Affligem Noël 2009 Christmas Ale

Beer: 2009 Noël Christmas Ale
Brewed by: Affligem Brewerij, Odwijk, Belgium
Bottle: 750 ml Champagne bottle
ABV: 9%
Served in: Belgian chalice
Place of purchase: Whole Foods Supermarket
Price: $6.49 (on sale!)

As the holidays rapidly approach us (I believe that tonight is the sixth day of Hannukah; Christmas is 9 days away; Kwanzaa 10 days away and throw in any other Winter holiday you want), Mugsy & Jugsy find ourselves craving the seasonal brews. Just thinking about those Winter brews, with their Winter spices & high ABV's make us ready to curl up close to a not-so-roaring gas fire & exchange gifts & kisses. For the next few reviews, we, Mugsy & Jugsy will find ourselves, just as we have for the past 3 years, under the glow of our pink Christmas tree drinking good beer.

(You read it right. We have a lovely little, PINK Christmas tree. With black ornaments. We are fashion-forward. When everyone else starts buying pink Christmas trees, just remember who started the fad, okay?) On to our first Winter beer review...!

In every proper review, your trusted husband & wife team of Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Affligem Noël

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Dark brown with deep bronze tones when held to light. Lots of carbonation visible when held to light. Fairly thick, foamy head that seems like it would last well past the holidays. Lots of creamy lacing left on the glass.
Jugsy: Thick, frothy head which flattens slightly but does not disappear. Color is dark copper with gold, red and brown hues. Mild carbonation bubbles are visible.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Very difficult to detect in the Belgian chalice glass, however when Jugsy & I poured some in to a tulip glass, the aroma became much more pronounced. Yet, still, the aroma doesn't give itself up easily. First off, a fair bit of funky yeast. This is followed by strong scents of holiday spices like nutmeg and cinnamon.
Jugsy: Yeast and malt right at the top, followed by a spicier scent. Smells a little like bread, but not sourdough - more like sweet bread, maybe even a faint hint of fruitcake. Vanilla, pecans and dried cherries, (possibly some dried orange, too) with a touch of allspice and nutmeg. Smells like a Christmas cookie! (Note: for best smell, drink from a tulip glass - it makes all the difference!)

TASTE:

Mugsy: Very subtle spiciness (again nutmeg) combined with robust malt and slightly bitter hops. Very sweet aftertaste, maybe of honey and raisins combined with that of a little bit of alcohol.
Jugsy: Don't be fooled by the sweet smell. This is a dark and bitter beer. Roasted malts are the predominant flavor, followed by a citrusy grapefruit taste. There's a spice in there I didn't smell... cloves, perhaps? Definitely a sour yeast flavor as well. The aftertaste does carry a sweet bread flavor, though!

MOUTHFEEL:

Mugsy: Incredible! I don't think I've ever had a beer this smooth & creamy. It's almost like egg nog! While it goes down a just a little watery, I still can't say enough about the creaminess. Almost like drinking an ale mixed with Irish cream liqueur. Wow!
Jugsy: Moderately creamy. Goes down very smoothly. Despite its complex flavors, the beer feels light. Carbonation and spices combine to create an unmistakable bite. Leaves a bitter, yeasty coating on the tongue.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: While the sweetness & creaminess would lend itself to wanting to drink this all night in front of the X-mas tree, the 9% ABV says otherwise. Mind you, I haven't eaten in a good 6 hours, but after just half a glass, I'm REALLY in the holiday spirit! This one should be handled carefully.
Jugsy: I would say that the Affligem Noël is a very drinkable Winter brew. At 9% ABV, it most certainly is not a session beer, unless your "session"involves getting toasty with a loved one, at home in front of the fireplace. Luckily, that happens to be exactly my definition!

OVERALL:

Mugsy: If Jugsy ever turned to me & said, "You know, Mugsy, I'd love to drink a glass of cinnamon raisin bread!", I'd break out the Affligem Noël Christmas Ale. For such a strong, dark ale, this beer is suprisingly delicate. This would go well with holiday treats like fruitcakes (even the Jerky Boys kind) and other sweets. Perfect for tree-trimming parties, Hannukah parties, Kwanzaa parties and "it's too cold outside, let's get warm by drinking beer" parties. Would definitely buy again. Hope the holidays are extended this year.
Jugsy: This is one of those beers that I know is good. I can smell, taste and feel the quality of both the ingredients as well as the craft that went into making it. Unfortunately, it doesn't hit my personal favorite palate notes, so it's still a little difficult to get very enthusiastic. The Noël is a wonderfully complex, yet light tasting Ale with the requisite high ABV we've come to expect of our Belgians. I be this would go amazingly well with Grandma's fruitcake! 'Wish I had some now!

Score:
Mugsy: 8.70
Jugsy: 7

Stone Cali-Belgique

Beer: Cali-Belgique IPA
Brewer: Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, CA (USA)
Bottle: 1 Pt. 6 fl. oz. Bomber
ABV: 6.9%
IBU: 77
Served in: Tulip glass
Place of Purchase: Beverages and More, Sherman Oaks, CA
Price: $5.49

We briefly considered shelving this review for a few more weeks so as not to have too many reviews of the same style of beer, but the Cali-Belgique IPA is a Stone Brewing Co. Limited Release for the year, and we'd hate for beer lovers to miss out on this one!

