St. Feuillien Cuvée De Noël
Brasserie St. Feuillien

St. Feuillien Cuvée De NoëlSt. Feuillien Cuvée De Noël
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Brasserie St. Feuillien
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #73
ABV:
9%
Score:
89
Ranked #11,592
Avg:
3.98 | pDev: 10.8%
Reviews:
241
Ratings:
377
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 18, 2023
Added:
Oct 22, 2002
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  19
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by PedroNasser:
Photo of PedroNasser
Rated by PedroNasser from Brazil

4/5  rDev +0.5%

Nov 23, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of EmperorBevis
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

3.85/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottled and purchased from Beermoth in Manchester City Centre and purchased to finish the Office Christmas do, but wasn’t in the mood
Pours a red hued amber body with reassuring white head
Aroma is red laces and candy canes
Flavour is ruby port and dry ice
Dec 18, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by MrJones07 from Spain

Dec 17, 2023
Photo of HardTarget
Reviewed by HardTarget from Texas

4.11/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
2007 vintage cellar review:
Cork held up, mild gas release on opening.

Appearance: Fails to hold a head, brief flash of white. Glass is dark amber, opaque but shows clarity at the edges.

Aroma: Heavy honey note, some dark malt extract. Mildest gingerbread note.

Taste: Very neutral, mild caramel sweetness, very light tonic water bitter more than any hop note. It's notable in what's missing. No off flavors, no Christmas spice, no Belgian funk, just a clean mild brown ale.

Mouthfeel: Very, very low carbonation, medium light body, clean finish.

Overall: Yeah, cellar at will. Probably better with a little less age, this one kinda got lost in the archives, but for 15 years old it held up very well. Will look for fresh examples, some to drink, some to hold.
Dec 24, 2022
Photo of Larryken
Rated by Larryken from Massachusetts

4.31/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Fruity aroma, some carbonation, had a slight wine taste, complex and Inter
Oct 13, 2022
Photo of te99912_123
Reviewed by te99912_123 from Switzerland

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2021 bottle.
dark red, ruby, with a hint of brown. very foamy.

Aroma of cherry, raisins, chocolate, vanilla, spices of cinnamon, nutmeg? and coriander.
Bitter, but also sweet in the end.
Lots of liquorice taste which I'm not a big fan of.
finish slightly bitter.

I really liked the smell, but did not like the taste as much.
Sep 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Apr 10, 2022
Photo of AlexandraDen
Reviewed by AlexandraDen from Canada (ON)

4.06/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy ruby-brown in the goblet, the head explodes no matter how careful the pour. What results is a three finger thick, foamy and rocky head that slowly collapses over the course of a few minutes into a one inch thick, dense ring that leaves generous lacing all the way through.

Immediate notes of incredibly strong malt and yeast, caramel, spices, nutmeg and dark fleshy fruits.

Taste follows the nose but in the opposite way, with spices hitting your palate before the malt. Mild hop bitterness on the finish, and I’m taking the lessened bitterness/hop character relative to other reviews as my bottle is a few months older than most others (it is definitely not Christmas anymore).

Mild chocolate, cherries, sticky toffee pudding are the main sweet flavours. Cognac or brandy add to the spicy category (the abv% likely helping his perception) a little bit of cinnamon flavours, some nutmeg, and general yeasty phenolic spices. Licorice is at the forefront of the spices but is much milder than I expected from what I had heard. Don’t get too much from the hop side other than a general bitterness, but definite yeasty, malty, caramel soaked goodness from the grainy side. Really enjoyable melding of multiple flavours. Buttery smooth on the finish. Tastes like I just had some toasted bread with butter and cinnamon.

Body is surprisingly medium light, easily drinkable and not too heavy. The carbonation is quite good, especially for my bottle which is more than a few months out. Surprised me in its character — it’s prickly at your tongue and foamy in the mouth. For me I always enjoy slightly less carbonation on higher abv% beers with lots of subtle character, as the carbonation can ‘wash’ some of the flavours away, but this is still really good. Not bad at all, just unexpected.

As with most Belgians and many other complex styles, this beer continues to evolve in character and feel as it warms. Always recommend letting it get that air and warm up. Some of the stronger flavours are tamped down and meld more, revealing other subtle notes, such as ginger. The molasses character comes out more too.

