St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

The Brouwerij St. Bernardus is in the Watou province of the West Flanders region of Belgium.  Surprisingly for Belgian breweries, it was founded only in 1946. This is their 10.0% ABV special Christmas release. the bottle says it is best before July 18 of 2018. This was a four pack, I could have one each Christmas for the next few years and see how it develops.

The beer pours a very dark chestnut brown, with tints of ruby. There is a tall, thick, fizzy, foamy head that is light tan in color. The aroma is tangy, dark fruits and dried fruits, a bit of toffee, cherry, a note of red wine. The taste is cherry, raisins, a touch of red wine, light wood, adding dryness, with a warming alcohol. The carbonation is fine and intense. The fruit flavors linger on the aftertaste.

2014: Well, tried this again on Christmas Day 2014. It is quite consistent. It has mellowed a little bit. The alcohol still warms, but is more in the background.  The aromas and tastes are still similar, but more cherry and caramel now, and much less tang or red wine type notes.  It is drinking well, let's try it again next year!

2017: I gave one away, so this third one is my last bottle of the 2013 four pack. The first note in the aroma is red wine, then wood, leather, cherry, and caramel. The taste is cherry, caramel and wood. The taste is well balanced, and while it is full-flavored, it manages to be mellow at the same time. The finish is just on the dry side, low bitterness, with just a bit of vinous tang. It is still well carbonated, but not overly so. It makes a nice holiday sipper.

These were my thoughts when I tried it back in 2010:  The beer pours a medium-dark to dark brown, with ruby-orange tints when held to the light.  It has a massive, foamy, creamy, roiling head that is light brown in color.  The aroma is fruity, plums, almost raisins, caramel, banana bread.  The taste is rich, dark caramel, sweet bread, plum, raspberry and cherry, yet the finish is dry.  It is intensely and finely carbonated and wants to explode in the mouth.  It does not drink like it is 10% alcohol.  This is nice, very flavorful, but well balanced, no one part predominating, a very enjoyable Christmas ale.