La Moneuse Speciale Noël

Brewed by Brasserie de Blaugies
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Dour-Blaugies, Belgium

Pours deep amber into a tulip. Fluffy tan beach foam head. Sour fruit aromas. Sharp fizzy caramel with a dry, lasting bitter finish.

When opening this bottle, be very afraid. As soon as I loosened the wire cage, the cork shot out of the green 750 ml. bomber and hit the ceiling. Luckily it was pointed away from any valuable objects and vital body organs. The anticipated geyser of beer however did not erupt following this first shot, and the rest of the drinking session went unhindered.

The beer came out hazy, amber, and fizzy, and readily formed a three finger craggy head in the tulip. Not quite as sharp looking as the inimitable Duvel, and the head lacked that same staying power too. The smell was pleasingly fruity (bananas, apple, and pear) with a floral and earthy fullness imparted by the yeast. There was also a decent backdrop of coriander and other sundry spices. The taste was typical of the other Belgian Strong Pale Ales, with an up front but light sweetness, sharp fermented candy sugar acidity, house yeast dustiness, and a dry finish enhanced by aged hops and spices. In this beer the spices seemed more plentiful than the norm, and the finish lingered on a bit longer than others. Airy and creamy mouthfeel and bright disposition made this a joy to drink. Not a hint of the 8% ABV to be found anywhere.

While not necessarily screaming special Christmas creation, this beer was enjoyable enough to be downed quickly for its simple yet alluring persona.

I was really expecting something wonderful and special with this beer. but I got nothing but disappointments. while the malts are certainly fine, I get a unpleasant soapiness to this beer. I’ve had better

The aroma is very yeasty, malty, and citrusy with some herbs. The appearance is tan-gold-orange with a haze and a large foamy head. The flavor is like the aroma with a nice malty finish and some wild yeast. The palate is smooth. Overall it’s a good beer but not a standout.

Maybe I got an old bottle? The beer had no qualities that stood out to me. Very ’meh.’ I can think of a dozen other Belgian Christmas beers that I’d rather have.

Rating #400. Cloudy amber with a thick rock solid head. Big yeasty aroma, spicy, kind of remenisent of an abbaye des rocs brune. Very malty flavour, cinnamon, brandy, cherries. Creamy mouthfeel. That’s good drinkin’.

Amber tinted with orange with loads of tan foam, good lacing. Big aroma of cork, cheese, herbs and spice. Nice full flavour strats with herbs and spices and just the right sweetness, before moving to some citrusy orange and lemon before finishing with a nice hoppy light bitter closing. Nice acidity and peppery texture on the mouth thorughout. Well balanced and quite enjoyable. I’ll be having another one for sure.

Pour is dark murky amber with a dense off white head...smell is spicey with yeast and pepper...taste is overly sweet and vegetal...disappointed...