En Stoemelings’ Christmas ale, vintage bottle of two years old shared by tderoeck, cheers! Bit irregular, pale greyish beige, mousy and frothy head on an orange-glowing deep amber coloured beer, darker, misty and more coppery with the sediment added. Aroma of candied orange peel, some ‘rusty’ oxidized malts, hard caramel, dried out gingerbread, clove, honey, chicken broth (another sign of oxidation), rainwater. Sweet onset but nowhere annoyingly sticky, light sourish touch somewhere; honeyish, with aspects of red apple, dates and orange peel in a sweet, candied way, medium carbonated. Smooth, bit oily body, caramelly and lightly toasty malt base drenched in obvious ethereal ‘Christmassy’ spiciness (orange peel again, clove, vague ginger) paired with a late, floral hop bitter accent and warming, brandy-ish alcohol. The oxidation linger retronasally. A bit too old, but still quite enjoyable, a bit different from what the older (family) breweries typically produce for the Christmas season.

11/VII/20 - 33cl bottle from a trade, shared @ home, BB: XII/2020, lot n° SANTA (2020-623) Thanks to Bierridder_S for the trade!

Clear orange beer, small creamy beige head, little stable, non adhesive. Aroma: very oxidized, lots of caramel, bit of a sugary impression. MF: ok carbon, medium body. Taste: soft bitterness, bit sweet, lots and lots of candied orange peel, little sweet, hint of chocolate. Aftertaste: sweet, caramel, little bitter, bit spicy, dry, very oxidized.

18/01/2018 @home - 33cl bottle from Malt Attacks. Clear blonde, medium white head. Malts, bit caramel, sugar, spices.