Noël des Géants

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

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.

Draft at Kerstbierfestival 2007. A slightly hazy amber beer with a lazing orangey head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of caramel and fruit as well as light notes of spices. The flavor is sweet malty with notes of caramel and spices as well as light notes of alcohol, that burns the tongue . OK, but a bit simple.

12 oz bottle, purchased at Finger Lakes Beverage Center, Ithaca NY. Pours dark orange, good size off-white head. Yeasty, some spice flavor. Carbonated mouthfeel. Dry finish, medium body, drinkable, but flavor leaves something to be desired, especially at $3.99 per 12oz. I wouldn’t purchase this again.

33cl bottle purchased in Strasbourg, France: #1900- poured cloudy brownish orange with a full beige lasting head. Aroma of caramel, yeast, and black walnuts. Flavor is mild caramel and nuts with light spiciness. A touch of apple and raisins. Pretty dry and foamy in the mouth. Light bitter finish. Good.