Val-Dieu Bière de Noël

Brewed by Brasserie de l’Abbaye du Val-Dieu
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Aubel, Belgium

(Draught at Akkurat, Stockholm, 7 Dec 2007) Reddish brown colour with huge, frothy, beige head. Fruity, malty nose with notes of dark fruit, black-currant and raspberries. Malty, spicy taste with wild berries, dried fruit, toffee and caramel. Rather smooth moutfeel. Nice beer with balanced sweetness.

My favorite so far of the Christmas Ale’s. On tap at Monks’ Cafe in Philly. Nice sweet aroma. Amber with a large foamy head. Flavor of spice and caramel. Touch of chocolate in the finish.

Bottle. Nice large thick creamy like white head that mostly lasted. Cloudy orange / amber color with particles in flow. Good display of lacework. Aroma of citrus, spice, almond, coriander, apricot, grain and caramel. Medium body with an average carbonation. Flavor was moderated sweet with hint of acidic. Spicy sweet and fruity finish that lingers. Quit nice.

Perde no aroma, mas ganha no sabor de tostado, maltado e de cravo. Discreto floral, final longo e lupulado. Presença de partículas, as quais não alteram o sabor e o corpo. Creme denso e consistente.

A sweet sipper that’s more warming than it ought to be for its abv. 33 cL pours clearish dark amber with thin, filmy head. Sweet beer with light bitterness and malty, spicy aromatics. A touch thin and boozy, out of balance, high carbonation. It was tasty enough, but it didn’t stand out for me.

330ml bottle (Poirotti Eira, Helsinki) Orangy red, thin head, persistent, some floaty bits, most are sinky bits though. Textbook sweet malty slightly alcoholic aroma. Room temperature - and the carbonation is so smooth and creamy. Taste is superbly soft but rich malt, which leaves a sweet melony wineyness on swallowing. You guys need to get another bottle of this, and re-rate it - you had duff ones, this is great!

Garrafa, no Delirium Cafe, em Bruxelas (BEL), em novembro de 2007. Coloração âmbar escura/marrom, turva, com creme bege denso e relativamente persistente. Fica uma fina camada perene por cima. Suave. Sugestão de torrefação, frutas e amêndoa. Leve amargor, bem suave. Carbonatação média/alta. Álcool presente, mas leve. Aroma e sabor fracos. Presença de sedimentos no fundo (pó escuro). Esperava muito mais dela...

Bottle @ YNWA, Kolding. Pours a deep mahogany red with a small film head. Aroma is bready, with nuts, oranges, caramel and yeast. Light full mouthfeel. Flavour is rather sweet, rye bread and roasted caramel. Light spicyness and a touch too vinious for its 7 %. A good beer, but no surprises.