We’ve seen plenty of strong ales this Christmas season. How about a Scotch Ale from Belgium?

Canaster is a 9.5% ABV heavy-weight brewed in the Carmelite tradition. It pour coffee brown with a beige head of foam. There are sweet malts, bright citrus and a bit of yeast on the nose. Tasting brings malts, caramel, bitter chocolate, and a touch of licorice (anise). It has a long, balanced finish.

The brewery is called Kleinbrouwerij De Glazen Toren. An alderman, a lawyer, and a librarian began the brewery in 2004 in Erpe-Mere, Belgium, not far from Brussels. They use local Hallertau hops. The name “Canaster” is the name of Carmelite beer from centuries ago in the Aalst area. Reborn in this Christmas beer.

This is only the third beer from this brewery, a special one at that. Enjoy!

Question: Have you tried Canaster? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Scaldis Noël, also called Bush de Noël outside of the United States, is a Belgian strong dark ale. It’s everything I hope for in a Christmas beer. It’s big, with lots of dark fruit, yeast, candy sugar, and alcohol.

This beer pour amber with a tight head of foam. The first thing you notice about the aroma is bread, sweet malts, and spice. Scaldis Noël is a bold beer that tastes of carmel, malts, dark fruits, citrus, and candy sugar. There’s a bright boozy burn from the 12% ABV. It has a silky mouth-feel with slightly bitter finish.

Brasserie Dubuisson uses Scaldis Noël to create two other beers in their line up.

Scaldis Noël Premium is begins with Scaldis Noël unfiltered and then bottle conditioned in 750ml bottles. Bottles are left in a heated room for 3 weeks for the extra yeast to work its magic. It emerges with stronger flavors and 13% ABV.

Bush de Nuits is one of the most expensive production beers in the world. It begins with Scaldis Noël aged 6 to 9 months in oak barrels from the famous Bourgogne de Nuits St Georges winery in France. It is then bottle conditioned in 750ml bottles and given the hot room treatment for 3 weeks. The result is, well, I don’t know. I’m hoping the elves will chip in together to buy the $45 bottle.

Question: Share your experience with these three Christmas beers. You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Delirium Noël is a Christmas beer that may leave you seeing pink elephants. Cousin to Delirium Tremens, this 10% ABV beer comes in the unique Delirium white faux ceramic bottle with a red foil covering on the top for Christmas. And boy, do I like this one.

Delirium Noël pours amber with a thick foamy head that reduces to lace after a few minutes. The aroma of this Belgian strong ale is unmistakable Belgian yeast, sweet malts, and spice. It is sweet, with caramel, spice, bread, and a touch of dark fruit notes. There is a lively mouth-feel from the carbonation, and just a bit of alcohol burn on swallowing.

Brouwerij Huyghe in Melle, Belgium makes Delirium Noël with several different labels. Most have a me on a sleigh leading a team of elephants instead raindeer, which is silly, really, because everyone knows elephants can’t fly.

Question: When you tried Delirium Noël, did you see pink elephants? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

The best beer in the world, by some accounts, is the elusive Trappist Westvleteren 12. From 1946 until 1992 the monks of St. Sixtus in Westvleteren contracted with St. Bernardus in the neighboring village of Watou of Southwest Belgium to make the beer for them. Now St. Bernardus makes a full line of Abbey Ale including this spectacular Christmas Beer.

The Watou area, on the Belgian side of the border with France, is famous for hops. St. Bernardus has their own hops fields next to the brewery.

The St. Bernardus Christmas Ale is a Quadrupel style, weighing in at 10% ABV. It pours dark with a thick head of foam produced by the brewery’s proprietary yeast.  It is a complex beer with loads of flavors – cinnamon, nutmeg, malts, fruit, yeasty banana, and ginger. There’s a sweetness, without being cloying, of molasses or candy sugar. The complex flavors produce a long finish.

The special joy of this beer is its wide distribution. It is easy to find. I consider it a go-to Christmas beer!

Question: What do think of St. Bernardus Christmas Ale? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Brasserie de Cazeau was re-established in 2004 and produces fine Belgian beer. The Tournay de Noel is no exception. This Belgian dark ale is the sort of Christmas beer one might expect from Belgium – dark, rich, and full-bodied. At 8.2% ABV it is reminiscent of a Quadrupel.

This gem pours dark red with a medium amber head that quickly dissipates to a Belgian lace. There’s a fair amount of caramel, cloves, and candied fruit on the nose. Good carbonation on the tongue shows off bitterness of hops. the Noel is a thick, dark, and rich treat of light cinnamon, licorice, dark fruit, and lots of malts. Medium, refreshing finish. According to the brewery, they use 5 types of barley malts, and 3 types of hops.

The Tournay de Noel is worthy of the term “Christmas Beer.” I hope you can try some soon. Ho, ho, ho.

Question: Have you had Tournay de Noel? You can leave a comment by clicking here.