Missoula, Montana is one of my early stops on Christmas Eve. Big Sky Brewing Co. makes a holiday ale called Biere De Noël. I’m reviewing the 2012 vintage, bottle number 1953 of 3240.
Biere De Noël pours hazy brown with zero head. Sweet caramel and dried fruit notes on the nose. It tastes sweet with caramel malts, brown sugar, dried plums, figs and raisins. Not much hop presence with its 32 IBU. There’s a total lack of carbonation, in my bottle at least, although other recent reviews posted online mention a tan head. It is 10% ABV. The alcohol stays hidden behind the sweet profile, however. This trait moves it from a sipping beer to a sweet Quadrupel that is very mellow. There’s a long sweet fruit finish with a warming feel.
Biere De Noël opened up more as it warmed – more fruit, banana, figs, burnt sugar, and spice. If you like your Christmas beer sweet, then Big Sky’s Biere De Noël is for you.
You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.