De Dolle Stille Nacht

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

similar to oerbier in appearance, but a bit lighter which kinda makes it look a little disgusting. such a yeast slushie/suspension, despite my best attempts to decant. served too cold, but still tons of aroma. apple and pear rinds. caramel. similar to oerbier in taste but quite a bit sweeter. tons of candi sugar, though for once i actually detect a ton of flavoring hop presence balancing it out. maybe a bit underattenuated, though at an impressive 12% those yeast sure did their best. alcohol hidden tremendously well. i guess the description given for the beer is pretty spot on: bittering hops and acidity are well balanced and noted.. de dolle makes some pretty awesome, complex beers. too bad they’re $4 a bottle. though maybe that’s why i waste so much time actually tasting their beers. anyways, happy birthday to me, i’m going out. get laid or bust.... RERATE: thanks cmubeerman for the altered yeast version. ridiculously candy sweet aroma. banana esters, bready. some tartness way into the finish. gonna throw in coriander. really good.

Pours to a cloudy, dried apricot color. Aroma is a heavy slathering of caramel, banana and rum. Tastes much the same with a powerful but approachable sweetness coating everything. Cotton candy, more banana, apple. Nearly hidden spice flavors, less hidden than its alcohol which I hardly noticed until it was gone, at which point I couldn’t help but notice it. It’s a tower of thick gooey sweetness.

Pours deep, cloudy orange. Aroma is heavily sweet. Flavor is also very sweet. Tastes like honey and fruit, apples mostly. Good in small doses. 12 oz is too much. Alcohol is fairly well concealed, but the mouthfeel doesn’t do much for me overall. Induced a headache, but I can’t knock it points for that, cuz I think that was on it’s way anyhow. Not bad, not worth $5 and I can’t see how wine barrel aging (for the Reserva) would make this better.... I don’t get the big deal about this one.

Pours a murky orange with a swirling head. Sediments floating even after holding a 1/2" in bottle. Scent of vanilla and candy sugar. This is possibly the sweetest beer I have tried. I noticed some honey, butterscotch, orange, peach cobbler, alcohol, and a dry bitterness. Full bodied beer, syrupy and very sticky. Tongue tantilizing spices linger. An intersting ale to say the least.

#800 - Pours deep copper with a tremendous amount of carbonation feeding the frothy off-white head. The aroma is spicy and effervescent with Belgium earthiness and sweet thick malt. The beer is medium bodied and quite slick when it is not eclipsed by the enormous amount of carbonation. The taste begins with thick candied malt that is joined by vineous traits and smooth nectar fruits. The sharpness from the carbonation offsets and compliments the thick smoothness of the flavors. The finish intensifies the carbonation and the alcohol becomes more pronounced, but still doesn’t seem like it is 12%. There is also some sharper light fruit tastes and a spicy bite on the finish. Great beer that with just a little less carbonation would have been over the top wonderful. Big thumbs up for this "hitting a milesone" beer.

Bottle brought back from Belgium. Poured an orange brown, with a huge head. Aroma of yeast, clove, dark fruit, and alcohol. Was a pleasant surprise. Huge sweet flavors; but not overpowering. Balanced by the complexity in the beer; dark fruit, hops, alcohol, spice, yeast. Some warming on the finish. Lingering aftertaste of belgianish yeast. Will have again.

Bottle 2003 at Dilly Deli. Poured reddish brown color with a huge fizzy head that lasted with excellent lacing. Complex dark fruit and yeasty aroma. Medium body with a sticky texture. Medium fruity balanced flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of long duration with a small alcohol bite. This is a standout beer

2005 Bottle; Nose of sugary sweetness, cloves, and yeastiness; very cloudy yellow gold with a huge, long-lasting yellow head; flavors show tartness, bananas, cloves, anda little alcohol in the medium body, the alcohol warmth lasting to the finish.