Val-Dieu Bière De Noël | Brasserie de l'Abbaye du Val-Dieu
Brewed by:
Brasserie de l'Abbaye du Val-Dieu
Belgium | website
Style: Tripel
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 12-14-2002
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 33 | Ratings: 51
3.8/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
330ml served in a Trappist glass.
A: Pours an orange to beige color. Very cloudy. Forms a big white fluffy head. Good retention. In fact, a small layer remains forever and many lacing are left in the glass
S: Very yeasty. Honey and sweet malts. A bit spicy too with hints of pepper
T: Sweet malts, honey and yeasts. Quite dry, in overall. A bit spicy and a good bitter end
M: Medium body and carbonation. Mild bitter aftertaste
O: Good drinkability. Quite dry and lacks sweetness and spiceness to a Belgian Triple. It lacks some orange zest too but, in any case, a Val-Dieu
★ 579 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
330ml served in a Trappist glass.
A: Pours an orange to beige color. Very cloudy. Forms a big white fluffy head. Good retention. In fact, a small layer remains forever and many lacing are left in the glass
S: Very yeasty. Honey and sweet malts. A bit spicy too with hints of pepper
T: Sweet malts, honey and yeasts. Quite dry, in overall. A bit spicy and a good bitter end
M: Medium body and carbonation. Mild bitter aftertaste
O: Good drinkability. Quite dry and lacks sweetness and spiceness to a Belgian Triple. It lacks some orange zest too but, in any case, a Val-Dieu
★ 579 characters
3.65/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
11-12 season. Lucky opportunity to have run into a small, new beer store smack in the middle of paris (unfortunately, i lack both their address as their name, but can suggest simply walking some 200m east of the sous-bock, along the rue st.honorė).
Pour is an interesting hue i must claim never to have seen. It's mostly tending towards a deep, reddish tone, sort of that of ripe watermelon.
Smell is strong, and spicy. Dominated by an astringent half zesty feel. No sweetness to it. A slight alcoholised feel.
Taste is a bit bland. Feels a bit watery but very grapefriuit like bitterness throughout. Grainy thereafter. Not sweet, but never overwhelming bitterness. There's a very mould yessty feel to it, much à la belge. Thin, slighly fizzy. Alcohol is nonetheless well hidden.
Overall a nice beer, but not extraordinary. Not the best of noëls, but not too shabby.
★ 875 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
11-12 season. Lucky opportunity to have run into a small, new beer store smack in the middle of paris (unfortunately, i lack both their address as their name, but can suggest simply walking some 200m east of the sous-bock, along the rue st.honorė).
Pour is an interesting hue i must claim never to have seen. It's mostly tending towards a deep, reddish tone, sort of that of ripe watermelon.
Smell is strong, and spicy. Dominated by an astringent half zesty feel. No sweetness to it. A slight alcoholised feel.
Taste is a bit bland. Feels a bit watery but very grapefriuit like bitterness throughout. Grainy thereafter. Not sweet, but never overwhelming bitterness. There's a very mould yessty feel to it, much à la belge. Thin, slighly fizzy. Alcohol is nonetheless well hidden.
Overall a nice beer, but not extraordinary. Not the best of noëls, but not too shabby.
★ 875 characters
4.23/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Het Elfde Gebod, Amsterdam.
Pours amber gold with piles of sticky white froth (thanks in part, I'm sure, to the Dutch foam-heavy style of pouring) leaving columns of lace. Wax and thick honey nose.
Tart green fig, starfruit, and a grainy sourness up front, a stewed plum hit in the middle, with grass and spice hops fighting it out in the finish. Tingly warm spice finish with plenty of yellow plum jam sweetness and a tight clovey linger that lasts 3 days.
Medium, some stick, creamy, no heat.
Complex, with Christmassy spice, but also light. And very drinkable for 7%.
★ 584 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Het Elfde Gebod, Amsterdam.
Pours amber gold with piles of sticky white froth (thanks in part, I'm sure, to the Dutch foam-heavy style of pouring) leaving columns of lace. Wax and thick honey nose.
Tart green fig, starfruit, and a grainy sourness up front, a stewed plum hit in the middle, with grass and spice hops fighting it out in the finish. Tingly warm spice finish with plenty of yellow plum jam sweetness and a tight clovey linger that lasts 3 days.
Medium, some stick, creamy, no heat.
Complex, with Christmassy spice, but also light. And very drinkable for 7%.
★ 584 characters
3.85/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
33 cl. bottle of Christmas beer from Val-Dieu.
Colour light brown, murky, with a nice white head, leaving good lacing in my Chimay glass.
Smell and taste are balanced with malty sweetness, some floral hops, a bit of spicyness too.
Aftertaste is very mellow: this beer goes down very easy. The sediment seems to give it a bit more bite towards the end, though.
A good and decent brew.
★ 384 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
33 cl. bottle of Christmas beer from Val-Dieu.
Colour light brown, murky, with a nice white head, leaving good lacing in my Chimay glass.
Smell and taste are balanced with malty sweetness, some floral hops, a bit of spicyness too.
Aftertaste is very mellow: this beer goes down very easy. The sediment seems to give it a bit more bite towards the end, though.
