Nostradamus
Brasserie Caracole

Copenhagen 17/8 2018. 33 cl bottle from Den Belgiske Ølbutik, Jyllingevej, Vanløse. Nostradamus dressed up as a Snail with a set of Binoculars on the label. Can understand that this one has won several medals in the World Beer Championship - but probably not based on the label illustration.

Pours hazy medium brown with a slightly bubbly, off-white head. Settles as 0,5 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Substantial lacing.

Aroma is intense, musty and strong. Dominated by dark fruits and alcohol. Caramel and humid cellar peeking in. A sour, bitter streak rummaging in the background.

Strong carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, very lively and prickly texture. A bit sticky.

Flavor is lightly sweet followed by way stronger sourish bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter and a bit boozy. Less overwhelming than in the aroma. Light boozy burn.

A not very sweet but quite boozy Belgian.

Beer pours into a pilsner glass. Chestnut color, with some artifacts and a 1/2" head. Scent is malty, candy sugar, and spices. Taste is slightly sour, a little bit of alcohol, candy sugar, and spices. Mouthful is even, medium carbonation, finished sticky but with little aftertaste.

330ml bottle picked up at Cheap Charlie's in Gresham, OR; first experience with this brewery
Poured into a Council Belgian-style tulip

p- deep chestnut; 1-2f of foamy light khaki-colored head; good retention; looks nice
n- med-bold; big sweet and tart vinous notes; dark sugars; dark fruits; makes my mouth pucker/water a bit
t- wow- unique profile for sure; almost as if it has 2 separate layers; airy cocoa notes glide over woodsy vinous notes below; dark sugars in there as well; really good; notable
mf- light-bodied; high carb; airy; effervescent; astounded at how well the light body carries the complexities of the profile
o- can't say I've had another beer quite like this one before; extremely well-crafted and definitely a pleasant surprise!

review date: 12.15.20
bottle date: coded L10022017

Nov. 2014: Shared 330 ml bottle at local tasting, from Kihiosk, Copenhagen. Very dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant aroma of prunes and other dark dried fruits, also oak, hints of fortified wine. The flavour is also oaky with dark dried fruits, not too sweet. Very good.

LOOK- Hazy, copper-bown, low head fades fast

AROMA - Tart cherry, black pepper, citrus, mint, hint of dried cranberry, blackberry, - all medium-low intensity
slight clove phenol, faint perfumey alcohol, mod-strong caramel malt

TASTE - Bright citrus and spicy phenol profile over deep but well attenuated malty sweetness with a kiss of rast in the finish.

Big bready malt center dripping with caramel

medium-low anise and citrus

light backdrop of forest floor

bittersweet finish

surprisingly hoppy with licorice and grapefruit notes

MF- medium-light body, low carbonation, very smooth, light peppery alcohol

OVERALL - Like nothing I've had before. Boisterous aromatics and spice of saison with the body of a dubbel, and the lingering bittersweet finish of an English strong ale. Hops are noticeable and add complexity. Definitely a sweet beer but there's so much else going on.

Bottle at Echarle Huevos, served at home in a trappist glass.
Amber-ruby colour, big heas with long retention and a big creamy head.
Aroma is malty, liquor, caramel, prunes, raisins, some chocolate, fruits, spices.
Medium body, oily texture, good carbonation. Sweet boozy finish.
Taste follows the aroma.
Great and complex.

L- Deep chestnut with a hint of ruby-red when held up to a light. Minor haze in glass, with more sediment left in bottle. Pours with 5mm fine-bubble pale-tan head. [Late ps. 20+ mins later, holds really well whole way down].
S- 'Ohhh...yeah', I subconsciously exclaim... very prominent roasted notes + coffee for me. Smells like it might be quite a beast this one.
T- And yes it is, as it's full impact progressively unfolds. It certainly has coffee in spades and then some cocoa with it. This is a *notably* impactful beer on the palate, one to take nice'n slowly...
F- Boof! A beast indeed. Rich but balanced by hefty ABV%. Let's just say it's much more a winter style beer than a summer of session-style one.
O- Lovely, it reminds me of the impact of being served the historic measure of a beaker of port or sherry - oh yes, no dainty little glasses in centuries past. This is complex, heavy and demands to be taken slowly. Very nice, I'd happily buy this again.
Lable much simplified from one shown ^, more modern and pretty bare-bones.
330ml Bottle, Bought from BeersOfEurope (UK) BB: 08/10/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured my last one yesterday, paired it with spaghetti and meatballs. Light brown in color, a tan colored head that slowly disappeared . By allowing it to warm to 55-60 degree's, I was able to appreciate richness of this brew. smooth feel, some bitterness on the backside. A well balanced beer.

 

 

 

L - really nice deep brown, not very clear. Very quickly dissipating white, barely foamy head.
S & T - smelled a little bit roasty, but the taste is just nothing but sweet out the wazoo. Sweet sweet sweet. Banana, clove, sure, maybe some raisins or dried plums, but so much toffee. Quite alcoholic as well. Some bay leaf, almost cola-like. Not my thing.
F - Lots of alcohol, not much carbonation.

O - so, so, so very sweet. It's like drinking liquid toffee. And has that typical banana/clove thing that belgians have that I don't really like very much (full disclosure).

Not one I would personally recommend.

330ml bottle from ‘t Brugs Beertje, Bruges (€4):
Strong & rich, this one was a beer with a definite kick from the warming alcohol which goes well with the dark fruits, the dates & raisins the most pronounced with the plum a nice touch too. I enjoyed the banana & cloves around the middle to help the balance along with the caramel but I especially enjoyed how drinkable it seemed given the strength. There was a great balance throughout with lots going on & it's definitely a beer I'd pick up again too.

Initial sourness on this had me thinking this was a sour ale. Pours dark brown with airy head. Aroma is cider, raisins, cola. Taste is dried fruits with some cider sourness. Palate is sour and lingers. A slightly different take on the style