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Affligem Noël
Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem
- From:
- Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem
- Belgium
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.08 | pDev: 9.8%
- Reviews:
- 343
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jun 07, 2020
- Added:
- Dec 18, 2001
- Wants:
- 58
- Gots:
- 48
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Bradthoc:
Reviewed by Bradthoc from Nevada
4.82/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.82/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
After three years of living in Belgium I want to slap myself silly for never trying this one.
For my first stab at Affligem's beer, this was a great first impression, leaving me to consume quite a few of these over the course of December 2010 and into January 2011.
The beer came in a 750ml bottle, corked, with cage and poured smoothly into a glass. Color was a dark brown with a tint of read and a creamy white head that held up nicely for several minutes.
Smelling this beer was almost as good as enjoying it and puts right into the Holiday/Winter season mood.
The beer lifts up a gentle and yet strikingly gorgeous aroma of dark fruits, caramel, and spices.
The taste of Affligem's Noel was simply amazing. The beer was easy to drink with a medium body, and light on the palate and stomach with bold flavors. The toasted flavor of the mentioned fruits and light sweetness has been excellently brewed and prepared by Affligem.
This beer is perfect for a cold night, inside or on an enclosed patio, enjoyed with friends or family all night long.
Feb 02, 2011For my first stab at Affligem's beer, this was a great first impression, leaving me to consume quite a few of these over the course of December 2010 and into January 2011.
The beer came in a 750ml bottle, corked, with cage and poured smoothly into a glass. Color was a dark brown with a tint of read and a creamy white head that held up nicely for several minutes.
Smelling this beer was almost as good as enjoying it and puts right into the Holiday/Winter season mood.
The beer lifts up a gentle and yet strikingly gorgeous aroma of dark fruits, caramel, and spices.
The taste of Affligem's Noel was simply amazing. The beer was easy to drink with a medium body, and light on the palate and stomach with bold flavors. The toasted flavor of the mentioned fruits and light sweetness has been excellently brewed and prepared by Affligem.
This beer is perfect for a cold night, inside or on an enclosed patio, enjoyed with friends or family all night long.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by tobelerone from New Jersey
4.04/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
2011 bottle holding up surprisingly well. Nice khaki colored head slowly dissipating over a chestnut colored body. Nose and flavor are nice if a little lacking in complexity compared to some others in the style. Dark fruits, spicy and phenolic, some booze apparent and a modest bitterness in the finish. While not all that full bodied there’s a nice creaminess to the feel with medium carbonation. I suspect this is a little less lively after all those years in the bottle.
Dec 15, 2019Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.06/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Has a nice warm booziness, like cognac or brandy, that really compliments the christmas spices, plum and of course the yeast. Surprisingly full bodied given affligem beers, but it is nice. Smell more full and rich compared to taste, but both are well balanced and delightful
Sep 21, 2018Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
4.13/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
750 ml cork and wire bottle with no clear bottling date but it has been cellared for at least 2 years.
Pours clear reddish brown with a very durable and creamy beige head. Good lacing that quickly slides down the sides of the glass.
Aroma: rich smells of dark dried fruits, light spices, and fruit cake.
Flavor: follows the aroma. Very well balanced and harmonious mix of flavors including dates and raisins. Slightly sweet but with a lightly bitter finish.
Feel: full body with rather lively carbonation.
Jul 09, 2018Pours clear reddish brown with a very durable and creamy beige head. Good lacing that quickly slides down the sides of the glass.
Aroma: rich smells of dark dried fruits, light spices, and fruit cake.
Flavor: follows the aroma. Very well balanced and harmonious mix of flavors including dates and raisins. Slightly sweet but with a lightly bitter finish.
Feel: full body with rather lively carbonation.
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan
4.09/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
poured from a 1pt. 6 oz. brown bottle - bottled on 09/04/2013
Affligem Noel Christmas Ale has a dark amber colored body. The 1-finger head produced was tan and bubbly. The head had good retention. The nose picked up the aroma of malt, dark fruits, and light spices. The taste has the flavor of dark fruit [raisins], brown sugar, caramel, and a little bready. The spices seemed weaker than the nose...maybe due to its age? Mouth feel is smooth and creamy with a medium body and carbonation.
Noel Christmas Ale is just right for the holiday season. It's tasty and easy to drink.
Jan 04, 2016Affligem Noel Christmas Ale has a dark amber colored body. The 1-finger head produced was tan and bubbly. The head had good retention. The nose picked up the aroma of malt, dark fruits, and light spices. The taste has the flavor of dark fruit [raisins], brown sugar, caramel, and a little bready. The spices seemed weaker than the nose...maybe due to its age? Mouth feel is smooth and creamy with a medium body and carbonation.
Noel Christmas Ale is just right for the holiday season. It's tasty and easy to drink.
Reviewed by MaximalC from Illinois
3.8/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
*Bottle dated 9/04/13
Pours a murky garnett color with a finger’s worth of beige head that soon dissipates. The aroma evokes a fine Belgian chocolate--candied cherry and nougat in a chocolate shell, dusted with brown sugar.
The taste features raisins, clove, and a touch of cherry cough syrup up front. Aggressive carbonation subdues all but the sweetest, spiciest flavors in the early going. Alcohol provides a little more warmth than I would prefer, but not terribly so. Warming reveals some light toffee and brown sugar notes, as well as a bit of a sour tang to add some complexity. Medium body, along with the aforementioned carbonation, afford a peppy albeit unremarkable mouthfeel.
Overall, this is a sweet, warming beer that’s appropriate for the season. The complexity isn’t exactly through the roof, and the carbonation is a bit much for my tastes, but it remains a serviceable brew. Bear in mind that this bottle has aged over two years, so I can’t say how faithfully it reflects its fresh identity.
Jan 01, 2016Pours a murky garnett color with a finger’s worth of beige head that soon dissipates. The aroma evokes a fine Belgian chocolate--candied cherry and nougat in a chocolate shell, dusted with brown sugar.
The taste features raisins, clove, and a touch of cherry cough syrup up front. Aggressive carbonation subdues all but the sweetest, spiciest flavors in the early going. Alcohol provides a little more warmth than I would prefer, but not terribly so. Warming reveals some light toffee and brown sugar notes, as well as a bit of a sour tang to add some complexity. Medium body, along with the aforementioned carbonation, afford a peppy albeit unremarkable mouthfeel.
Overall, this is a sweet, warming beer that’s appropriate for the season. The complexity isn’t exactly through the roof, and the carbonation is a bit much for my tastes, but it remains a serviceable brew. Bear in mind that this bottle has aged over two years, so I can’t say how faithfully it reflects its fresh identity.
Rated by NO13BABY from Maine
4.54/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This was aged 3 years, so I'm sure it developed some interesting characteristics!
Dec 19, 2015
Affligem Noël from Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
576 ratings
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