A good and decent brew.
★ 384 characters
3.9/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The 2nd beer on my 2008-9 Belgian Winter Ale tasting "panel". Coming in a 330ml short brown bottle, BB 02/10/09; served lightly chilled in Gulden Draak's tulip-shaped sniffer.
A: cloudy dark purple-brown in colour, coming with abundant fizziness and a well-lasting thick layer of beige froth. Looking healthy and yeasty~~
S: delicious mashed red beans, dark candy sugar and bready+nutty malts upfront, set against a richly aromatic, estery background where spicy-coriander yeasts and less assertive figs are underlined by a refreshing touch of Golding-hop-like fruitiness. A closer sniff would reveal a rather old-ish aroma, almost like a left-over cup of prune-tea with a rustic nail in it...! Overall, beautifully estery, malty and simultaneously balanced due to a decent level of sourness.
T: a slightly alcoholic yet softly effervescent swallow comes with an assertive estery+spicy flavour, featuring sweet red-bean soup (i.e. red beans infused in water), dark sugar, sweet black tea, fig cake with a milder hint of sweet prunes... turning moderate in the finish, herbally bitter-sweet and never cloying, bitter or yeasty - one'd say harmonious while another'd say mundane (well, take your pick).
M&D: the main flavour profile remains lightly sweet and estery, all in all this is an approachable malty and fruity brew, with a rather merciful influence of yeasts and a profile firmly in line with Belgian amber ales. Well-made, softly carbonated, but there's something missing overall... (Can't agree that this is a Tripel though, as the hop level and dry palate are quite restrained.)
★ 1,589 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
The 2nd beer on my 2008-9 Belgian Winter Ale tasting "panel". Coming in a 330ml short brown bottle, BB 02/10/09; served lightly chilled in Gulden Draak's tulip-shaped sniffer.
A: cloudy dark purple-brown in colour, coming with abundant fizziness and a well-lasting thick layer of beige froth. Looking healthy and yeasty~~
S: delicious mashed red beans, dark candy sugar and bready+nutty malts upfront, set against a richly aromatic, estery background where spicy-coriander yeasts and less assertive figs are underlined by a refreshing touch of Golding-hop-like fruitiness. A closer sniff would reveal a rather old-ish aroma, almost like a left-over cup of prune-tea with a rustic nail in it...! Overall, beautifully estery, malty and simultaneously balanced due to a decent level of sourness.
T: a slightly alcoholic yet softly effervescent swallow comes with an assertive estery+spicy flavour, featuring sweet red-bean soup (i.e. red beans infused in water), dark sugar, sweet black tea, fig cake with a milder hint of sweet prunes... turning moderate in the finish, herbally bitter-sweet and never cloying, bitter or yeasty - one'd say harmonious while another'd say mundane (well, take your pick).
M&D: the main flavour profile remains lightly sweet and estery, all in all this is an approachable malty and fruity brew, with a rather merciful influence of yeasts and a profile firmly in line with Belgian amber ales. Well-made, softly carbonated, but there's something missing overall... (Can't agree that this is a Tripel though, as the hop level and dry palate are quite restrained.)
★ 1,589 characters
4.07/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
330ml bottle bought from BelgianShop.com... aged for about 18 months...
Poured a deep golden orange colour. Creamy head poured pretty tight, thick and foamy then faded slowly to decent wispy covering... sporadic carbonation drifts slowly to the surface... good amount of patchy lacing...
Aroma - Spicy Belgian yeasty / bready notes, lots of rich alcohol soaked dried fruits and peel (apricots, figs, apples, oranges, some raisin), toasted malt loaf, rich roasted nutty sweetness, candy sugar, anise traces, medicinal hints, some burnt butter, lots of grassy / peppery notes, some light oakiness....
Taste Lots of toasted breadiness mixed with dried fruit sweetness (raisins, peach, figs, oranges and apples), pretty yeasty, some caramel, warming alcohol is pretty noticeable, some black pepper and cinnamon spiciness, definite aniseed, lots of roasted malts, pear drops, light grassy hops, some saltiness...
Feel - Pretty sharp and dry... medium body... dangerously drinkable at 7%...
Overall - A very good (if not overly festive) tripel... well worth a try...
★ 1,068 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
330ml bottle bought from BelgianShop.com... aged for about 18 months...
Poured a deep golden orange colour. Creamy head poured pretty tight, thick and foamy then faded slowly to decent wispy covering... sporadic carbonation drifts slowly to the surface... good amount of patchy lacing...
Aroma - Spicy Belgian yeasty / bready notes, lots of rich alcohol soaked dried fruits and peel (apricots, figs, apples, oranges, some raisin), toasted malt loaf, rich roasted nutty sweetness, candy sugar, anise traces, medicinal hints, some burnt butter, lots of grassy / peppery notes, some light oakiness....
Taste Lots of toasted breadiness mixed with dried fruit sweetness (raisins, peach, figs, oranges and apples), pretty yeasty, some caramel, warming alcohol is pretty noticeable, some black pepper and cinnamon spiciness, definite aniseed, lots of roasted malts, pear drops, light grassy hops, some saltiness...
