Sur-les-Bois Biére de Noël (was: La Botteresse)

Brewed by Brasserie Artisanale La Botteresse de Sur-les-Bois
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Saint-Georges (Sur-les-Bois), Belgium

33cl bottle, marked as La Botteresse Noire, with a rather comely-looking lass on the label - pours a very dark ruby, with a lot of chunky floaties - a lot of sweet raisin in the nose, treacle, nutmeg, brown sugar, overripe dark fruits - the flavor is sweet dark fruits (loads of fig, raisin), tempered by bitter herbs and warming spices - some british barleywine-ish character comes in the form of treacly sweetness, light oxidation, earthy, prune-like flavors - finish of chocolate pudding, warming alcohol and lingering herbal bitterness - fairly well-balanced and tasty - someone ought to add an alias for the La Botteresse Noire, though.

(33cl bottle) Pours a brown body with a small beige head. Aroma of dates, mustiness, caramel, and raisins. Flavor of dates, yeast, anise, and other spices.

bottle thanks to bu11zeye. dark brown pour with an amber bottom. nose is wood and nuts. very carbonated with a heavy fruit flavor that is backed by nuts.

bottle, thanks to bu11zeye, colar hazelnut in color with tan head, aromas of raisin and plums, flavors of sweet licorice and brown rice, average finish

Bottle thanks to bu11zeye. Pours a deep, dark brown, red hues, beige head. Aroma of some dark fruit, some farmhouse. Flavor of some dark fruit, malt, some funk. Mouthfeel is medium body with fizzy carbonation. Overall, it’s pretty good.....

Bottle thanks to bu11zeye. Pours with a small off-white head fading over a hazed brown body. Aroma of banana esters, chocolate and leather. Taste is chocolate and esters. Alcohol well hidden. Watery mouthfeel with medium carbonation.

Bottle. Pours a dark brune with a creamy tan head. Spicy fruity spritz pepper and apple aroma. Cinnamon and some yeasty spices. Sweet cane sugar with vinous hints and some apple like sweet and tart flavor. Some alcohol warming that is well masked by the spiciness and moderately sharp carbonation. Decent brew.

330ml bottle (One Pint, Helsinki, Belgian Weeks 2009)
Hazy gold, tiny tight head. Odd rotting meat aroma. In fact, it’s meat and 2 veg. One of the veg’s is asparagus. Soapy taste, also some veg. Finish very hoppy. Yeast removes the quirkiness, and reduces soapiness.