The Cali-Belgique IPA is a fresh approach to combining different IPA styles, American - or, Californian, to be more specific - and Belgian. Its unique flavor comes from the combination of Californian hops and Belgian yeast.

In an effort to pay tribute to both the French and Dutch influences in Belgium, Stone has labeled 50% of the bottles "Cali-Belgique" ("Belgique" being the French word for Belgium) and the other 50% "Cali-België" ("België" being the Dutch name for Belgium)!

In every proper review, the Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Cali-Belgique IPA

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Golden-red color. Definitely looks like an IPA. Thin but creamy head that leaves lacing on glass when swirled. Can see fair bit of carbonation present.
Jugsy: Golden, copper in color with a thin head which dissipates quickly. Amber when held up to the light; visible carbonation.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Interesting blend of IPA-like hoppiness, mixed with slight fruitiness (grapefruit) and a little bit of yeasty funk. This is exciting.
Jugsy: Aromatic hops, not flowery per se, but sweet nonetheless. Orange and vanilla scents, possibly pineapple, too. Fresh woodsy aroma of crisp Autumn air. Barley and yeast are background scents. Smells like beer candy!

TASTE:

Mugsy: Immediate taste is hops, though not the over-the-top hops that Stone IPA lovers (like myself) have come to know and love. This is slightly more subtle. Secondary taste is grapefruit. Aftertaste is grapefruit also, but this is where the yeast comes into play, leaving just a hint of the barnyard so commonly associated with Belgian Saison Ales. Grapefruit lingers on the tongue well after swallowed and becomes more prominent as beer warms, as does the funkiness.
Jugsy: Sophisticated bitter hops flavor bursts in your mouth. The aroma almost makes you think it's sweet. Definite pine flavoring with orange peel and hops aftertaste. Flavors play out like a well-orchestrated symphony.

MOUTH-FEEL:

Mugsy: Lots of bite on the tongue from the hops. Crisp and clean, yet to contradict here, leaves just a little bit of warm coating on the tongue and mouth, much like a Belgian Ale.
Jugsy: Creamy and rich without feeling heavy. Adequate carbonation and pleasant, hoppy tongue coating.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Can feel the slight beginning of what a 6.9% ABV can do, but still light enough to be a "semi-session" beer. Easy going down. Crisp and fresh.
Jugsy: At a 6.9% ABV, you might not want to drink too many of these in a row, but that aside, you will love every minute of having the Cali-Belgique in your mouth. I know I did!

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Nice and very well balanced beer. Fairly complex. Would go quite well with spicy food like Indian or Latin. Leave it to the wonderful folks at Stone to come up with yet another complex (and quite experimental) Ale that is tasty and easy to drink. Stone continues to set the benchmark for so many other breweries and makes this beer lover happy to live in a world where Stone is readily available.
Jugsy: The minute I smelled the aroma of this brew, I wanted to dive in head-first! It felt like Christmas! And not in the sense that I was about to drink a Winter brew (which this is not) but in the sense that I felt like a kid on Christmas morning, who just knows that Santa got his letter and his dream toy is under the wrapping before him! I don't know if I can do this beer justice. Just do yourself a favor and allow X-mas to come a little early this year -- try a bottle of Stone's Cali-Belgique IPA now, before it's no longer available!

SCORE:
Mugsy: 7.99
Jugsy: 8.75

Abbaye D'Aulne Triple Brune

Abbaye D'Aulne Triple Brune

Brewed by: Brasserie Val De Sambre, Gozee, Belgium

Bottle: 1 pt., 9.4 fl. oz. - champagne bottle

ABV: 9.0%

Served in: Tulip glass

Place of purchase: Cost Plus World Market

Price: $5.99

OK, another beer served in a tulip glass. Why not? Mugsy and Jugsy like the Belgians!

But this one is a little different…

As you may have noticed in previous reviews, Mugsy and Jugsy often agree on the general characteristics of the beers they review. However, their views on this particular brew were so different as to cause them to question, “Are we even drinking the same beer???" Pick up a bottle and try it for yourself! You be the judge!

In every proper review, our Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Abbaye D'Aulne Triple Brune

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Dark, coffee brown with slight hints of red in the light. Thin head which dissipates quickly.

Jugsy: Pours dark like cola, reddish-brown when held up to the light. Medium head which dissipates somewhat, but thin head remains.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Strong smell of fermented fruit, like plums or prunes. Can smell the alcohol in this one. Hints of dark chocolate, as well.

Jugsy: First scent is that of strong malts, followed quickly by yeast aroma. Chocolate and oak smells detected. Faint scent of smoke and cloves - like someone is smoking a sweet pipe in the next room!

TASTE:

Mugsy: Spicy Winter berry and clove, mixed with more fruit; again, prunes. Aftertaste is of roasted malt, almost like a lighter and nuttier porter. Little bit of sourness and of chocolate in the aftertaste, as well.