Feel - Pretty sharp and dry... medium body... dangerously drinkable at 7%...
Overall - A very good (if not overly festive) tripel... well worth a try...
★ 1,068 characters
2.45/5 rDev -36.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Pfff, I am getting soooo fed up with these so called Belgian Christmas brews, which contain way too much sugar and are the normal dark beer with an extra 25% sugar added. This doesn't add anyting to the beer in complexity or taste, just alcohol. After the St. Feuillien and Delirium Christmas beers I am really disappointed.
What other people taste as being green apples is just a normal cider-like taste, caused by adding way too much sugar. Try to ferment 2 pounds of sugar with a beeryeast and you will get your green apples. Not only does this ruin the taste, but the body becomes very thin and balance is totally gone.
So let's review the Val Dieu biere de Nöel:
Appearance is amber colored with lots of carbonation and a 2 inch thick head.
Smell is green apples and estery with some slight oxidized notes and moderate alcohol smell.
Taste is slightly caramel with the green apples again. The slight oxidation in the smell also comes through in the taste. Mouthfeel is very thin and reminds me of my early days of homebrewing when I tried to make as much alcohol as possible. The lack of balance is very striking and overrules any other potential taste, which is drawn to the background.
★ 1,206 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Pfff, I am getting soooo fed up with these so called Belgian Christmas brews, which contain way too much sugar and are the normal dark beer with an extra 25% sugar added. This doesn't add anyting to the beer in complexity or taste, just alcohol. After the St. Feuillien and Delirium Christmas beers I am really disappointed.
What other people taste as being green apples is just a normal cider-like taste, caused by adding way too much sugar. Try to ferment 2 pounds of sugar with a beeryeast and you will get your green apples. Not only does this ruin the taste, but the body becomes very thin and balance is totally gone.
So let's review the Val Dieu biere de Nöel:
Appearance is amber colored with lots of carbonation and a 2 inch thick head.
Smell is green apples and estery with some slight oxidized notes and moderate alcohol smell.
Taste is slightly caramel with the green apples again. The slight oxidation in the smell also comes through in the taste. Mouthfeel is very thin and reminds me of my early days of homebrewing when I tried to make as much alcohol as possible. The lack of balance is very striking and overrules any other potential taste, which is drawn to the background.
★ 1,206 characters
4.23/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear, smoked amber appearance, with a nice snowy white head. Lookin' good.
Nice, fruity aroma, apples and cherries, white grapes, lemon and melon...
Taste: yum, big, bright, dark fruits and some spice. Fairly clean, zippy, refreshing. Medium bodied, very malty, little hops, well-hid alcohol...
Only drawback may be the sweet malty flavor isn't leavened much, and could be too much in one sitting for some. But that's the point of holiday/winter brews, isn't it, a little indulgence?
Very tasty, and good for sharing, ...and little ol' me, I got the whole bottle all to my lonesome...burp...it'll be a good night...
★ 628 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear, smoked amber appearance, with a nice snowy white head. Lookin' good.
Nice, fruity aroma, apples and cherries, white grapes, lemon and melon...
Taste: yum, big, bright, dark fruits and some spice. Fairly clean, zippy, refreshing. Medium bodied, very malty, little hops, well-hid alcohol...
Only drawback may be the sweet malty flavor isn't leavened much, and could be too much in one sitting for some. But that's the point of holiday/winter brews, isn't it, a little indulgence?
Very tasty, and good for sharing, ...and little ol' me, I got the whole bottle all to my lonesome...burp...it'll be a good night...
★ 628 characters
3.6/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
330 ml brown bottle, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget). ABV is 7%. Hazy brown colour, huge head. Okay fruity aroma (orange peel and dark fruits) with notes of spices and oak. Flavour is moderately spicy and fruity with a fairly soft mouthfeel. Not the most complex Belgian Ive had, but decent enough. Over-priced in Norway, though.
★ 359 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
330 ml brown bottle, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet, bestillingsutvalget). ABV is 7%. Hazy brown colour, huge head. Okay fruity aroma (orange peel and dark fruits) with notes of spices and oak. Flavour is moderately spicy and fruity with a fairly soft mouthfeel. Not the most complex Belgian Ive had, but decent enough. Over-priced in Norway, though.
★ 359 characters
4.38/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A nice light toffee ambered brown color thats fairly clear fills the goblet with some slow but always active streams of bubbles. A small/mediumish, yet firmly smoothed and compacted capping of slightly tanned and grayed foam sits atop with good length. Tons of lacing coats the glass with lots of powdery spots and a glaze of frosty sheeting.
Aroma is mild yet well fitting within a malt laden nose that resembles most bock-type smells. Toffee, plum, dried apricot, and fig dance lightly, with a dash of bakery spice, but with a clean, approachable roundedness thats sweetened and deep.
Flavors are much like the nose. A nicely played out mildness in tone of malts that gather in a rounded fruity, darkened sweetness with some nice notions to peach, apricot, and plum surrounded but a tender toffee undertow. Slightly spicy in a few areas that speak of vanilla, cinnamon, and brown sugar develope as it finishes. some nice little sticky areas remain in the sweet toffeeish malts.
