Advent Calendar Window 22 - Leffe Biere de Noel

So here's a brewery everybody hates. Everybody hates words like Budweiser, Stella Artois, Anheuser-Busch and InBev to the point whLeffe. Whatever they've done for the sustainability and success of their business doesn't change the fact that Leffe was the first real Belgian and Abbey beer I started to drink when I was 18 and that developed my tastes away from the traditional British cask ales I was used to. Anyway, you can buy Leffe's Blonde and Bruin in Aldi these days and they still taste as I remember so who am I to complain.

ere we'll argue over everything they produce and associate with until our laptop keys are broken from the ferocity of our typing. I say "we" but you can count me out as I love

This little bottle of Leffe Biere de Noel 6.6% was intended to be Window 22 of last year's Advent Calendar. It was due to illness and a hectic schedule that no beers were drunk last year for either Window 22 or 23. It is by complete coincidence that it just so happened to be behind Window 22 this year again. It's an even bigger and more inconvenient coincidence that I am ill once more, full of a cold that has made tasting and notes for this beer difficult. Still, this year I will not relinquish.

"I've got 5 more nights of sleeping on my own
4 more days until you're coming home
3 more dreams of you and mistletoe
2 more reasons why I love you so"

Pouring chestnut brown, this bubbles away like a bath filled with your girlfriend's latest Lush Christmas package. It hasn't agreed with a little ageing clearly and doesn't settle for some time. My cold blocks any nose here, or perhaps there isn't one. All I'm getting is an unpleasant metallic hint but I guess that was all I got from the excellent Amager Julebryg too. However, the taste of this Biere de Noel does little to save it either. It's sweet caramel, winter berries and dark fruits in a way many Belgian Christmas ales are. But that's about your job lot. The finish is flavourless and has a dry mouthfeel and whatever taste there ever was is over too quickly. I'll put this one down to my cold and leave it there as it feels wrong to judge this further without the correct use of my senses. Maybe this deserves a re-review next year.

Purchased from Beer Ritz November, 2012

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