Country of Origin: Belgium
Availability: Seasonal; winter only.
Price comparison: About twice the price of everyday beer.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 9%
Cute bottle/label? 750 ml corked and caged with a metallic red/green/gold/silver Christmasy label.
Appearance: Clear dark amber with a thick alabaster head. Tiny specks of lace on the glass.
Scent: Sweet malt; toffee; black raspberry.
Flavor: Malt with a lightly chocolate and fruity background, a bit like mulled wine at the finish.
Impressions: So smooth and quiet, I don't know that I'd order it in a busy pub or serve it at a big party, but it's festive enough that I wouldn't necessarily just want to put my feet up and chill out all by myself with it, either. I think it'd go nicely with a small cozy holiday dinner, particularly one of those old fashioned meatless Christmas dinners. I feel kind of bad that I didn't get this sooner so I could clue people in about it ahead of time.
Will I buy this beer again? Next year, certainly, and if there's still a bottle of this year's brew available on Friday, I'll pick it up for next year. Absolutely lovely.
Rating:
4½ out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: December 24, 2003
