Val-Dieu Bière de Noël

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

750 mL bottle: Purchased in Kennigston liquor. July 27th, 2007. What an unappetizing looking ugly brown color does this ale look. Has some murk and clouds of dust but luckily the head will earn it a few more points because nicely on top as a thick and rough patch of foam. The nose is somewhat stale with signs of fading yeast and spice behind a big sweet malt profile. The flavor is still holding up quite well considering the age of this bottle which I estimate at approximately 2 years old. Have a firm character of true authentic Belgian yeast and just the most minor notes of spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Finishes with perfect balance of sweetness and alcohol presence to make me give this beer a high score respectively.

(33cl bottle, traded with bierkoning) Hazy, orange colour with a big and dense, slightly off-white foamy head. Sweet and fruit-accented (apples, citrus) aroma with a light acidic vinous character and detectable grainy malt. Moderately sweet and slightly sour flavour, medium bodied with a medium carbonated mouthfeel. Malty and fruit-accented taste with a light note of caramel, again with a vinous touch; moderately sweet and a bit slim, fruity and malty finish with a balancing yeasty, slightly hoppy bitterness.

Amber brown of color with a lasting off-white head. An aroma with spice, sweet malt, dark dried fruits and some metalic notes. The flavor sweet, no bitterness, no spices, pretty light in taste.

Golden, brown. WIth sediment. Has a off-white head, lasting. Fruity, and a bit odd aroma. Flavor is mainly sweet, bubblegum-notes. Lasting palate.

Bottle (from Bitter Virtue). Slightly sweet with mild spicy yeast and some fruit. Fairly drinkable with interesting sourness in the finish. Not that great with the flavours melding into a boring homogenous mass.

Cloudy golden body with a little white head. Lots of yeast on the nose. Taste is surely unexpected for a christmas beer. Cake malt, fruity flavours (citrus fruits) and cheesy yeast blend together for a fruitcake taste. Striking apples flavour along with some apple tartness. Some sourness in the finish. As a belgian beer it is just ok. However this is really not what I expect from a christmas beer. Christmas just ain’t what it used to be, times change, at the mall and they now have two Santa Claus stands, one is an express “6 gifts or less” Santa.

Bottle: Poured a hazy reddish/orange brown with white cream head. Sour metallic spice aroma was smelled. The flavor however was a sweet malt and candy/caramel.

750 ml bottle poured a cloudy brown with a lasting amber head. Aromas of prune, earthiness and spice. Palate was medium bodiede and smooth. Flavors of carmel, toffee, brown sugar and a hint of fruitiness with a lingering warming semi sweet finish.