Brewery: Svaneke Bryghus (Denmark)
Beer: Jule Spektakel, 8.0% ABV, 500ml bottle
Style: Belgian Style / Christmas Ale
Listed Ingredients: Water, Malted Barley, Hops, Trappist Yeast
Rating: 4/5
Probably Vegan Friendly

Svaneke Jule Spektakel

Appearance
Deep brown, almost black, pours a rather light head for a beer of this type.

Aroma
A delicate balance of malt, hops, dried fruit, and fresh spiceness.

Taste
Malt, typical for a Belgian Style Ale; some fruitcake type mixture of spices and sweetness balances the maltyness. Warming, with a hint of chocolate in the aftertaste. Hops are not predominant.

Overall
I’ve never heard of this Danish brewery located on the island of Bornholm, but their website lists a selection of very interesting looking beers — such as a Chocolate Stout and a Red Hot Chili Ale — and if their Jule Spektakel is anything to go by, they might be very good indeed. This beer is certainly Belgian Style in most of its characteristics, but it has added spicyness and some sweetness resembling dried fruit. The combination is tasty, and quite fitting for a Christmas Ale. The beer is very rich and heavy though, so the 500ml is maybe a bit big, this might be better off served like a Trappist beer: smaller bottle and from a goblet. A Christmas Spectacle indeed!