Noël des Géants

Brewed by Brasserie des Géants
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Irchonwelz, Belgium

Had on tap at the Brick Store Pub. Poured to a light reddish-brown with thin white head that lingered well and left good lacing. Nose was a pleasant mix of spciy clove and banana, as well as a hint of other fruitiness. Mouthfeel of this medium-bodied beer was carbonated and tingly with a spicy, malty flavor with just the right amount of hoppy fruit. This all rounded to a nice, dry, clinging finish.

Pours dark copper with a soft beige head. Very heavy bodied malty belgian strong. Big barleywine maltiness up front, heavy caramel flavors, softly toasted malt character, apricot and mild citrus. Body was syrupy and thick, viscous coating on the palate keep the sweetness all the way through the finish. Spicing was softer, letting the malt show through. Ok, but a bit syrupy sweet for my taste.

11.2oz bottle from State Line Liquors (Elkton, MD). Pours chestnut colored, capped with a frothy tan head. Aroma of toffee, spice, tropical fruit, orange, and yeast. Flavor is fairly sweet, with caramel, tropical fruit, and citrus, with highlights of cocoa, clove, and alcohol. Drinkable, but pretty average.

clear dark brown. very bubbly appearance under a large fizzy tan head. aroma of candy sugar, caramel, yeast. flavors of brown sugar, caramel, nuts, and perfect amounts of nutmeg and cinnamon. lots of carbonation with medium body. i really like the spices in this but the high carbonation bugs me and the aroma was only decent.

Looks like I’m going against the grain on this one since I thought it was great. This was like a nice BSA without the candi sugar ~ kind of like a berliner weiss without the syrup or something. Pours nice deep bronze with a pillowy beige head. The aroma has dry caramel, lots of biscuit malt, cinnamon, basement musky funk, minor anise and light Belgium yeastiness. Medium / full body that’s quite rounded with lively carbonation. The flavor starts with cinnamon, nutmeg, dry caramel, crackers, nice earthy yeastiness and overall dryness. The finish continues to be very dry and has some graham cracker characteristics. This is very nice. It reminds me of Brasserie des Rocs without the sweetness ~ both excellent, but the sweetness makes them distinctly different.

Pour is a dark amber with a huge tan head. Aroma is caramel malts with some spice and corriander. Flavor is deffinalty heavy on the spice. While a good thing it pretty much takes anything else this beer has to offer and hides it. If you looking for a spicy winter warmer than this would be the beer for you other than that this is something to try but not seek out.

This amber ale poured with a massive beige head that dissipated rather quickly. There is a harsh brown ale flavor and a very bitter finish.

Bottle, bought @ Kolding Vinhandel.
Pours hazy brown with a fine, creamy, off-white head. Fizzes away slowly. Aroma is malty, some yeast, lots of caramel. Some prunes as well. A bit of Christmassy spice. Fine mouthfeel, a bit light perhaps - compared to the ABV. Flavour is actually quite nice, light chocolate, some caramel. A slightly burning bit of alcohol with nice spiciness in the finish. Fine enough BSA, though a bit simple.