Bottled, at Essen Kerstbierfestival 2004. Deep chestnut, thin beige head and gentle condition. Fruity berries and orange peel in the nose, iron tartness in the mouth with more citric notes and a touch of caramel. Dry, woody and metallic in the finish.

Bottle. Sour horsecover aroma. Very dark brown colour, light brown head. Slightly sour, slightly roasted flavour with some goatcover.

(First an observation. The label clearly speaks about 6.5% ABV. The brewer assured me personally 9 à 9.5%) Fluffy, rather big dark-beige head; hazy chestnut colour. Sweet nose, slightly spicey, gingerbread-like; piney aroma's, dark malts. Very malty taste, typical combination of sweet and herbal bitter. Definitely quite spicey, but (good point), no spice really springs out, above identification treshold. Quite highly carbonated, medium to full bodied. The mouthfeel:palate hints rather to 6.5 than to 9.3 ABV - unless the alcohol is very well hidden. I like the spicing as extremely well-balanced. Typical X-mas ale, but I keep wondering about the ABV.