La Binchoise Speciale Noel

Brewed by Brasserie La Binchoise
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Binche, Belgium

Quite possibly my favorite Belgian, and maybe even my favorite overall. Starts off with a semi murky, amber pour with pillowy head. Great spice and fruit aroma. Sweet at the first sip, followed by a fresh fruit (pear maybe?) flavor, cloves and other spices, bread, bananas, bubblegum and super smooth finish. I wish it was easier to come by, I could drink it every week.

Probably the best Christmas wassail in the world. Unbelievable depth of flavor, with a complexity that is nearly indescriable. I had this beer ten years ago, only to re-sample this Holiday season. It was the return of a beloved, long lost friend. Prosit!

the beer that got me back into belgians. an absolute joy as soon as the cork comes off. beautiful orange/red color and an amazing layered smell and taste. enough punch to calm you down. great for special occasions and for winning over beer-haters. found it in upstate NY for 5$ a bottle!

on tap at Eulogy Beligan Tavern in Philly. served in a big beautiful belgian glass. beautiful deep gold body with modest small rim head. OH SO DRINKABLE!! we had these the first day we were in town and then headed back there for some more of em before we headed to the airport. goes down so smooth, so easy, so fast, you gotta watch yourself. smells of sweet gingerbread, herbal and ripe citrus. tastes creamy while not too heavy. real velvety cream palate. tastes of light buttercream, citrus hops, cloves, candy, florals, fruit flavors, apples, grapefruit, but not too sour or too sweet, light corriander, finishes soft and herbal. its just extremely pleasant from start to finish to aftertaste to sip 2 to last sip. I’ve never given a 20 before but theres a first for everything. I only wish they carried this on tap around here. then again, I’d probably never stop drinking it.

God damm this Cristmas beer is good. And yes the cork is a b#$ch to get out. Alcohol yes, with a taste of apricot. Wow it tast like a dried apricot.

Wow! Orange-brown colour, slightly cloudy with a nice off-white head. Huge smell of ginger, raisin, bubble gum, and a fair amount of alcohol. I also get some sort of tree resin, cedar or juniper, but I can’t quite tell which. More subtle notes include nutmeg and other warm spices. Taste is quite bready and yeasty, fairly sweet with huge candi sugar taste followed by rich maltiness and a very long raisin and apricot finish. Very rich tasting and quite warming. Simply awesome! I drank the end ten minutes ago and I can still taste it.

Weak white head. Orange slightly cloudy color. Complex aroma is malty, floral (roses) with strong spicy notes. Flavour is complex too, floral with tones of candy fruits. Finish is sweet and fruity. Medium to full bodied. I bought several bottles last summer at the little brewery in Binche, Belgium.

A hazy dark red beer with a fine off-white head. The aroma is sweet with notes of nutmeg and cloves - a really lovely aroma. The flavor is sweet with notes of nutmeg, cloves, yeast, oranges, wood, roasted bread, caramel and corriander. A great flavor that is rounded off by a light bitterness. The palate is good - and it warms very nicely.