Feel is very creamy and smooth with a fullish medium body of silken maltyness that glides down with amazing ease throughout each sip. Just the right amount of carbonation grab hits the front and middle. Nice and lengthy with a semi chewy body that really sticks the malts on the palate and memory. Especially in the finish. The cinnamom and vanilla spice make for a nice delight as the malts soak in. Very creamy and drinkable as the lower 7% for a Tripel makes this nearly effortless to put back.
A beautifully made beer that nurtures and cares for your palate with a yummy, rounded, delicate, smooth, creamy, maltyness which endures the likes of its own presense in the mind as well as the palate. You then ponder how they can make such a lovely beer. Solidly delish!
★ 1,762 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A nice light toffee ambered brown color thats fairly clear fills the goblet with some slow but always active streams of bubbles. A small/mediumish, yet firmly smoothed and compacted capping of slightly tanned and grayed foam sits atop with good length. Tons of lacing coats the glass with lots of powdery spots and a glaze of frosty sheeting.
Aroma is mild yet well fitting within a malt laden nose that resembles most bock-type smells. Toffee, plum, dried apricot, and fig dance lightly, with a dash of bakery spice, but with a clean, approachable roundedness thats sweetened and deep.
Flavors are much like the nose. A nicely played out mildness in tone of malts that gather in a rounded fruity, darkened sweetness with some nice notions to peach, apricot, and plum surrounded but a tender toffee undertow. Slightly spicy in a few areas that speak of vanilla, cinnamon, and brown sugar develope as it finishes. some nice little sticky areas remain in the sweet toffeeish malts.
Feel is very creamy and smooth with a fullish medium body of silken maltyness that glides down with amazing ease throughout each sip. Just the right amount of carbonation grab hits the front and middle. Nice and lengthy with a semi chewy body that really sticks the malts on the palate and memory. Especially in the finish. The cinnamom and vanilla spice make for a nice delight as the malts soak in. Very creamy and drinkable as the lower 7% for a Tripel makes this nearly effortless to put back.
A beautifully made beer that nurtures and cares for your palate with a yummy, rounded, delicate, smooth, creamy, maltyness which endures the likes of its own presense in the mind as well as the palate. You then ponder how they can make such a lovely beer. Solidly delish!
★ 1,762 characters
3.71/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pour: 750ml bottle to tulip glass. 2.5 finger thick white head that sticks to the glass as it smoothes out into excellent lacings. The body has lots of very tiny bubbles along the edge of the glass. The beer is light brown / dark orange in color.
Nose: Has a strong sour, hoppy scent to it, but some other characteristics poke through: some pine, a sour berry (cranberry or raspberry), and possibly some allspice. A little on the faint side, but has some interesting qualities.
Mouth: The beer enters with a strong carbonation that softens to a gentle cream feel, bringing along some flavors that one might associate with that creaminess: some sweet malts and a hint of vanilla. There's a touch of a bready feel all the way in the back, fruity and chewy, and a pinch of warmth added by the alcohol. Has a lasting sweet flavor with notes of bananas, a touch of cranberry, and some yeasty spiciness. The flavor does not match up with the smell, but in this instance I can't say that I'm disappointed!
★ 1,004 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pour: 750ml bottle to tulip glass. 2.5 finger thick white head that sticks to the glass as it smoothes out into excellent lacings. The body has lots of very tiny bubbles along the edge of the glass. The beer is light brown / dark orange in color.
Nose: Has a strong sour, hoppy scent to it, but some other characteristics poke through: some pine, a sour berry (cranberry or raspberry), and possibly some allspice. A little on the faint side, but has some interesting qualities.
Mouth: The beer enters with a strong carbonation that softens to a gentle cream feel, bringing along some flavors that one might associate with that creaminess: some sweet malts and a hint of vanilla. There's a touch of a bready feel all the way in the back, fruity and chewy, and a pinch of warmth added by the alcohol. Has a lasting sweet flavor with notes of bananas, a touch of cranberry, and some yeasty spiciness. The flavor does not match up with the smell, but in this instance I can't say that I'm disappointed!
★ 1,004 characters
3.8/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served from a 33 cl bottle. This boy has been aging in my cellar for about 2 years now and thought that spring time was a good time to try it. The beer poured a golden amber color with a nice thick, bubbly white head with great lacing. The aroma is sweet, lemony, a bit peppery and definite tones of Belgian yeast. Very pleasing. The taste is equally nice. The taste is sweet and refreshing a bit toasted. With a light to medium body, this beer is deceivingly good at 7% abv. Merry Chirstmas!
★ 492 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served from a 33 cl bottle. This boy has been aging in my cellar for about 2 years now and thought that spring time was a good time to try it. The beer poured a golden amber color with a nice thick, bubbly white head with great lacing. The aroma is sweet, lemony, a bit peppery and definite tones of Belgian yeast. Very pleasing. The taste is equally nice. The taste is sweet and refreshing a bit toasted. With a light to medium body, this beer is deceivingly good at 7% abv. Merry Chirstmas!
