Here’s another gem I got from my good buddy Dave Coulter: Platform Beer Company Esther Belgian Christmas Ale. Now, I get excited when I hear the word “Belgian” connected to beer, but little did I know what a treat I had in store for me. There are lots of different styles of “Belgian” beer of course, so until I popped the can I wasn’t sure what to expect.

When I popped my can and decanted, the color and aromas suggested a Belgian-style dubbel, my favorite Belgian style. When I saw the details of the beer, however, the strength is more in line with a Belgian strong. However you classify it, you will soon see that I was quite amazed with this beer.

From the Platform website:

Belgian Dark Strong Ale brewed with Honey. Beautiful Dark fruit flavors of cherry and plum round out this rich beer.

From the can label:

Malt: Pilsner, Pale, Caramunich I, Caraammber, Carafa Special I, Chocolate malt, flaked barley

Hops: Saaz, Magnum

Adjuncts: Honey, Belgian candi

Yeast: Belgian blend

Although the Platform website says that Esther has an alcohol content of 8% by volume, my can says 9.5%. There is no freshness dating on the can but I imagine this beauty would age out nicely for several years. I find it compares nicely to Affligem Noel, which I enjoyed about a week earlier.

Platform Esther Belgian Christmas Ale pours to a murky dark brown color with a light foamy head and a sinful nose of dark fruits, funk and brown sugar. Taking a sip, the beer is rich and dark malty up front, full in mouthfeel and packed with complex notes of brown and candy sugars, anisette, dark fruity raisin and yeasty funk and a bit of banana, all capped off with a warming alcohol finish.

If someone put a glass of this in front of me and told me it was from Belgium, I would believe them. Amazingly good beer, one of the best I’ve had in a while.

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