Serafijn Christmas Angel

Sorry. I wanted to like this. I really did. But I just don't get it.

It's a holiday offering from a tiny-ass Belgian brewery, from a tiny-ass Belgian town. So what's not to get?

Only in that this is just plain waaaaaay too convoluted and confused for my liking. Some folks might say that having a beer be too complex is better than being not complex enough. In theory, I agree. In this case, on other hand? No no no no no.....

Seems to me this started out on paper as a Tripel, with the requisite sugar additions to up the ABV% and dry-up the body, with maybe some bubble-gum'ish yeasty esters. And then a standard load of Belgian'esqe spices were tossed in: coriander chief among them. And maybe even some spiciness from good ol' Saaz hops, to keep things on the up-and-up. All well and good, I suppose (my aversion to coriander withstanding for the time being).

But then..., this being a Christmas beer and all -- and no doubt with some prodding from the Shelton Brothers here -- they had to go over-the-top with the spices, and throw both this beer and my interest in it for a huge loop to oblivion.

All those "typical" spices and flavors that we've all had before is all well and good. But NONE of them match up with whatever-the-fuck I was tasting in this beer! Is that nutmeg? All-Spice? Curry? Old Bay?? Cumin?? All or none of the above? Gah!!

This was very unapproachable when I first cracked open this 750mL, and letting it warm up some only highlighted the vapors of alcohol coming off this beer. And Karen noticed the medicinal/herbal cough drop aspect: Ricola™, anyone?

This was an expensive bottle to have to toss down the drain. Save your cash: this angel doesn't fly.
//TB