Every Time Buche De Noel
Campanology Brewing

I absolutely do not understand why Trader Joe's does not reveal that it is the money behind this brew.
But that does not stop BA raters from seeing through the ruse and under-rating the brew.

This is an ambitious ale. Buche de Noel is a hard cake to bake and even harder to decorate. (But when it is done well, it is a joy... and of course, it completes a Christmas.) In its process of scouring for good recipes and food producers, TJ found this recipe and is making something of it. Good for them... and us.

That is not to say that the recipe cannot be improved. Like a lot of sweet ales in the sweet-ish season, Buche de Noel Stout starts great. But eventually the richness overwhelms me with too much chocolate and flavors. Solution: make smaller bottles next year.

Overall: an absolutely great value. This may be a good alternative to good cake of Buche de Noel.

 

 

Bomber bottle served in a Belgian snifter.
Pours clear reddish-brown but so dark as to be essentially opaque in the glass. Good, semi-durable beige head.
Aroma: just as expected (i. e., typical) from a coffee-chocolate stout. While the first sip was rather sweet, some hoppy bitterness builds over time leaving this mildly bitter. Hops, coffee, dark chocolate and dark bread linger on in the aftertaste. Seems balanced yet lacking a bit in harmony.
Smooth, near full body with medium-light carbonation.

 

Appearance: Pretty well pitch black , with a khaki head. Thin lacing.

Aroma: Coffee up front, with some cocoa underneath. Solid.

Taste: Prominent chocolate and coffee notes, with a smooth, roasty, mellow, bittersweet twang at finish. Really superlative and complex. Would buy again, especially at the sweet Trader Joes’s $4/bomber price point!

Poured into a hybrid glass from a 22oz bottle

A - deep brown/black with a hint of crazy red. One finger deep tan head and some sticky lacing

S - lots of chocolate, coffee and sugar. Roasted, toasted and semi charred but super sweet malts and grains. Nice light booze, slight banana (yeast), toffee, caramel and some candied goodness.

T - lots of sugar, chocolate, coffee, banana, a bit dry but mostly silky sweet awesomeness (pertaining to the grains and malts) Really great holiday treat.

M - medium plus body, medium minus acidity, awesome complexity, decent balance and a sugary sweet Christmas treat.

D - basically a celebration stout and winter ale in one with out all of the spices. Works well with sweet and savory. Smells awesome, tastes better. Something perfect and I mean perfect to age!

Final thoughts - it was a gift, but I am not sure of the price, the 8% is near perfect and if I could have this on tap, I would be a happy man!

 

 

 

 

22 oz bottle. Pours black with tall, long lasting, creamy, beige head and nice lacing. Aroma is of piney hops, bready malt, dark fruit, chocolate and cacao. Body is full and slightly crisp. Taste is of chocolate, cacao, vanilla, brown sugar, dark fruit and herbal hops. Finish is long, semi-dry. Tasty brew.

 

 

 

Taste: Rich toasted nutty, malty, cocoa, coffee, semi sweet, vanilla, dry finish. same with the nose. Black, opaque, large tan head with some lace. Full body, after dinner stout.

 

 

Picked up in a bomber at local TD's for $4.

Look: Dark as used motor oil. Thin creamy beige head that quickly settles without lacing.

Smell: strong coffee nose with an alcohol finish. Chocolate isnt as apparent as the coffee. Slightly sour note.

Taste: Sweet with prominent cocoa and coffee. Lactose evident, tastes like a mocha espresso. Hides its abv well.

Mouthfeel: Very low carbonation. Oily, thick and sweet. Warm alcohol finish.

Overall: As others have said, a bit heavy and sweet. I'd prefer more bitterness to balance it out. Nevertheless, not a bad stout, and one I'd gladly buy and drink again.

Type: 22-oz. bottle
Glass: Ball 16-oz. mason jar
From: Trader Joe’s in La Mesa, Calif.
Price: $3.99
Purchased: Dec. 8, 2017
Consumed: Dec. 10, 2017
Reviewed as: Double Milk / Sweet Stout
Misc.: No bottled on date

Picked this up with five others on a recent trip to Trader Joe’s. This would be the third beer I’ve had them, which I’m guessing is contract brewed somewhere else. Really liked their coffee kolsch (Adventurous Stranger), giving it a 3.94 and liked their pineapple (Tintinnabulation), giving that a 3.64. Only one I skipped out on was Harmony Foretold, a cucumber beer. This one (Every Time Buche De Noel Stout) was described as a stout brewed with coffee and cocoa nibs. That was pretty much right up my alley. EDIT: Originally started reviewing this as an American Stout, but it was more Milk / Sweet Stout to me and I changed my review and ratings because of that.

Poured a pitch black color with two fingers of dark khaki tan frothy head. Lots of slow moving bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Good spotty lacing. Very good retention. (Sight - 3.75)

Smelled dark roasted coffee, cocoa nibs, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate lactose, malt chocolate, hints of artificial vanilla and chocolate syrup. Had me wanting to try it. (Smell - 4.25)

Taste was almost as good. Very sweet and syrupy. Got cocoa nibs, chocolate syrup, milk chocolate, chocolate milk, artificial vanilla, roasty mocha, chocolate lactose, malt chocolate and hints of char wood. Not tasting anywhere near 8 pct. (Taste - 4.25)

Full body. Sticky texture. Average carbonation. Long sweet finish. (Feel - 4.25)

Hot damn this was good. Will be picking up some more later for sure. Maybe all of it. (Overall - 4.25)

4.22 | 94 | A-