Kerkom Winterkoninkske

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

I thought this was going to be more like a winter warmer or whatever. Almost like an Imperial Stout. Also was a little worried about the juniper berries, but this was better than expected. Well balance with the chocolate & malts, mild berry, with a semi-yeasty finish. Has that Belgian flavor and feel to it. Getting some coffee and burnt sugar in there too. Fairly complex. This is one that I'd look for again in the future for sure!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

A dark brown-black in color with a big frothy textured tan head rising above. There's good hang time on the head. It settles with a thick ringlet. I'm getting a whiskey nose. Big lcohol presence in the tasting with a complexity of dark cherries, roasted malt, gooseberries and caramel. Slick feel.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Malty aroma has a strong overtone of caramel with floral and clove snippets. It pours a dark, semi-transparent sepia with a thick and fairly persistent tan head. Flavor has malty, caramel, nutty, earthy and hoppy tones - and a noticeable but not ferocious alcohol nip. Thick, almost syrupy texture is quite fizzy and lively. Enjoy next to a roaring fire, with a friendly long-hair cat in your lap and heavy snow outside - or in any conditions (except while driving, piloting, or operating vital equipment).

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

This pours an clear brown colour with almost no head. Aroma is sweet fruit, caramel, and floral hops. Flavour is sweet, yeasty, with some spice and earth thrown in.

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

pours a murky brown with little head, which is gone completely by the second sip. first impression of the aroma is that it smells like a "normal" beer, with a hint of extra malt and spice. Taste is fruity, plum & raisin and a little spice. This is the Lost Coast Winterbraun of Belgian beers. I started at 50 degrees, and as it warmed it became a little too sweet and alcoholic, but this is the best of the 4 "Christmas Beers of Belgium" i've had so far. I'm still wondering how long these beers have sat for, even though the ones that are marked are not past the drink by date...when the best $3 11 oz beer is a 3.3, it's a bit disappointing.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

The bottle that I am rating aged for a year. Poured a nice dark brown color with minimal head. Very aromatic with the smell of juniper berries. It had an incredible taste, a very nice sipping beer that tasted better as it warmed. My wife who doesn't usually enjoy Belgium ales enjoyed this. Give it a try!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

I picked up this bad boy at Franklin's General Store in Hyattsville, MD mainly out of pure curiosity. #1 I had never had a beer with juniper berries in it and #2 I always love a beer where I can't pronounce the name. This one hit a home run with me though.

The beer is dark brown, almost black in color. It pours out a nice head which quickly gives away to just a few whispy strands of bubbles within a few minutes. The smell of fruit and malt just overflow from the glass. It smells amazing and gets even better as the beer warms up to room temperature.

The beer is smooth to drink. Although it clocks in at over 8% alcohol, you really aren't hit with that taste. It is actually fairly smooth and one of those beers that can really warm you up on a cold winter night if you aren't counting how many you've had. There's a hint of tartness to the fruity and maltyness of the beer. I also pick up on a woody taste to it. This beer is fairly complex and one that I've really enjoyed. Having just drank my last bottle, I'll have to wait until next year before I can pick up some of this strong ale goodness. Pick one up and you'll see what I mean.

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

A new experience found at Bado's Ale House just down the street from my house. The light head melts quickly, but comes back nicely upon the swirl. Musty brown liquid with glints of red in the light. Citrus nose with aromas of prunes, and raisins. Very similar to Corsendonk Brown. Crunchy roasted malt, low hop bitterness, alcoholic burn, spicy juniper and noticeable tastes of caraway give this Belgian winter ale a nice Barq's root beer like bite (YOU BITE!!), with a subtly dry finish. A very nice Belgian winter ale to warm you up on these never ending cold winter nights. (**SIGH**)

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

Pours with a frothy, initially fat-two-finger thick, lightly amber tinged, tan colored head. The beer is an opaque, dark amber color that shows a clear, deep ruby hue when held up to the light. The aroma is redolent of dark fruit notes that are noticeable even as I pour this brew. Rich, almost jam like fruit reminds me of concord grapes, raisins and prunes, caramelized banana. The aroma is quite malt influenced, with the fruitiness being both from the malt and fermentation. Other malt notes of toasted malt, brown sugar and lightly browned malt. Really the aroma is just dominated by the rich fruit notes; this certainly is appropriate for a Winter brew.

Sweet and somewhat thick as it hits my tongue. A light spiciness as well as some peppery carbonation provide a small respite from the dominant fruit notes. This finishes with a distinct flavor of caramelized bananas and a bit of dark grain astringency / bitterness. This beer is actually pretty well carbonated, it foams quite a bit as it hits the tongue, but the body is substantial enough that I did not recognize how carbonated it was at first. In the very long finish this has a note that reminds me of woody coriander and perhaps a touch of menthol. That sort of spice note (especially the menthol) seems to pick up a bit as the beer warms, so I can only guess that this is from the Juniper berries.

Not a bad beer, certainly appropriate for a Winter beer as it is quite rich and sweet. I could wish for a bit more complexity, but wasn't really expecting it to begin with.

Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

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

This Belgian Strong Ale pours a deep brown color from a 33cl bottle. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is dark fruit, caramel and brown sugar. A medium bodied Belgian Strong Ale. The malts are dark fruits, molasses and brown sugar. The hops are earthy. There is a nice spiciness in this beer, in the background to the malts, but helping balance the malt sweetness. A very nice winter beer. There is some complexity under the sweetness and spiciness. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is sweet.