★ 492 characters
3.91/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
When I think of a Tripel, this isn't the kind of thing that comes to mind, but it's a good one nevertheless.
I bought this because it was from the 2004/2005 winter release. Cork said 10/04. That's either a bad thing (didn't sell because it sucks) or a good thing (a fine, aged, vintage holiday ale). Luckily it was good enough to justify the purchase. (There's more where this came from, if anyone's interested in an aged bomber of this.)
Poured a super-creamy head atop a caramel-brown body. Moderate carbonation with lots of bubbles. LOTS of lace: thick honeycomb walls formed while the beer gradually left the glass.
Had a very grassy smell, accented by hints of raisin and caramel.
Tasted of soft alcohol, dark fruits, caramel and toffee. The creamy mouthfeel thinned a little as it held in the mouth, and there was a dryness after the swallow.
This has all the warming and fruity characteristics of any good holiday ale, and would be good drinking year-round.
★ 980 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
When I think of a Tripel, this isn't the kind of thing that comes to mind, but it's a good one nevertheless.
I bought this because it was from the 2004/2005 winter release. Cork said 10/04. That's either a bad thing (didn't sell because it sucks) or a good thing (a fine, aged, vintage holiday ale). Luckily it was good enough to justify the purchase. (There's more where this came from, if anyone's interested in an aged bomber of this.)
Poured a super-creamy head atop a caramel-brown body. Moderate carbonation with lots of bubbles. LOTS of lace: thick honeycomb walls formed while the beer gradually left the glass.
Had a very grassy smell, accented by hints of raisin and caramel.
Tasted of soft alcohol, dark fruits, caramel and toffee. The creamy mouthfeel thinned a little as it held in the mouth, and there was a dryness after the swallow.
This has all the warming and fruity characteristics of any good holiday ale, and would be good drinking year-round.
★ 980 characters
3.59/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: Poured a medium amber color ale with a huge foamy head with great retention. Aroma of cinnamon and pepper with some distinctive Belgian yeast. Taste is quite sweet with a good malt presence and a well mix balance of spices. Body is above average but a good creamy texture. Nothing extraordinary but good example of the style.
★ 333 characters
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: Poured a medium amber color ale with a huge foamy head with great retention. Aroma of cinnamon and pepper with some distinctive Belgian yeast. Taste is quite sweet with a good malt presence and a well mix balance of spices. Body is above average but a good creamy texture. Nothing extraordinary but good example of the style.
★ 333 characters
3.83/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle with the cork dated 10/04, poured into a Leffe goblet.
This beer was absolutely beautiful in glass. A clear amber, highly carbonated with small bubbles. A very thick, light brown fluffy head that doesn't go away. Wonderful lacing.
The aroma is sweet, perfumy with a spicy plum smell. Quite clean aroma.
The taste was harder to figure. Somewhat winy with a tart blast throughout. Very tangy aftertaste with some curious herbal notes. Reminded me of Thanksgiving herbs. Not what I was expecting and not what I would want.
The mouthfeel was light, so highly carbonated that it was actually stinging my tongue. Overall, this was a good beer and I would certainly be willing to have another. Certainly not the best tripel, but a nice curiosity.
★ 764 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle with the cork dated 10/04, poured into a Leffe goblet.
This beer was absolutely beautiful in glass. A clear amber, highly carbonated with small bubbles. A very thick, light brown fluffy head that doesn't go away. Wonderful lacing.
The aroma is sweet, perfumy with a spicy plum smell. Quite clean aroma.
The taste was harder to figure. Somewhat winy with a tart blast throughout. Very tangy aftertaste with some curious herbal notes. Reminded me of Thanksgiving herbs. Not what I was expecting and not what I would want.
The mouthfeel was light, so highly carbonated that it was actually stinging my tongue. Overall, this was a good beer and I would certainly be willing to have another. Certainly not the best tripel, but a nice curiosity.
★ 764 characters
4.3/5 rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Corked and caged 750 poured into a Val-Dieu chalice. No dates on the label, but the cork has 09/05 printed on it towards the top. Lots of loose, chunky sediment on the bottom and the cork shot like a rocket once the cage was unwound.
Light, hazy amber with a tall white head that coats the glas as it goes down.
Bananas, spices, sugars, and a light citric aroma. Nice.
The taste is a nice combination of dry hops, earthy malt, spice (coriander?), sugar, clove like yeast a dash of lemon zest, and green pepper. It comes off more as a standard, but good, tripple that has a touch of holiday inspired spice.
Nice full mouth upfront that fades into citric tang paired with prickly carbonation. The low, for a tripple, abv makes for a very drinkable version of the style.
★ 779 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Corked and caged 750 poured into a Val-Dieu chalice. No dates on the label, but the cork has 09/05 printed on it towards the top. Lots of loose, chunky sediment on the bottom and the cork shot like a rocket once the cage was unwound.
Light, hazy amber with a tall white head that coats the glas as it goes down.
Bananas, spices, sugars, and a light citric aroma. Nice.
The taste is a nice combination of dry hops, earthy malt, spice (coriander?), sugar, clove like yeast a dash of lemon zest, and green pepper. It comes off more as a standard, but good, tripple that has a touch of holiday inspired spice.
