La Rullés Cuvée Meilleurs Voeux (Bière De Gaume)
Brasserie Artisanale De Rulles SPRL

 

 

Pours a clear reddish brown, with fine, lacy head.

Smell is fruity, with raisins, dark syrup and hints of leather, orange and Gammeldansk.

Taste is rich and fairly bitter. Fruity raisins, some leather and more hints of Gammeldansk.

Mouthfeel is medium, with plenty of carbonation.

Overall, a well made dark Belgian, drinkable and a bit warming.

 

 

 

This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a nice looking hazy dark brown color with a one to two finger white foamy head that dissipated within about a minute leaving some light lacing sticking and sliding at the same time. The smell had a glossed over slightly cooked sugary and slight chocolate /glazed cakey sort of breadiness. The taste pretty much copied the smell with a light sweet chocolatey aftertaste leading to a sweet wet finish. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. The carbonation sat pretty good for the style and for me. Overall, pretty nicely done Belgian Dark ale that I would love to have again.

 

 

 

 

From the 750 ml. bottle. Sampled on May 22, 2016.

The pour is reddish-brown with a modest, short-lived tan head. Good clarity.

The aroma is inviting but not unique with its Belgian candied malt sweetness, cellar, oil, mild herbs, and low hop profile.

Medium body of better.

The taste is toasted Belgian malts, Belgian sweetness, and a mild to moderate toasty bitterness to end. Really not extraordinary but still delightful in its way.

 

 

 

While I am partial to Belgian blondes, this one looked great in the glass... and stayed that way. ( I wanted the liquid to stay, but when all that was left was lace... I was satisfied I made the right choice.)

Full aromatics for the holiday season, the spices, the sugar, the fruits and the fruitcake also take turns presenting themselves.

One of the most interesting aspects of this beer was how it eventually finished dry; but, all the flavors that went on before still seemed to be present. I brought this large bottle to share, but almost didn't... a bit of self-indulgence once this river of flavors surrounded my senses.

While creamy cheeses more often are recommended with Belgian darks, I found this was great with a blue; as it kept interrupting the beer and then, eventually, all the beer flavors would come back. It was a great duet because I could keep tasting the beer as if I had just started.

There is something special about Belgian Holiday beers... something so special that it may be a while before North America's Belgian-focussed brewers can match it. In the meantime, if you see the Rulles rendition, buy it and you will learn that the spirits of Christmas are to shared.

Had on-tap at Champs in State College, PA. poured into a tulip glass.

L: Pours a semi-opaque mahogany color. Thick creamy off-white head and nice lacing.

S: Dark fruits and brown sugar... candied apples.

T/F: Malty up front but overall lacking on the flavor profile for a Belgian Strong. Mild dark fruits and sugars... caramel and spice. Medium carbonation and fairly smooth.

O: Disappointing for a Belgian Dark Ale... I expected more flavor and this one was just lacking. Not a bad beer by any stretch but not one that I would seek out again. There are much better Belgian strong's available.

 

 

From cervezasespeciales. In Teku glass. After dinner & reviewing book. 8 months after BBF date. Very good taste on the first glass, like the best quads although less aroma. However, in the second one (or when it warms), it loses a bit of taste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dark mahogany, big hearty fluffy light beige head that lingers for a lot.
Sweet caramel, apple, overripe apricot, some warmth, light licorice and anise, light raisin, malt sweetness.
Nice sweet fruity taste with quite some alcohol in the start. Lots of red apple, some apricot, light raisin, plum, faint berries, some crisp orange peel and even a hint of pineapple. Lots of festive spices, especially a lot of licorice, but also clove and ginger. Sweet caramelised malts, bit of biscuit, plus a bit of extra candi sugar. Finishes a bit bitter, actually, with some nice spicy hop.
Aftertaste has orchard fruit, Christmas spices, sweet malt and some hop. Medium body and carbonation, not sticky, but quite crisp and refreshing.
Delivers a sweet maltiness that fits with the cold season, nice and spicy, festive. Really nice, but a bit of intensity would've helped.

Vinous, lightly acetic aroma, with dark candi sugar sweetness. Esters of banana and pear add complexity.

Flavor is very malty initially, lightly sweet, with a deeply toasted, finish and moderate bitterness and spice in the aftertaste. Notes of pear, banana, and tart cherry surface late.

Would prefer a bit more tartness or sweetness...or both. A bit weak in flavor.

 

Bought a big bottle (unspecified anywhere on the bottle about how many ML, oh well, not my fault) at a local bottle shop in Juneau, AK (Breeze In, Valley location).
Anyways, figured it was Christmas Eve, why not, right.
This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a dark brown close to black color with a good finger's and a half worth of foamy off white lacing after the head died off.
The smell had a decent baked chocolate to light ginger spice to it.
The taste was semi-sweet with a light spice (ginger - maybe). There's a sweet wet chocolate aftertaste leading to a sweet chocolate finish.
The mouthfeel was about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. Carbonation is super smooth, holy moley, this one is super smooth.
Overall, holy crap, this is so smooth. I dig it as a Belgian Dark Ale, it works and I'd have it again.

 

 

 

 

 

Had on-tap at Thirsty Monk Asheville. Served in a mini snifter.

A- Pours a medium brown color with a 1/2 inch tan head that retains well before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a half sheet of sheer surface foam. Resilient sheet of lacing.

S- Dark fruit notes including black cherry, currant and blackberry. Faint spice.

T- Very balanced flavor of toasty malt, slightly sweet dark fruit and more mild spice. Hint of oxidation.

M- Slightly dry and a bit tangy. Medium-high carbonation and a fullish body.

O- Pretty good but not anything super special. Easy to drink for the ABV and has all the right flavors to satisfy your BSDA craving.

 

 

This is less “craft” and more upscale than the normal La Rulles. It has less chunks of raisins. It’s more filtered. The aroma is less strong. The flavor is less strong. The raisin aroma is diminished. It has a floral aroma. More alcohol. A big head becomes a thinner but not flat. Medium to high carbonation. Bitter. I prefer the normal La Rulles.