Abbaye Des Rocs Spéciale Noël
Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs s.a.

Abbaye Des Rocs Spéciale NoëlAbbaye Des Rocs Spéciale Noël
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs s.a.
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #66
ABV:
9%
Score:
89
Ranked #10,670
Avg:
4.01 | pDev: 9.73%
Reviews:
48
Ratings:
76
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 03, 2024
Added:
Sep 22, 2003
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  7
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Kakaraht:
Photo of Kakaraht
Reviewed by Kakaraht from Canada (BC)

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a deep brown with chunks of delicious sediment floating around in it. The head was thick and chunky with excellent retention.

S: Sweet and dark with dried fruits and heavy malts. There is also some spiciness in the background.

T: Oh so heavenly, with that dark Belgian yeasty flavor up front. I find raisins and caramel and molasses. As it warms the spices in the beer come out to play, with a star anise cardamon type flavor.

M: Full body, medium carbonation, and a kick ass lingering note of Belgian yeast.

D: Top notch beer,uber drinkable. It is absolutely incredible. If you see it buy it, you will not be disappointing.
Jan 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.64 by Xcelemike

Jan 03, 2024
Photo of AzfromOz
Reviewed by AzfromOz from Australia

3.47/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Purchased from the International Beer Collector Subscription in December 2021. Drunk in July 2022.

The beer pours a deep honey-coloured brown. The head dissipates quickly, leaving a thin rim clinging to the side of the glass. There is no evident carbonation.

Aroma is quite umami-centric, with an almost smoked note. There's some brown sugar and sweetness in there too. If I didn't know this beer had been in my fridge for six months at a constant 4.5 degrees C in a perfectly sealed bottle, I'd have suspected the beer was oxidated.

Taste is initially meaty, almost like beef broth, but sweet caramel malt, marzipan, dark fruits and molasses come to the fore. There's a slight metallic aftertaste and some alcoholic warmth on the swallow. The sweeter malt and darker fruits come out more obviously as the beer warms. Quite clearly this beer is meant for sipping.

In the mouth the beer is smooth, mildly carbonated and, as noted, slightly alcoholic.

Overall, this beer would be great sipped slowly and contemplatively in a warm room with a cosy fire. It's a miserable mid-winter night here in Australia as I write this and I think the beer is scoring higher than it might if drunk at any other time or circumstance.

Cheers!
Jul 08, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by mizx from England

Aug 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.02 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Aug 29, 2021
Photo of Jack_14
Reviewed by Jack_14 from Italy

3.82/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
As soon as the bottle is opened, immediately hit of malty notes on the nose (hints of caramel, honey and candied fruit).
Abundant, creamy and even brown foam.
Dark beer, between ruby red and brown. Impenetrable.
Full-bodied, warm and enveloping beer in the mouth.
I rediscover the hints of caramel and dried fruit.
I distinguish notes of caramel, marzipan, dried fruit (almonds), candied fruit (raisins), honey, cloves, light cinnamon and final star anise.
On the final light iron tip, not out of place.
Long beer with sweet notes that echo for a long time in the palate.
Great complexity and many reflections that should be analyzed (savored) with extreme attention because, even if only with the changing temperature, new ones always emerge.
Dec 20, 2020
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

4.12/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L- A quite deep chestnut-red, pours with notable haze, unavoidable I think given the care this bottle has had. Pours with 5mm mid-tan head. [ps 15mins later, holds very well].
S- Quite malty and thank heavens the ABV% breaks cover and shows itself too, it's Friday evening after all...
T- Oooh > oooph... > puuuooo, that was literally my reflex response on the first three sips. It's big, it's bold, it's meaty, and the ABV% isn't being shy either. It's majoring on bit meaty malts here, would go great with Brit Xmas pudding.
F- Somewhat rich, meaty, ABV% is in plain sight. Presented like a Belgian Strong Ale to me - but lable says it's a Tripel.
O- I like it, the overall proposition is in plain sight. It's entirely of a style suited to winter. A slow-sippin' Xmas beer. I wouldn't mind a bit more detail in the taste/feel to keep me figuring out it's intracacies, it's pretty direct, WYSIWYG.
330ml bottle. Bought from TremblingMadness York/UK for home delivery to London. BB: 06/11/2021 £3.15
Oct 23, 2020
Photo of Magnificent_Bastard
Reviewed by Magnificent_Bastard

