De Dolle Stille Nacht

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

11.2 from sam’s chicago. the color is a very dense and cloudy orange/brown. the head begins to form very early in the pour. it raises high and fluffy white, and is long lasting. aroma is surprisingly light. all around very mild. a smidgen of alcohol, some esters and touch of wheat grain are all i can find. maybe a little floral hop. mmm...what it lacks in aroma it makes up for in flavor. very smooth, with a palate like white wine and a kick that would match. fruity with a rich malty sweet middle and a long vinous finish

Bottle picked up at Binny’s in Naperville, shared with Duane. Pours a hazy copper color. Spicy, fruity aroma and flavor. Very sweet as well. Alcohol is well hidden. Glad I picked this one up.

Date: November 18, 1998
Mode: Draft
Source: Taco Mac, Sandy Springs
Appearance: hazy amber
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma with a hint of floral hops
Flavor: rich cpmplex malt flavor, lots of sweetness, touch of bitterness

Date: January 12, 2004
Mode: bottle
Score: iii to iiii
Appearance: opaque orange, headless
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma
Flavor: big malty flavor, fruity, slightly alcoholic, richness lasts through the finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Score: ***4

The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Cloudy, unfiltered golden amber appearance. It practically glows in the glass when held to the light. Small white head that settles to a neatly groomed edge with a wispy film. No lacing at all. The aroma shows lightly caramelized sugar that intensifies significantly with each additional degree of warmth. I also picked up both light and dark fruits, including bananas, apricots, and figs. Some alcohol is detectable on the nose, though its not unpleasant. The flavor profile starts with candy sugar and caramel, evolving to include figs, mild spices, and faint traces of muscat. The palate is medium in substance, smooth and sweet. The finish leaves a long sugary fig flavor on the tongue. I really dig this beer!

Pours a cloudy golden color with a large white head and great retention. The head stuck around the entire tasting and would bubble up higher with a swirl. The lacing coating the trappist glass and left rings in it’s absence. The scent was malty with notes of dried fruits, nuts, barley and yeast. Excellent mouthfeel and feel on the palate. This is a tremendous strong ale, very complex, getting better as it warmed.

Hazy golden colour, large foamy white head. Sweet fruits, bread and yeast in the aroma. Taste is yeasty, warming alcohol, and underneath this some fruits are noticable. A balanced bitterness makes sure this beer keeps drinkable despite the high ABV.

@ Chucks’ aged ale tasting, this one tastes more like a barley wine until the bitter end when it has the traditional belgian style yeasty flavor, i would age for a few more years, let the alcohol burn mellow and kill some of the sweetness.

2005 bottle. Pours a dark orange almost copper color with a thin white head. The aroma is of sweet fruits, caramel, and candy sugar with a little bit of spice in there. The smell almost reminds me of a barley wine. The taste follows the same with big malts and candy sugar sweetness with some fruits in there. I get a little bit of alcohol warmth up front, but it is very well balanced for being 12%. I think the hops have mellowed out with the age of this one. A full sticky mouthfeel that had a long finish to it with all the sweetness left on the palate. Really well balanced with the fruit and sweetness in this one that makes it easy to drink. This one is very enjoyable and great for Christmas time or any time. Another great brew from De Dolle. These guys are one of the best.