Overall a really nice winter beer, one I particularly enjoyed as I’ve been looking for spice forward beers. The winter ales and warmers I’ve had are all American style, while complex in the hop department, malty spicey goodness is always my first love. Enjoyable, easily distinguishable from other Belgian offerings, suitably complex, I simply do not understand some of the poorer ratings in regards to too much aniseed. It’s possible my bottle mellowed in the months in the bottle, but this was great with a lot of subtle character without anything being too overwhelming.

I’d say anyone who tried it and found any aspect too overwhelming, let the rest of your bottles sit for half a year or longer if you’d like. It very clearly mellows out the brew, making it eminently enjoyable
Mar 05, 2022
Photo of BGDrock
Reviewed by BGDrock from Canada (ON)

3.81/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Medium brown body with a hint of ruby, showing glimmers through the unfiltered body; toasted almond head forms high and stick around with solid retention of several minutes.
Warm caramel malt aroma, touch of sticky toffee pudding, but also a crisp freshness like fresh mountain water. Not sweet.
Flavour shows caramel again, muted fruity esters, plum, dashes of alcohol heat and buttery fat, whisps of spice in the finish; some stickiness to the feel, but it's not sugary/syrupy, which I'd feared it might be as a christmas beer; finish is off dry, medium body, medium, prickly carbonation.

A fine, easy-drinking Belgian brew that is fitting for cooler months, but the flavour is one-noted and doesn't express a real 'christmas-y' character to make it distinct or very interesting.
Feb 04, 2022
Photo of bmaslakov
Reviewed by bmaslakov from Russian Federation

4.28/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Looks clear dark caramel and chestnut, weak light foam. Tastes roasted nut with butter finish, very sweet. Something fresh, too, maybe spearmint? The aftertaste not extremely pleasant, sugary and syrop-y. Nose cognac, hay, wood. Feels chewy and well carbonated.
Jan 23, 2022
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3.28/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Currently ranked #79 in the top "Strong Ale - Belgian Dark" beers list.

9% ABV.

1.5L magnum bottle (brown glass with a hood and wire cage over a cork) served chilled into an Orval goblet in Colorado. Nabbed from a local beer store at the tail end of the Christmas season.

APPEARANCE: Deep dark ruby body. Pale khaki head. Head sticks around about 3-4 minutes. Head could be thicker, more robust, creamier, and/or fuller.

Appears well carbonated with all the benefits of bottle conditioning on display.

AROMA: Sweet and malty, bringing heavy caramelized sugars and gooey malts. Hints of spice do surface...brewers orange peel, clove. Hits on dark fruits and stone fruit flavours as well, bringing raisin, plum, date, and fig but never leaning on them as heavily as something like a Quadrupel would.

ABV seems well disguised.

Promises a sweet Christmas ale with some spicy and fruity accents.

TASTE & TEXTURE: Caramel, vanilla, raisin, plum, date, fig, dried orange peel, clove, biscuity Belgian saccharomyces, brown malt sweetness.

Has plenty of something from the licorice/anise family of herbs. Fruitcake, sassafras, a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, maybe nutmeg?

Soft and silky on the palate, lending it a light mouthfeel that's a bit dangerous at this ABV...it's quite drinkable for a 9% ale. Perfectly carbonated. Medium-bodied, smooth, wet, unrefreshing. Not a meal in a glass nor a filling beer, but there is some warm alcohol glow in the belly while drinking it. Honestly, I'm surprised to say I find it a bit too thin for the intended style.

High in residual sugars. The kind of rich Belgian ale that makes one remember to schedule a dental appointment...

OVERALL: Sort of a Christmas spice meets Belgian dark ale sort of beer, which works well for it. I don't know that a magnum is the right packaging format for a beer this high in ABV, but I guess once a year it's a understandable treat.

It doesn't upset Chimay Blue, Gouden Carolus, or the like in terms of Belgian strong dark ales, but regarded as a Christmas beer specifically I think it's fair to say it's a classic. I'd rather buy a 4-pack of Chimay, which is both a better beer and better bang for the buck, but I imagine I'd revisit this if I chanced across a smaller serving size of it for a fair price in Belgium.

Not worth seeking out, but a nice little Christmas ale.

