Stille Nacht Reserva 2022
Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers

Surprisingly crystal clear dark gold with an also surprisingly, moderately short head, though dense and almost creamy, retaining well and leaving thin stretching arms of lace reaching up on the glass.

A little sharp brett meets a lemony but not sour ester, perhaps more like sticky reduced orange peel. Mild oak tannin accents the fluffy af body that's not boozy, for 12% or otherwise. As I dig in, I also get an almost passion fruit but also tripel punch & bite before it finishes softly semi-dry with some spiced pear. Further along, the brett perhaps lends a vinous herbal bite, while citrus also becomes grapefruit peel.

A conundrum, it's so hard to pin down. I had no idea this beer was like this. I don't think I have ever had the base, though I thought I had. Luckily I have a bottle of that too. Pleasantly surprised, I had to totally adjust my expectations away from a Christmas spiced malt bomb.

Barrique 1.

one of those very special beers i thought i might never get to drink, my first ever vintage of this, shared generously by my closest beer friend, it is one of his all time favorites, and i consider myself blessed to have been able to partake! what a specimen, already an epic base beer, now aged for two years in amarone barrels, loaded with umami and not as sweet and frankly decadent and over the top as i thought it might be, this one is a drinker somehow! brassy to reddish in the glass, just off clear but glowing brilliantly anyway, obviously expert bottle conditioning gives rise to at least an inch of pillowy and lasting white jet puffed soft head, consistent tiny bubbles rising up to join it. the nose on this is fruity yes, raisin and dark fruit leather, old wine and quite a bit of oak and tannins there, subtle vanilla, honey, and the richness of the malt of the base beer. the yeast is of course also defining, lovely ester profile of coriander and botanicals and some peppery spiciness, wintery and warm on the alcohol but the beer is less heavy than expected, mild plum and cherry from the wine, but also like soy and sawdust and purple grape candy, wildly complex, still very much fermentation forward too despite the barrel, and the flavor is similar, even more umami to it, almost to a challenging level, and whatever amarone this is in is quite obviously very high end and mature in its own right. some tartness resolving residual sugar near the end, white pepper and toffee there through much of it, drying herbal character and indeed some bitterness too, earthy and woody and positively effervescent, old leather and old books and old furniture, drinking at peak right now really. not super alcoholic or full bodied, gentle feeling almost, warming still, festive and fancy, but id drink a few of these for sure. remarkable specimen, never had anything like it! worthy of the hype and allure, epic barrel treatment! are reserva and special reserva the same thing? i lean yes but it is unclear to me...

Thanks to Mark for sharing this one at Nuetnigenough.