Nice full mouth upfront that fades into citric tang paired with prickly carbonation. The low, for a tripple, abv makes for a very drinkable version of the style.
★ 779 characters
3.18/5 rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A clean dark amber/copper colored beer, which gets hazier into the bottle. Has a huge creamy off white head that leaves all kinds of lace. The aroma has a light dried friut note with some apple sweetness. The flavor is also VERY light with some hints of fruit sweetness and a glimmer of a tabbacco bitterness on the finish.
★ 323 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A clean dark amber/copper colored beer, which gets hazier into the bottle. Has a huge creamy off white head that leaves all kinds of lace. The aroma has a light dried friut note with some apple sweetness. The flavor is also VERY light with some hints of fruit sweetness and a glimmer of a tabbacco bitterness on the finish.
★ 323 characters
4.25/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A knock-out gorgeous white head with bubbles and lace, like a frothy vanilla milkshake. Creamy. The winner by drinkability in a 4-way playoff of x-mas beers on March 25. On sweet side, but just couldn't get enough of it. Malt magic fresh from Belgium.
★ 251 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A knock-out gorgeous white head with bubbles and lace, like a frothy vanilla milkshake. Creamy. The winner by drinkability in a 4-way playoff of x-mas beers on March 25. On sweet side, but just couldn't get enough of it. Malt magic fresh from Belgium.
★ 251 characters
2.83/5 rDev -26.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2003 Vintage 750 ml bottle, drank in the Christmas season of 2004.
I had the coolest experience opening this bottle- one I've never seen. I took off the cage, and just watched as the pressure in the bottle slowly pushed the cork up and out of the bottle- went flying several fet. I've had gunshot openings, but this was in slow motion. Very fun.
Pours a darkish golden with a pretty medium off-white head. Unfortunately, the appearance was the best part of this beer.
Aroma was light, slightly sweet with notes of honey, dates vanilla, perhaps some berry. Spices of a Noel? maybe present, but not obvious.
Oddly enough, the flavor is like a mellow tripel- sharp, tart, full-flavored with no rough edges. The alcohol profile was a little to much on the back end. However, the beer lest a very strange chemical residue in my mouth that got progressively worse as I drank this beer (shared with my sister). Stale hops? Because of this, I started out liking the flavor, but it got worse as the bottle emptied.
At the end of the day, I decided I didn't care for it.
★ 1,076 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2003 Vintage 750 ml bottle, drank in the Christmas season of 2004.
I had the coolest experience opening this bottle- one I've never seen. I took off the cage, and just watched as the pressure in the bottle slowly pushed the cork up and out of the bottle- went flying several fet. I've had gunshot openings, but this was in slow motion. Very fun.
Pours a darkish golden with a pretty medium off-white head. Unfortunately, the appearance was the best part of this beer.
Aroma was light, slightly sweet with notes of honey, dates vanilla, perhaps some berry. Spices of a Noel? maybe present, but not obvious.
Oddly enough, the flavor is like a mellow tripel- sharp, tart, full-flavored with no rough edges. The alcohol profile was a little to much on the back end. However, the beer lest a very strange chemical residue in my mouth that got progressively worse as I drank this beer (shared with my sister). Stale hops? Because of this, I started out liking the flavor, but it got worse as the bottle emptied.
At the end of the day, I decided I didn't care for it.
★ 1,076 characters
4.01/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
02/02/05- Purchased at Plumpjack Wines in San Francisco, CA
Presentation- 750ml bottle corked and caged. No expiration date. Poured three times into my La Chouffe tulip glass.
Appearance- Huge chunky and billowy white head, dark golden coloring and about the thickest lacing I have seen in a beer.
Smell- Semi-sweet aromas of raisins, plums, dates, apricots and peppery spices.
Taste- Nice sweetness for a 7% beer. Quite tangy, fruity and lots of pepper spice flavor.
Mouthfeel- This puppy is ultra-ultra carbonated. About the same lines as Duvel. It took me a long time, in fact I am still sucking down the last 4 ounces or so. My stomach doesn't do to well with well carbonated things. I drank 1 1/2 tulips and rested the remaining on the counter for an hour and it settled down significantly. Much more drinkable now..for me at least. The flavors come out much more after two hours of breathing.
Drinkability- A pretty tasty tripel. As long as you let it mellow out a bit first. Probably a one time try for me, but I'm glad I tried it. Recommended....for those with iron guts!
★ 1,097 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
02/02/05- Purchased at Plumpjack Wines in San Francisco, CA
Presentation- 750ml bottle corked and caged. No expiration date. Poured three times into my La Chouffe tulip glass.
Appearance- Huge chunky and billowy white head, dark golden coloring and about the thickest lacing I have seen in a beer.
Smell- Semi-sweet aromas of raisins, plums, dates, apricots and peppery spices.
Taste- Nice sweetness for a 7% beer. Quite tangy, fruity and lots of pepper spice flavor.
Mouthfeel- This puppy is ultra-ultra carbonated. About the same lines as Duvel. It took me a long time, in fact I am still sucking down the last 4 ounces or so. My stomach doesn't do to well with well carbonated things. I drank 1 1/2 tulips and rested the remaining on the counter for an hour and it settled down significantly. Much more drinkable now..for me at least. The flavors come out much more after two hours of breathing.