Jugsy: Roasted or burnt malt flavor is initially overwhelming. Secondary taste is of bitter hops. The aftertaste is definitely chocolate, possibly with some coffee grounds. Yeast flavor emerges as the brew warms. There may even be a touch of citrusy spice buried underneath.

MOUTH-FEEL:

Mugsy: Lots of hops bite the tongue but don't really come through in flavor. A little watery going down.

Jugsy: Creamy and thick, almost chewy. Goes down smoothly with a moderate amount of carbonation.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Easy to drink and not really feeling the alcohol. Would be easy to have a few more.

Jugsy: After just a few sips, this beer already feels a bit heavy and I can certainly feel the 9% ABV - although the brew itself doesn't necessarily taste strong. I think one bottle, shared with Mugsy, is quite enough!

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Pretty good beer. Have tasted many beers similar to this before, especially those from Eastern Europe, interestingly enough. However, this slightly more complex. Would go well with desserts, like fruit pies or fruit cakes. Not bad but would not necessarily seek out again.

Jugsy: As Belgian Abbey ales go, this is a pretty decent one. It's flavorful and complex and would be a great accompaniment to a rich, meat-based dish. It's a little heavy for my taste and I think I have a slight headache developing - - not sure if I can blame the beer, but there it is.

SCORE:

Mugsy: 6.50

Jugsy: 6.75

Saison Imperiale

Saison Imperiale, Belgian Farmhouse Ale

Brewed by De Proef Brouweij
Special Reserve

8.5% ABV – 11.2 Fl oz. champagne bottle

Served in a Tulip Glass

Mugsy had been craving a brew with what he called “Barnyard Funk” for a while and, like a good little wife, Jugsy wanted nothing more than to make him happy! So, when she spotted this intriguing Brewmaster’s Collection with the words “Farmhouse Ale” right there on the bottle, she snatched it up immediately!

After clearing a patch in the barn and kicking up our heels onto ready bundles of hay, Mugsy and Jugsy dusted off their Tulip glasses from last week’s review and popped the champagne style cork from the Saison Imperiale!

Ahhh. This is living!

In every proper review, the Beeraucrats will examine the Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Mouth-Feel, Drinkability and Overall Rating of the Beer and arrive at a Total Score from 1 to 10.

Saison Imperiale, Belgian Farmhouse Ale

APPEARANCE:

Mugsy: Deep brown; impossible to see through, with thick, creamy head that doesn’t ever seem to dissipate! Looks like a glass of iced tea with a beer head.
Jugsy: Deep brown and garnet in color; opaque but not cloudy, with medium, creamy head that does not dissipate quickly. Carbonation is visible.

AROMA:

Mugsy: Slight bit of yeasty, barnyard funk straight off. Hints of spiciness, like Cardamom and maybe a little Bergamot orange peel, but funk stands out.
Jugsy: Initial aroma is one of sweet yeast with a fruity fermentation. Scent of sourdough with just a hint of malts. Apples, pears and mellow citrus are present. The fruity funk lingers throughout.

TASTE:

Mugsy: Slightly spicy, like a winter brew. Cinnamon and Molasses mix with hints of over-ripe fruit, like oranges. Also, hops are prevalent here, more so than most Belgian Ales of this type. However, the maltiness, yeast, fruit and spice overpower. Aftertaste is of Bergamot orange peel.
Jugsy: Very lightly roasted malts with a secondary yeast flavor. Delicate hops flavor provides a bitter middle-note. Spicy citrus and apple taste intertwine with a slightly bitter aftertaste. There seems to be coffee in there somewhere, too!

MOUTH-FEEL:

Mugsy: Is this where I should mention the creamy moustache I got with my first drink? This Ale is spicy on the tongue, as I mentioned before, similar to winter brews. Goes down with a smooth, creamy finish.
Jugsy: Feels creamy and rich as it goes down. The flavors fan out smoothly across the palate. Briefly biting carbonation appears then disappears, leaving the tongue coated with mildly bitter funk.

DRINKABILITY:

Mugsy: Goes down easy! Not heavy at all. I began to feel the 8.5% ABV P.D.Q.! Got that warm, fuzzy feeling all over and a little bit of a flushed face. This would be a great breakfast beer on a cold, winter day. Then another at 11 a.m. and one more for lunch….
Jugsy: The Saison Imperiale is complex but doesn’t taste like a heavy beer. Due to its 8.5% ABV, I wouldn’t recommend this as a session beer, but it’s great on its own. I have to agree with Mugsy, I certainly felt the effects of alcohol very quickly!

OVERALL:

Mugsy: Nice beer. Just complex enough to know that the brewers care about what they do. Would be happy to drink again.
Jugsy: Thoroughly enjoyable brew. The combination of flavors is fresh and surprising. I get the feeling this is a cold weather drink that warms one after a hard day’s work on the farm (or at the office?). This beer is meant to be savored.

SCORE:
Mugsy: 7.65
Jugsy: 8.3

[This beer was purchased at BevMo for $9.49.]