Baladin Noël

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

750 ml corked and waxed bottle, as Baladin Leön, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. BB date Nov. 2014. ABV is 9%. Hazy dark brown colour, large off-white head. Aroma of mild spices, dark dried fruits and rotting fruits. Malty and mildly spicy flavour, notes of brown sugar and caramel, hints of vanilla, but still not too sweet. Dark dried fruits again. Light bodied for its strength, and pleasant to drink.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 10

Bottle at the " Mondial de la Bière 2009 " in Strasbourg. Poured a clear amber brown colored beer with a small beige creamy foamy head that had a good retention. The aroma is very rich, fruity, ripe grapes, plums, chocolate, notes of caramel and roasted malts and finally spicy. The flavour is fruity, ripe grapes, spicy, licorice, pepper, caramel malts and a chocolate persistance. The mouthfeel is crispy and smooth. This medium bodied beer has a nice tangy end. Un cadeau de Noel toute l'Année ! Very, very impressive

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Bottle: Poured a deep clear ruby color ale with a large off-white foamy head with good retention and good lacing. Aroma of sweet malt with light dry fruits and fruity ester is quite enjoyable. Taste is a well balanced mix between some caramel Belgian malt with balanced sweetness, dry fruits and light fruity ester in the finish. Body is about average with good carbonation with no signs of alcohol. Well done but additional body and spices could have benefited this beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

A few friends and I went to the Quarry House in Silver Spring, MD tonight after work. I was in the mood for a Christmas ale and ordered up a St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel. The waitress messed up and delivered the Noel Baladin instead. Not one to waste beer and always willing to try something new, I didn't complain and my friend shared the bottle.

I poured the beer out into my trumpet shaped glass and there was a moderate brown color to it with a hearty light tan head. From a looks standpoint it was very appetizing. Unfortunately I thought this one really fell short in the aroma department. As I normally do when I don't pull out much of an aroma, I decided to let it sit for a few minutes and see if the aroma would emerge. I was really hoping to pick up on some spicy goodness and I received nothing much in that department. Stale spices and a light wine smell was all I pulled out of it.

Unfortunately the lack of aroma really carried over into the beer's flavor. A sip and I was left with an "eh so what" state of mind. Mixed in with the alcohol flavors, you could taste a bland, only slightly tart fruit flavor. Maybe cherries or plums. The beer is very dry and leaves your mouth thirsty.

Overall this one was just so-so. I really wouldn't call it a great Belgian Strong Ale and definitely wouldn't rate this even close to average in the Christmas Ale category. Very disappointing...especially at $20 a bottle.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours out in a deep hazy ruby red colour with rich sticky off-white foam. Yeasty and spicy aroma of dried dark fruits, herbs, licorice, dates and alcohol. Full-bodied with notes of yeast, cumin, licorice, dark malts, fudge and mild pepper. Creamy mouthfeel. Long aftertaste of rounded anise, yeast, cocoa, figs and mild alcohol. Nice one!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

A brown appearance with a beige head. Some alcohol and dark fruits present in the aroma. Some chocolate, raisins, and plums present in the flavor. Chocolate is the primary aspect of the taste. A warming sweet finish. Good on ya!

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

dark brown colour, big creamy head and a nice lace, licorice, alcohol and malt aroma, some spices, sweet and full-bodied, (too much) alcohol presence, touch of sourness, long finish with reminiscence of fruits, spices and alcohol - should be more balanced (and they should learn how to write Noël...)