Drinkability- A pretty tasty tripel. As long as you let it mellow out a bit first. Probably a one time try for me, but I'm glad I tried it. Recommended....for those with iron guts!
★ 1,097 characters
4.03/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2002. Pours a bronze/light amber color with an immense, long lasting light beige head. Excellent fluffy lacing. The nose is very fruity (pear, apple) and there is a honey-like appeal to the malt, very faint spicing. Slightly sweet and yeasty at first, but the fruitiness soon takes over and leaves the palate open for the light dryness and hoppiness in the finish. Quite nice. Not as strong as other tripels, and it shows in the lighter mouthfeel. Nonetheless, it is a very nice winter beer that I'll have to try again, only a fresher bottle.
★ 542 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2002. Pours a bronze/light amber color with an immense, long lasting light beige head. Excellent fluffy lacing. The nose is very fruity (pear, apple) and there is a honey-like appeal to the malt, very faint spicing. Slightly sweet and yeasty at first, but the fruitiness soon takes over and leaves the palate open for the light dryness and hoppiness in the finish. Quite nice. Not as strong as other tripels, and it shows in the lighter mouthfeel. Nonetheless, it is a very nice winter beer that I'll have to try again, only a fresher bottle.
★ 542 characters
3.81/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Murky amber hue. Huge spectacular frothy white head, sticking to the glass, long-lasting. Spicy aroma with a ton of nuances at times approaching cloves, christmas cake, anise or ginger). Highly yeasty, minty, fruity (peaches, orange, apricot). Mild hop presence even. I love how this accomplishes a lot with low alcohol. Very fruity palate, almost vinous with apricot, melon and peach hints and close to as spicy as the nose. Very interesting mix, superbly tasy for 7%. Medium bodied, moderately high carbonation, almost foamy mouthfeel. Excellent execution imo, but there are better examples.
★ 593 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Murky amber hue. Huge spectacular frothy white head, sticking to the glass, long-lasting. Spicy aroma with a ton of nuances at times approaching cloves, christmas cake, anise or ginger). Highly yeasty, minty, fruity (peaches, orange, apricot). Mild hop presence even. I love how this accomplishes a lot with low alcohol. Very fruity palate, almost vinous with apricot, melon and peach hints and close to as spicy as the nose. Very interesting mix, superbly tasy for 7%. Medium bodied, moderately high carbonation, almost foamy mouthfeel. Excellent execution imo, but there are better examples.
★ 593 characters
4.15/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: I was lucky enough to visit the Brasserie de lAbbaye du Val-Dieu during our annual Easter Belgium Trip in 2001. At the time I do not believe that this was bottled, and if it was, it had all gone during our Easter visit. So when I spied a 750ml of the Val-Dieu Bière de Noël during a trip to Hi-Times in Costa-Mesa recently, I figured that I would give it a whirl, as $6.99 for the 75cl didnt seem too bad and I knew that their other beers were reasonably good. Just as the BA database picture, the main dark blue label is of a snow covered Abbaye in a suitable wintery scene. Caged and Corked, the Cork let fly with a massive resonating thrupp as soon as the gold colored cage was removed. The twisted and bent cork had been under some serious pressure, if you ever think that the cages are there for show, think again!! Cork is dated 10/05.
Appearance: Immense gun-smoke, almost canon-smoke, preceded the pour. Its a good job I was quick on my feet as the beer was already erupting up the tall bottle neck. Best served in a Goblet, but I opted for a tall thin flute, as I knew the high levels of carbonation would make this one awkward at times. A racing head forms quickly. Densely packed small creamy bubbles, bone-white, they slowly recede leaving a bone marrow collapsed crust. The body is a very clear classic-golden color with a decent amount of streamers. Looks excellent, hindered by the oversize head at times which probably means that it looses out on a 4.5 in the end.
Nose: Lots of nuzzling your way through the thick head is needed at times, because the thick massive covering does tend to mask the nice aromas that this Bière de Noël has to offer. Fight your through and it is worth it, even if you have to remove the froth from your own nose a few times! Spicy Tripel in style and aroma. Spicy hops, some pepper, but there is a nice fruit dimension also, some peach and apricots with a hint of plums and Kiwi fruit at times. Soiled yeasts and a real earthy dimension as the Noël warms. I wish the aromas had a little more strength and impcat though.
Taste: Spicy hop entrance, light but prickly black peppers. Yeasty middle with earthy tones that mix well with the hops and light grain malts. Has a very dry, almost crisp, finish with a lovely lingering hoppy feel that is mildy spicy on the cheeks. A peach and bitter cider-apple ending builds in strength as you work your way down the bottle and your cheeks acclimatize to the tangy bitterness. A Golden-Tripel with just that bit extra! Rather fruity at times. Nice.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with a stern contribution from the alcohol that is not overpowering but never lets you forget that this is 7%. Despite the high carbonation, this is a smooth beer that sits well in the mouth.
