Carlsberg Semper Ardens Christmas Ale

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

cloudy reddish-brown colour with a fast fading foam; aroma of raspberry marmelade with notes of licorice, coriander, pineapple and old apple; sweet and heavy, sticky; respectable malt body; long sweetish and fruity finish - a little bit bubblegum-like but quite good, in any cases hard to realize this is from Carlsberg ...thanks to Papsoe for this one !

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

(700 ml bottle, bought in Denmark). Murky brown colour, large tan head. Surprisingly weak initial aroma - Hallertauer with faint notes of malts, spices and brown sugar. Improves a bit as the beer warms up. Flavour is much stronger, fuller and richer - but unfortunately also too sweet. Spices (coriander, aniseed, cardamom and more?), molasses and plenty of malts. The brewers have obviously used far too much brown sugar. They have also missed the target completely with their choice of hops - Hallertauer Mittelfrüh in a strong Belgian ale, WTF? I’m not a hops expert, but this beer obviously needs hops with more character, and in larger quantities. And PLEASE, less sugar to get rid of that syrupy mouthfeel!! Acceptable as a dessert beer, but not with the main Christmas meal. Incredibly, Carlsberg claim (on the rear label) that this beer has a "DRY(!!) and light ACIDIC structure". Who wrote that? Winnie the Pooh? Better luck next year, Carlsberg!

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

crisp, heavy, and lasting head with some laces, medium dark color, bitter-sweet aroma with liquorice and caramel. Soft and warm taste with a bitter edge and hints of sweet malt with a liquorice and dry finish

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

Poured a hazy brown color with a small, light tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of caramel malt, earthy yeast, nuts and light spices. Taste of caramel malt, nuts, light roast, anise, light citrus fruits, and peppery alcohol in the finish. Thinner than average mouthfeel.