Tasting Notes: Abbaye des Rocs: Speciale Noel

Brasserie de l’Abbaye des Rocs: Abbaye des Rocs Speciale Noel (Belgium: Belgium Strong Ale: 9% ABV)

Visual: Fizzy, just slightly cloudy. Reddy brown with a Christmas cake look and a creamy thick head.

Nose: Creamy, soaked raisins and brandy cream. Fruit cake and slight red wine.

Body: Rich, frothy. Brandy and glazed cherries. Very sweet and syrupy textured. Dark chocolate, malt. Slightly bitter and liquorice with a hint of plums.

Finish: More sweet glazed cherries, raisin and fruit cake.

Conclusion: Yet another delicious fruity complex Christmas beer. Not as dark and heavy as the Gouden, nor as sweet as the Delirium. This is possibly the best balanced of the Christmas beers with balanced elements from all the styles which encapsulates the essence of Christmas beers. A beer I would recommend to nearly anyone.

Fantastic