Drinkability: Only the continual top-up of the over-carbonated beer in my glass, and the wait for it to settle, resulted in a longer than expected drink time. Easily partaken with a few chunks of sharp cheddar, this is a relatively easy going Bière de Noël.
Overall: Basically a Tripel with some extra Xmas kick, this is a reasonable enough effort, but I confess to being a tad old-fashioned and preferring my Xmas beers to be dark and dangerous. That said, this is well worth a try. Val-Dieu make some solid beers that are above average but yet never seem to stand out from the crowd, again, this is one such offering. Reasonably good value at $6.99 though.
★ 3,458 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: I was lucky enough to visit the Brasserie de lAbbaye du Val-Dieu during our annual Easter Belgium Trip in 2001. At the time I do not believe that this was bottled, and if it was, it had all gone during our Easter visit. So when I spied a 750ml of the Val-Dieu Bière de Noël during a trip to Hi-Times in Costa-Mesa recently, I figured that I would give it a whirl, as $6.99 for the 75cl didnt seem too bad and I knew that their other beers were reasonably good. Just as the BA database picture, the main dark blue label is of a snow covered Abbaye in a suitable wintery scene. Caged and Corked, the Cork let fly with a massive resonating thrupp as soon as the gold colored cage was removed. The twisted and bent cork had been under some serious pressure, if you ever think that the cages are there for show, think again!! Cork is dated 10/05.
Appearance: Immense gun-smoke, almost canon-smoke, preceded the pour. Its a good job I was quick on my feet as the beer was already erupting up the tall bottle neck. Best served in a Goblet, but I opted for a tall thin flute, as I knew the high levels of carbonation would make this one awkward at times. A racing head forms quickly. Densely packed small creamy bubbles, bone-white, they slowly recede leaving a bone marrow collapsed crust. The body is a very clear classic-golden color with a decent amount of streamers. Looks excellent, hindered by the oversize head at times which probably means that it looses out on a 4.5 in the end.
Nose: Lots of nuzzling your way through the thick head is needed at times, because the thick massive covering does tend to mask the nice aromas that this Bière de Noël has to offer. Fight your through and it is worth it, even if you have to remove the froth from your own nose a few times! Spicy Tripel in style and aroma. Spicy hops, some pepper, but there is a nice fruit dimension also, some peach and apricots with a hint of plums and Kiwi fruit at times. Soiled yeasts and a real earthy dimension as the Noël warms. I wish the aromas had a little more strength and impcat though.
Taste: Spicy hop entrance, light but prickly black peppers. Yeasty middle with earthy tones that mix well with the hops and light grain malts. Has a very dry, almost crisp, finish with a lovely lingering hoppy feel that is mildy spicy on the cheeks. A peach and bitter cider-apple ending builds in strength as you work your way down the bottle and your cheeks acclimatize to the tangy bitterness. A Golden-Tripel with just that bit extra! Rather fruity at times. Nice.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with a stern contribution from the alcohol that is not overpowering but never lets you forget that this is 7%. Despite the high carbonation, this is a smooth beer that sits well in the mouth.
Drinkability: Only the continual top-up of the over-carbonated beer in my glass, and the wait for it to settle, resulted in a longer than expected drink time. Easily partaken with a few chunks of sharp cheddar, this is a relatively easy going Bière de Noël.
Overall: Basically a Tripel with some extra Xmas kick, this is a reasonable enough effort, but I confess to being a tad old-fashioned and preferring my Xmas beers to be dark and dangerous. That said, this is well worth a try. Val-Dieu make some solid beers that are above average but yet never seem to stand out from the crowd, again, this is one such offering. Reasonably good value at $6.99 though.
★ 3,458 characters
4.1/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy orange/amber /chestnut and lots of effervescence. Huge head on the pour and a massive lace on the appropriate glassware.
Aroma of caramel, pale malt, some grain and a spciy coriander and citrus fruit notes.
Flavors of caramel, brown sugar, dark citrus, coriander, hint of cinnamon and other spices.
Mouthfeel starts light and airy and moves to a moderately spiced middle and finishes with a sweet citrusy touch of alcohol.
Drinkability is very good. Little out of season but high quality beer.
★ 510 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy orange/amber /chestnut and lots of effervescence. Huge head on the pour and a massive lace on the appropriate glassware.
Aroma of caramel, pale malt, some grain and a spciy coriander and citrus fruit notes.
Flavors of caramel, brown sugar, dark citrus, coriander, hint of cinnamon and other spices.
Mouthfeel starts light and airy and moves to a moderately spiced middle and finishes with a sweet citrusy touch of alcohol.
Drinkability is very good. Little out of season but high quality beer.
★ 510 characters
Val-Dieu Bière De Noël from Brasserie de l'Abbaye du Val-Dieu
3.84
out of 5
based on 51 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Cork and caged 75cl bottle, opened on 1st Dec 2013.
Expected a darker hue to this brew, it poured a clear deep gold with a full if un-lasting head.
The nose was spiced nuts and sweet malty molasses with good old Belgian yeast esters.
The taste followed the same lines, malty, nutty and yeasty with hints of spices within the flavourings.
OK and another Belgian Christmas beer worth finding.
★ 394 characters