3.57/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Murky brown, well carbonated. Quickly fading tan head

Nose. a metallic aroma is the first thing that pops out from the glas, aluminium. This detracts from the grade. its not too dominating and beneath there is a dark roasted malt, caramel, toffee, clovesm, prune and licorice

Taste: sultana and plum, sweet caramel cream, with more licorice and spice on the finish. Nixe textured moutfeel which is more smooth than chewy, considering the high Abv. Taste is good and balanced, medium in richness/intensity
Feb 05, 2020
Photo of The_Bujon
Reviewed by The_Bujon from Ireland

4.09/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poors a deep sultry plum, with a moderate yet inviting head. Retention is great in the chalice glass.

Aroma is excellent, really packed with wintery spices dusting over a deep malt undertone.

Taste is almost as good, same fruit an malt, but laced with dark chocolate. Aftertaste is surprising welcoming, so much so you feel like you have taken a bite from the forbidden fruit.

Feel is also top drawer, really smooth, just the right consistency, with no artificial sweetness which is a bonus for a 9% brew.

Overall, one of the most well rounded beers I have tried. Big thumbs up! A must for any advocates seasonal stock pile.
Dec 24, 2018
Photo of Hanglow
Reviewed by Hanglow from Scotland

3.27/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Botle, BBE 10/2018

Explodes out of glass, pours with huge carbonation and loads of chunky yeast. Really ugly, sewage like brown appearance. Ugly beer, ugly over carbonation. It's cool temperature wise too

Milk chocolate, chocolate liquor, coins in aroma. It's ok.

Taste is similar, no bitterness, not too sweet as there is some welcome dryness. There's some generic allspice in there, some brown sugar. thick body for a belgian. alcohol is there but not unwelcome .

Overall the beer isn't bad once you get it in the glass and avoid looking at it, but it's not one I'd buy again ( I do have a few in the cellar though)
Jan 20, 2018
Photo of cyrenaica
Reviewed by cyrenaica from Canada (ON)

4.4/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
330ml bottle
9.0% ABV
Bar Hop (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
February 8, 2013
The beer poured a dark murky reddish-brown with a half inch tan head that lasted throughout. The aroma was plums, yeast, bread, and sugar. The mouthfeel was medium bodied with medium carbonation. The flavour was sweet malt, molasses, dark fruit, sugar, and yeast
Jun 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by steverx8 from England

Feb 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.54 by Foley67 from Scotland

Feb 03, 2017
 
Rated: 2.75 by Euroglot from Belgium

Jan 08, 2017
Photo of Bruno74200
Reviewed by Bruno74200 from France

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
This bottle might have some problems, with almost no carbonation and so there is no head over the hazy brown colour.
The smell is of Cognac, candied fruits, caramel. It's vinous and a bit spicy.
The taste follows but is a bit outdated.
This beer is flat, or almost flat.
It seems to be a good beer but I'd like to try it as it should be
Dec 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.84 by RMentair from Panama

Feb 17, 2016
Photo of Spike
Reviewed by Spike from England

3.56/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Very dark red-brown, almost black. Ruby red when held to the light. One-finger head disappears very quickly. Visible carbonation. Minimal lacing.

Little nose to speak of. A hint of sweetness. Some dried fruits.

Sweet, smokey. Some dried fruits. Some spice.

Nicely carbonated. Prickle of alcohol at the back of the throat. Thin mouthfeel.

An ok strong dark ale but would not purchase again.
Jan 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.26 by Antyk from Belgium

Dec 16, 2015
Photo of josanguapo
Rated by josanguapo from Spain

4.32/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From Uvinum. In Teku glass. Watching Sons of Anarchy 2x13. Nice spicy touch. Low carbonation. I miss more body.
Dec 13, 2015
Abbaye Des Rocs Spéciale Noël from Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs s.a.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 76 ratings