St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

Brewed by St. Bernard Brouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Watou, Belgium

Corked bottle. Pours a perfect amber brown with a generous head; reminds me of a root beer float. Aroma is sweet, with hints of cinammon malt and bitter English toffee. Flavor is spicy cinammon diluted with tangy vanilla ice cream. Nice body that lets the beer sit lazily on the tongue. Very approachable despite the high ABV. Definite seasonal repeat.

Draft. Pours a dark brune body with a white head. Sweet caramel malty body with a nice spicy nutmeg. Dark fruity plum and ginger. Good brew.

2007 bottle, aged for one year. Pours a dark and hazy, reddish-chestnut color. A dense, spongy, well retained head of khaki colored foam leaves thick, sheety rings of lacing all the way down the glass. The aroma is heavily fruited, notes of rum soaked raisons and figs showing in the forward. Vanilla bread pudding shows alongside earthy, Christmas spice notes. Flavors follow suit, boldly sweet and caramelly up front, with huge raison, plum and fig elements. Rum cake and gingerbread show in the background, while ground nutmeg complements the sugary sweetness. Medium-full bodied, with moderate carbonation, I feel that most of the substance comes from the residual sugar. This is a tasty brew, but I would prefer some semblance of hop balance, as this one proved just a bit too sweet for me.

On tap at The Red in Santa Cruz. Pours a muddy dark brown with a thick tan head that sticks around until the liquid is gone. Great thick lacing. Aroma is very deep, with fig, overripe plum, green apple, caramelized orange peel, ginger, phenols, and a touch of saccharine cola. Flavor is a little more straightforward. Rummy raisins, orange peel, ginger, and licorice. Alcohol and carbonation are a bit too apparent and so this beer is not particularly drinkable, but it is a nice warming winter treat to share.

Cork ejects with a powerful pop. A bit of slow foaming and gushing follows. Body is very dark brown and head varies from one to three fingers, tan and kind of lumpy. Aroma has some Band Aid, at least initially, along with some sweetish dark fruit. Mouthfeel quite soft, smooth and full - nice. Lots of fairly heavy rings and sheets of lacing. Flavor features a good nasal passage-clearing dose of ABV in the fore, followed by a rather vinous taste, maybe burgundy. Some dark ripe fruit in there along with the red wine and then some very dark chocolate in warmer/later samples. Pretty good, not alot of complexity but a nice palate and pretty tasty. 750 ml bottle, best before 7/8/12, from Bootleggers, cellared for 1 yr. after purchase.

Had on tap at Red light Red light. Very pretty pour dark amber. Sweet taste of caramel malts up front, some cinnamon and figs on the back end. Not overly sweet, and alcohol well hidden.

Style and Glass: Strong Dark Belgian Ale, Trappist ABV, Volume & Calories: 10 % in 22 fl oz. estimated at400 C Purchased at: Issac Newton’s, Newtown, PA for $18.00 Aroma: malty, sweet, inviting. Visuals: typical St. Bernardus label — neither inviting or not, like visiting an old friend, dark pour, thin head, opaque, dark body, red brown body, nice lace. Taste: amazingly balanced, deep flavors, overlapping influences, peach, banana, cinnamon, bitter hops, high strength. Palate: high quality, fruit juice texture, amazing, deep finish. Overall: delicious. An amazing treat. Beautiful, rich, and deep. A repeat when I can afford it. A high level favorite. medium value. high craft. Paired with a brownie and ice cream dessert — matched well in sweetness and contrast.

750ml bottle. Tawny brown with a big nearly white head. Big crusty and festive doughy Belgian abbey yeast... mildly spicy and peppery plum and peppermint flavor. Really good, could age well I think. More comments to come...