Low B- / WORTHY
Jan 18, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

2.8/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Shared 330 ml bottle from Vinmonopolet, at Cardinal Yule beer tasting. Reddish colour, moderate beige head. Strong aroma of Christmas spices, too much anise / aniseed (as in a couple other beers from this brewery). Fizzy mouthfeel. The flavour is spicy and medium sweet, again with too much anise / aniseed.
Jan 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.12 by arzt from Germany

Dec 18, 2021
 
Rated: 2.89 by Catalinmunteanu from Romania

Dec 01, 2021
 
Rated: 3.71 by TheHammer from Canada (ON)

Dec 26, 2020
Photo of scott451
Reviewed by scott451 from Canada (ON)

3.91/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured into a pint glass. A very slightly hazy reddish brown. A big three finger off white head that sticks around to the end. Subdued spice smells. A very soft hop finish. Very smooth and full bodied. Overall an excellent strong dark.
Nov 18, 2020
Photo of The_Bujon
Reviewed by The_Bujon from Ireland

4.21/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Another Christmas Beer yippeee! Albeit consumed on a scorching hot afternoon, but hey take one for the team and all that!

Pours a delightfully dark and hazy fig coloured body, head is initially fantastic but abates quickly leaving not much. The lacing is pretty good which salvages it.

Aroma is sweet, ripened fruits with ever such a faint liquorice. Really rather good, very inviting.

Taste is of same standard, not too rich, but sweet and spicy in equal measures, plenty of malt and fruit. Lovely caramelized aftertaste.

Feel is good, nice and smooth and the 9%abv is spot on, no need for crazy strength.

Overall, another quality seasonal brew. Belgian Christmas beers really are the front runners of world brewing period! Craft IPA scene take note!
May 28, 2020
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.23/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
330 mL bottle bought at the LCBO at least two years ago; best before 11/09/2019 and served at cellar temperature. Merry belated Christmas, BA!

Pours a clear, brick red hue with ruby-coloured highlights. A full inch of fluffy, smoker's teeth yellow-tinged head erupts from the surface, slowly settling off over the next five-plus minutes; a creamy, quarter-inch cap remains in place, with a generous coat of lace also having been left behind. Looks great to me. On the nose, I'm getting a cherry cola-like vibe that I quickly grew fond of - candi sugar sweetness comes through for sure, with hints of liquorice, root beer, nutmeg, and plenty of miscellaneous dark fruit character, particularly cherry and raisin.

A lovely brew - though technically out of date, it's still extremely smooth and quite appealing IMO. I'm still getting that cherry cola flavour, especially at the forefront, with molasses, candi sugar, raisin and fig also contributing to the overall effort. Liquorice root, ethanol and spiciness join the fray towards the back end, with suggestions of nutmeg and sarsaparilla completing the profile; a tad boozy on the back end, with liquorice and yeasty spiciness lingering into the aftertaste, reinforcing its warming qualities. Medium-full in body, with moderately strong carbonation that results in a frothy, relatively smooth mouthfeel. I downed this serving with no fuss whatsoever, and wouldn't have minded another top-off.

Final Grade: 4.23, an A-. Your opinion of St. Feuillien Cuvée De Noël will most likely hinge around your appreciation for liquorice - it's one of the more noticeable aspects of the flavour profile, so if you're one of those folks who picks around the black jelly beans then this might not be the beer for you. Personally, I would buy this again without hesitation, but I have unfortunately not seen it for a few years, so I'll have to keep my fingers crossed for a 2020 LCBO re-appearance.
Dec 27, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Dec 13, 2019
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

4.27/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
'50th Year' Edition. Bottle-conditioned. I'd rested/chilled this well but it still overflowed (slightly) on opening - ease the cap off veeery slowly just in case.
L- Very deep chestnut red. Effectively clear. Pours with fat 2Cm darker tan head; holds well.
S- Christmas pudding (UK), spices and timber.
T- Deep pungent molasses, with equally deep (baked) fruit notes, cherry and apple perhaps. There is some bitter/dryness that gives it good balance for a beer of this ABV%.
F- Deep, a slow-sipping winter-warmer type beer to me. It's also quite rich, but that's balanced out (as^). It has real presence, beyond the ABV%, working as a whole.
O- I could happily drink this with dinner during winter, in place of wine. Come to think of it, it's overall profile is a touch wine-like, in the ABV% zing in the mouth, the fruit, the prominent mouth-feel and so on. I've had some beers that have been aged in ex-wine barrels and this is what they remind me of.
Very nice indeed, I can't find any negatives here to note, at all, and I'd happily drink it again - but for the price.
Bought from Wholefoods, London W8, 330ml bottle £3.99 [!] BB: 13/07/2021
Nov 23, 2019
St. Feuillien Cuvée De Noël from Brasserie St. Feuillien
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 377 ratings