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Beer Advent Calendar – Day 15: Corsendonk Christmas Ale presented by Norman Miller

@realbeernut, #Brouwerij #Corsendonk

Beer Advent Calendar – Day 15: Corsendonk Christmas Ale presented by Norman Miller

To celebrate the Holiday Season, 2Beerguys.com and Seacoastbeveragelab.com have teamed up with beer bloggers around the country to host the first annual beer bloggers advent calendar. This is the season of sharing and we intend to share our love of beer with you. 31 Bloggers Blogging – click here for the running list of beers/bloggers.

Let’s see who is spreading holiday cheer today!

Blogger: Norman Miller
Blog Name: The Beer Nut, http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/beernut
Twitter: @realbeernut
Beer: Corsendonk Christmas Ale
Brewery: Brouwerij Corsendonnk
Beer Details:

• Style: Belgian strong dark ale
• ABV: 8.5%

Commercial Description:
Corsendonk Crhistmas Ale is brewed every year for the holiday season is available from November through February. For this reddish-brown beer, the Corsendonk brewers use roasted special malts, the finest hops and selected yeast, spiced up with with a touch of coriander. With its delicate malty nose, Corsendonk Christmas Ale has everything what only the very best Christmas beer possibly offer, a round, balanced taste with a dry and refined after taste.

 

Why I selected the Corsendonk Christmas Ale:

When I think about Christmas beers, my thoughts always drift toward Belgian ales. Some of the best winter beers brewed are Belgian Christmas ales, and Corsendonk Christmas Ale is one of the best of those beers.

The Corsendonk Christmas is a Belgian strong ale as most Belgian Christmas ales are, but what separates Corsendonk’s version is it is more delicate than some of the others. At 8.5 percent, it is a strong beer, but has less alcohol than most in the style.

The first thing you’ll notice when you take a sniff is a spicy aroma – you can smell coriander and a bit of bitter orange peel. But you will also smell the sweet malts and the Belgian yeast. The various aromas combine to remind you of a sweet dessert baking in the oven.

When you take your first sip, you’ll notice the lively carbonation and the smoothness of the beer. There is just a touch of booze, but that adds to the flavor. The sweet malts remind of a freshly baked fruit cake, and the coriander does not dominate, rather it adds to the overall pleasure. The citrus comes out, as does a touch of sweet chocolate and maybe even a little cinnamon.

Corsendonk Christmas is a beer that everyone should seek out.

About the Beer Nut:
Norman Miller has been writing the Beer Nut column for the MetroWest Daily News in Framingham, Mass., and Gatehouse Media for seven years, as well as his blog of the same name for five years. His first book, “Beer Lover’s New England,” is available at bookstores and online at various book sellers.  http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/beernut

About Corsendonk:
Corsendonk was founded in 1982 by Jef Keersmaekers, the grandson of a long time brewer in Belgium. They brew several world-renowned beers, including the Corsendonk Brun and Corsendonk Blonde.  http://www.corsendonk.com/