% abv. Pours from the bottle to a hazy, orange-rust color, with foamy tan head that lingers thru most of the glass and leaves very good lacing. Nose is a mix of hoppy fruit (apples?), maltydark fruit and a hint of alcohol. Mouthfeel is very full, dry and tingly. The flavor picks up the fruity hops from the nose, but also adds in a touch of malty sweetness and just a perfect amount of alcohol to fuse the hops and malts. Finish was surprisingly dry, yet sweeet, and the alcohol created just the right warming effect. One of the better beers I’ve had in a while, and most likely the best I have ever had with 12% abv or higher.

Bottle, Beer Ritz, Leeds. Poured into a Judas goblet. Colour was a hazy dark gold with a decent and lingering white head. Lookin the bizniz. Aroma packed a punch with an attack on the nasal passages; oh yeah, apricot, raisin and cinnamon. Flavour was sticky sweet man with yeast, banana, peach n’ spice easing into a warmingly boozy brown sugar finish. Some gentle hop bitterness lurking. Chewy mouthfeel, and not seemin like the 12 percent. To coin a cliche...a christmas cracker y’all....

moderate lacing with a cloudy pale orange. Lots of head but that might have just been the tap. Slightly sour aroma with grainy traces. Taste like a barleywine with honey and just a slight twinge of alcohol. Smooth, little trace of its strength.

Bottle, 2005. Pours hazy and amber with a medium sized off-white head. Nose of malt, yeast and riped fruit. Sweet flavour with malt, spices and caramel. More dry at the end with warming alcohol. A pleasant brew to enjoy in the wintertime.