De Ranke Père Noël

Brewed by Brouwerij De Ranke
Style: Belgian Ale
Dottignies/Dottenijs, Belgium

Fresh 11.2 oz bottle. I am finally getting around to rating this after the first bottle I had, a 750ml, suffered from a bad cork. Lightly hazy, the body is a brassy, orange-amber color. A large, frothy, off-white head settles slowly to a thin blanket with a prominent edge. Sudsy lace dries into dense, sticky clumps. The aroma is very grassy, with dry and dusty hops lending a green, earthy bitterness, along with some peppery spice. Cereal grains show in the malt base, while just a glint of caramel and honey add subtle sweetness. Flavors include fresh green grass, dry grains kissed with honey, and a dry, bready, Belgian yeast overtone. Peppery and parching in the mouth, the palate is nearly bone dry, yet substantial and well carbonated. Basically a Belgian IPA in nature, this is a fine little brew.

Père Noel, per Natale non potrei pensare a qualcosa di meglio da sbevacchiare in allegria sotto un albero di abete o sotto il presepe o nel presepe al posto dei pastori che sicuramente non bevevano la Père Noel perché non vi era (devo evitare gli apostrofi per carità). Alla spina al Pub del Duca. Sbav. Una delle poche birre di Natale che non stufano mai: bilanciatissima, è un vero piacere berla.

Paper wrapped, corked and capped 750. Lot 12, best by 8/09. Clear gold with a white head, well carbonated. Sweet and fruity nose, lightly spiced, a bit of grapefruit. This changes quite a bit as it warms up, with some biscuity flavors and scents emerging. Still, it is dominated by fruity flavors, with yeasty notes and light spiciness. Warming in the gullet, a mildly dry finish. Pretty solid brew.

(Bottle, 0.75 l, at Kaisla, Helsinki, on 2008-12-03) Dark orange and cloudy. Largish, dense, long lasting white head. Fruity and hoppy nose. Medium bodied, dry and stingy palate with lot of carbonation. Fruitiness, lot of bitterness, some sourness and hint of grapefruit in taste. Long lasting bitter and lightly fruity aftertaste.

Bottle shared. Poured cloudy orange with a white head. Aroma of hops, pine and citrus, spice. Taste is a little like a hoppy tripel, with yeast, fruit, hops, and some malt. Body is pretty carbonated and spiced. Finish is lightly bitter. Overall, a decent brew, though there are plenty of better belgian christmas brews.

App: hazy orange, light head. Ar: hops; fresh-picked fruits. Fl: hops; coniferous - spruce, pine, christmas tree; dry; spicy, grainy aftertaste. Ov: unique, tasty.

Pours a light amber with a thick white head. Big spicy earthy hop aroma, very nice with a big hint of citrus. Spicy bitter hop and earthy tasty with a nice malt balance. Great carbonation, light and dry. A wonderfully complex and hoppy Xmas beer. You must try this.

11.2 oz bottle. Foggy honey brown with a fluffy off-white head. Nose is yeast, citrus zest and faint banana. Sticky medium light with buzzy carb. Taste is candi, golden raisin and ginger. Dry finish with citrus peel.