Biere De Noel
Church Brew Works

 

 

Had on-tap at the Church Brew Works. This offering was billed at 9.0% ABV.

A - The beer came in a really neat Belgian-styled goblet and was a deep cherry, mahogany color, hazy and muddy with some yeast. The beer was filled pretty close to the rim, so there wasn't much head; maybe about a finger's worth if that. What head there was was a light brown foam with not much retention. Almost no sign of carbonation in the glass and there was no lacing at all.

S - The nose was heavy and filled with sweet malts and holiday spice. Most noticeable are the Belgian yeast, cloves, and nutmeg. Despite the color it was actually fairly light and effervescent.

T - The taste was also surprisingly airy. Getting some of the grape bubblegum malty flavor typical of the Belgian yeast which really complemented the dry spices. The spice profile is nice and robust and eases the transition between the sweet malts and bitter hops and alcohol. Dark fruits, raisins, and figs are present throughout and add a deeper complexity. Slight alcohol bite at the end, but masked well considering the ABV.

M - Moutfeel is light to medium bodied with nice carbonation to aid the dry finish for the beer. Spices and alcohol linger in the finish and aftertaste. Relatively crisp.

D - Drinkability is high. The flavors are nice, robust, and complex. Alcohol is well masked. A very enjoyable beer that I would get often if it were bottled.

Served on tap at the Church Brew Works brew pub/resteraunt. Served in a tulip glass. Pours a mahogany with a small bubbly head and no real lace to speak of.

Aroma hints at dark fruits and sweet malt.

Taste is very complex. I was actually a bit blown away by this one. Sweet caramel, toffee and malt. Raisens and dates figure prominantly. Very fruity and also very strong.
This version is billed at 9% ABV but it does not make itself known in the flavor.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a semi-dry finish that makes another sip anticipated.

Drinkability is fairly good. This is a strong, warming beer and possibly the best beer I've had from CBW.

Growler acquired in trade with lukin013 (thanks!).

Poured a deeper amberish color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of chocolate, toffee, caramel, light spices, and had a gerneric fruitiness. Tastes of chocolate, toffee, and dark fruits.

Notes from: 1/5/07

This year's version is actually 11% ABV. I spoke with the head brewers of CBW at Bocktown tonight for their tasting. This is an imperial Christmas Biere De Garde of sorts...very similar to their St. James biere de garde. I really like what CBW is doing and I don't think they get enough respect from the BA community because their specialty beers are awesome while their regular release German lagers are somewhat run of the mill...and that's what people know them by.

A- Body is a medium foggy murky brown color that is served with a 1/2 finger off white head. Head has great retention but leaves no lacing behind in the glass.

S- Cinnamon and other spices and lots of them. A dose of phenols also come to the nose along with a nice bready yeast.

T- Much like the smell. Lots of cinnamon spiciness upfront with a sweet malt and bready yeast backbone. The spices intensify for the finish and a big dose of alcohol hits as well. Lots of spiciness and an alcohol heat linger.

M- Medium carbonation and a medium weight body smooth with bready yeast but also hot with alcohol.

D- This is a great Christmas beer but the alcohol gets to you after a bit. I also sampled their whole lineup tonight (about 2-3 oz samples) cherry quad included (which was very good and might be a future investment)...so that might have something to do with it. Something that I wish they bottles so that I can age it for a few months in order to give it a chance to settle down a bit.

Thanks to hopdog for breaking open this growler...
Appears a transparent, copper toned amber with a medium white head that quickly fades out into a small film. Scattered streaks of lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of brown sugar, raisins, caramel, figs, yeast, breadiness, prunes, and a mild hopping.
Taste is of figs, raisins, brown sugar, and sugary, yeasty bread.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, sugary, along with light syrup, and yeasty bread.