Review: Bush De Noël (Scaldis Noël)

Brasserie Dubvisson Fréres


Grade:  B+

Appearance: Pours a brownish-orange with a dirty white head that leaves good lacing.

Smell: Strong Belgian yeast and alcohol aromas.  Smells of cherries, plums and raisons.  Candy sugar and caramel linger as well.  Alcohol presence is strong, but blends in well with the various flavors.

Taste: Lots of dark fruit and yeast up front, followed by sweet, candied malt.  The dry alcohol finish is complimented nicely with slight spiciness.  Not as complex as others of the sytle, but the few flavors are good.

Mouthfeel:  A medium, chewy mouthfeel with bubbly carbonation, especially at the finish.  Yum.

Drinkability: This little 8 oz. bottle packs a 12% ABV punch.  Needless to say, it is a sipper.

Overall: This is a well crafted Belgian Strong Ale.  It lacks complexity, but in this case, simple is better.  It is boozy, but compliments the flavors, like a fine liqueur.  Well done.  I'm going to pick up a couple more to age.

(Wanted to review it in my snifter, but I couldn't find it.)