Beer Review: St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale with holiday glass. Copyright 2015 by Andrew Dunn.

The Belgian Beer Bureau is a firm believer that Christmas cheer is incomplete without Christmas beer. Nothing pairs better with turkey, ham, and mounds of starchy, cheesy sides than festive winter brews.

Some of the Bureau favorites include Highland Brewing Company Cold Mountain Winter Ale, Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale, Sam Adams Winter Lager, and Shiner Holiday Cheer.

Most winter warmer/holiday brews are darker beers featuring vanilla and spice. They pack a nice malty sweetness that accentuates all of those salty holiday meats.

The Belgians love their Christmas beers. There are many to choose from. The first beer I reviewed on this site was a Belgian Christmas ale.

One had eluded me though. For some reason, Santa’s elves just don’t make enough St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, a quadruple from Watou, Belgium, that Paste named its favorite. But I have been an especially good boy this year, and Santa put aside one for me.

Smell: There’s an aroma of mulled wine, fruit, and banana.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale poured into a holiday glass. Copyright 2015 by Andrew Dunn.

Sight: The color is deep caramel. The head is a thick and rich cream, which leaves ample lacing.

 

Taste: The first flavor that hits you is Bananas Foster, with all of the sweet richness that comes with that caramelized fruit. There are also notes of cinnamon and clove. There is only a whisper of bitterness trailing off at the end.

Alcohol: St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is much like the meal it should be paired with, heavy and indulgent. This beer waddles at 10 percent. Share it with your friends and loved ones. I shared mine with my father.

Overall: A holiday themed Belgian quadruple? Please. This isn’t even a question worth answering. I love Christmas. I love this beer. As they say, it is an instant holiday classic. It sure beats eggnog.

Bottom line: You can pick up a regular bottle for about $5.50 or a 750 ml bottle, which is what I had, for about $15. Either way, it is definitely worth splurging for a bottle or two.

Bonus points: My bottle was aged a year. This beer can be aged up to 15 years, which means it might be the only holiday treat with a longer shelf life than fruit cake. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!