Nostradamus
Brasserie Caracole

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From:
Brasserie Caracole
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #52
ABV:
9%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,290
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 11.11%
Reviews:
531
Ratings:
943
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 13, 2023
Added:
Dec 19, 2001
Wants:
  67
Gots:
  108
No description / notes.
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Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.9/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Nov. 2014: Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting, from Kihiosk, Copenhagen. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of prunes and other dark dried fruits, also oak, hints of fortified wine. The flavour is also oaky with dark dried fruits, not too sweet. Very good.
Dec 13, 2023
Photo of JudgeRoughneck
Reviewed by JudgeRoughneck from Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 5
LOOK- Hazy, copper-bown, low head fades fast

AROMA - Tart cherry, black pepper, citrus, mint, hint of dried cranberry, blackberry, - all medium-low intensity
slight clove phenol, faint perfumey alcohol, mod-strong caramel malt

TASTE - Bright citrus and spicy phenol profile over deep but well attenuated malty sweetness with a kiss of rast in the finish.

Big bready malt center dripping with caramel

medium-low anise and citrus

light backdrop of forest floor

bittersweet finish

surprisingly hoppy with licorice and grapefruit notes

MF- medium-light body, low carbonation, very smooth, light peppery alcohol

OVERALL - Like nothing I've had before. Boisterous aromatics and spice of saison with the body of a dubbel, and the lingering bittersweet finish of an English strong ale. Hops are noticeable and add complexity. Definitely a sweet beer but there's so much else going on.
Aug 03, 2021
Photo of janubio
Reviewed by janubio from Spain

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle at Echarle Huevos, served at home in a trappist glass.
Amber-ruby colour, big heas with long retention and a big creamy head.
Aroma is malty, liquor, caramel, prunes, raisins, some chocolate, fruits, spices.
Medium body, oily texture, good carbonation. Sweet boozy finish.
Taste follows the aroma.
Great and complex.
Mar 13, 2021
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

4.08/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L- Deep chestnut with a hint of ruby-red when held up to a light. Minor haze in glass, with more sediment left in bottle. Pours with 5mm fine-bubble pale-tan head. [Late ps. 20+ mins later, holds really well whole way down].
S- 'Ohhh...yeah', I subconsciously exclaim... very prominent roasted notes + coffee for me. Smells like it might be quite a beast this one.
T- And yes it is, as it's full impact progressively unfolds. It certainly has coffee in spades and then some cocoa with it. This is a *notably* impactful beer on the palate, one to take nice'n slowly...
F- Boof! A beast indeed. Rich but balanced by hefty ABV%. Let's just say it's much more a winter style beer than a summer of session-style one.
O- Lovely, it reminds me of the impact of being served the historic measure of a beaker of port or sherry - oh yes, no dainty little glasses in centuries past. This is complex, heavy and demands to be taken slowly. Very nice, I'd happily buy this again.
Lable much simplified from one shown ^, more modern and pretty bare-bones.
330ml Bottle, Bought from BeersOfEurope (UK) BB: 08/10/2021
Mar 29, 2020
 
Rated: 3.48 by gbiello from Massachusetts

Mar 01, 2020
 
Rated: 3.81 by SpaethJam from New York

Jan 30, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by flyersfan900 from Virginia

Jan 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.94 by brandoneast from Texas

Jun 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.19 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

May 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.88 by Noelito76 from New York

May 05, 2019
Photo of MercInc
Reviewed by MercInc from Wisconsin

3.99/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured my last one yesterday, paired it with spaghetti and meatballs. Light brown in color, a tan colored head that slowly disappeared . By allowing it to warm to 55-60 degree's, I was able to appreciate richness of this brew. smooth feel, some bitterness on the backside. A well balanced beer.
Mar 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.98 by desint from Belgium

Nov 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by Archbrau from Florida

Oct 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Aug 04, 2018
Photo of SpongeHop
Reviewed by SpongeHop from Belgium

2.71/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
L - really nice deep brown, not very clear. Very quickly dissipating white, barely foamy head.
S & T - smelled a little bit roasty, but the taste is just nothing but sweet out the wazoo. Sweet sweet sweet. Banana, clove, sure, maybe some raisins or dried plums, but so much toffee. Quite alcoholic as well. Some bay leaf, almost cola-like. Not my thing.
F - Lots of alcohol, not much carbonation.

O - so, so, so very sweet. It's like drinking liquid toffee. And has that typical banana/clove thing that belgians have that I don't really like very much (full disclosure).

Not one I would personally recommend.
Jul 20, 2018
Photo of flyingpig
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland

4.41/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
330ml bottle from ‘t Brugs Beertje, Bruges (€4):
Strong & rich, this one was a beer with a definite kick from the warming alcohol which goes well with the dark fruits, the dates & raisins the most pronounced with the plum a nice touch too. I enjoyed the banana & cloves around the middle to help the balance along with the caramel but I especially enjoyed how drinkable it seemed given the strength. There was a great balance throughout with lots going on & it's definitely a beer I'd pick up again too.
Jun 29, 2018
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Initial sourness on this had me thinking this was a sour ale. Pours dark brown with airy head. Aroma is cider, raisins, cola. Taste is dried fruits with some cider sourness. Palate is sour and lingers. A slightly different take on the style
Jun 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by jroof1 from Massachusetts

May 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by jwat from Pennsylvania

Mar 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.18 by travelguy from Ohio

Feb 28, 2018
Nostradamus from Brasserie Caracole
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 943 ratings