Slaapmutske Christmas (Kerstmutske Christmas Nightcap)

Brewed by De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Lochristi, Belgium

Bottle @ Cardinal. Pours a dark copper body with a big off-white head. Aroma is very sweet with lots of dark fruits, plums, sugar, figs, Belgian yeast, and some bubblegum. Very fruity flavor on the tongue at the beginning. Lots of bubblegum and fig notes followed by a middle of spiced yeast, and a dark fruit finish that is both bitter and spicy. Alcohol is very well hidden and the aftertaste is warm and spicy.

330 ml bottle, as Slaapmutske Christmas, at the Christmas beer tasting of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Beautiful dark reddish brown colour, huge, creamy and long lasting off-white to beige head. Both aroma and flavour have a distinctly malty presence (not too sweet though) with some mild spicy, fruity and caramel notes, the hops are moderate - but the beer is overall so well balanced and highly drinkable that it deserves a high rating, even without being so very "special", nor extreme in any way.

12 oz bottle-pours a tan head and amber color. Aroma is sweet medium malt-caramel, raisin. Taste is sweet medium malt-caramel/molasses, secondary earthy hops. Thanks Stevo for sharing.

It’s never to early for Christmas beer. Appearance is maroon brown with a thin beige head that lasts forever, and laces wonderful lacing. Smell of malt and a whiff of nutmeg. Taste is very subtle, even malt, a bit of vanilla, slight caramel, and a distant note of cinnamon and nutmeg. Body is somewhat lacking, especially for a winter beer. This one is subtle, as are most Belgians. Probably too subtle for the American palate, which expects either massive hops, massive malt, or additives like a gallon of Starbucks. But it’s very drinkable, and leaves you feeling nice and warm on a cold winter’s evening.

33 cl. export version, best by Sept 2010. Nearly opaque ruby-chestnut with a creamy lasting 5 mm head. Aromas of fig, brown sugar, hints of dry cocoa, galangal, nutmeg and dried wood. Flavor is similar, but with more of the peppery, bitterish earth spices evident than in the sweeter aroma. No overpowering flavors in any direction, nice balance from the spice and wood to dry the big malt well. Medium-heavy body is slightly dry, but a little too fizzy at times.

750ml bottle 8/4/09 (Binny’s Naperville)-Pours a dark brown with a small loose tan head. Aroma of malt, caramel, and chocolate. Taste of sweetness, malt, chocolate, plums, and fruits. This medium to full bodied was not as heavy as other X-mas brews but still very drinkable.

On Gravity at the New Century Hall, National Winter Ales Festival Manchester 19/01/2008 Fruity aroma. Thick white head. Mid brown coloured and a little rich on the palate with a crisp and slightly dry full malt finish.