La Rulles Brewery’s Christmas brew is a big, spicy, roasty Belgian Dark Strong Ale. Cuvee Meilleurs means “best wishes” in French and that’s what this beer gives you.
It is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and bottle conditioned. All of La Rulles Brewery’s beers are made with only American West Coast hops. This Christmas beer has no added spices, all the flavor comes from the traditional elements of hops, malt, yeast, and dark candy sugar.
Cuvee Meilleurs Voeux pours dark reddish brown with a firm, small bubble head of lasting foam. It smells of bread, malts and a slight sour note. It tastes neither too sweet nor too hoppy with caramel malts, citrus, herbs, earthly grassy notes. The yeast from Orval Trappist brewery provides a tiny bit of sour funk that makes this beer stand out. It’s very drinkable with a nice mouth feel and a good finish. The alcohol is a barely noticeable 7.3% ABV.
I want to have a go at aging a few bottles of La Rulles Cuvee Meilleurs Voeux. My guess is a bit of time would reveal even more surprises out of this complex Christmas beer.