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Stille Nacht

Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
Belgium·Ale
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In 1980 Belgium had no Christmas beers apart from six English ones; the name came out of a brainstorm with brother Ward. Ripe fruit and candi sugar in the aroma, full on the palate, warming and long in the finish. Made from 1,000 kg of malt for 2,500 litres of beer, pale candi sugar and Poperinge hops, boiled very long in a copper kettle, cooled in the 1921 coolship and refermented in the bottle: 12%.

ABV
12%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitymaltyhoney
fruity
malty
honey
Aroma
Captivating nose of ripe stone fruit and dried orchard fruit, interwoven with the sweetness of pale candi sugar and a light floral note from Poperinge hops.
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Stille Nacht

◎ Appearance

Deep golden to amber hue, likely in the 15–18 SRM range, with excellent clarity and a substantial off-white head that displays persistent lacing. Moderate carbonation creates a fine, tight foam collar that clings to the glass with each sip.

deep goldenclearstrong head retentionfine lacing

◌ Aroma

Captivating nose of ripe stone fruit and dried orchard fruit, interwoven with the sweetness of pale candi sugar and a light floral note from Poperinge hops. The extended copper-kettle boil adds subtle caramel and toasted grain undertones, with a faint warming alcohol presence that does not dominate.

ripe fruitcandi sugar sweetnessfloral hopssubtle caramel

◐ Taste

The palate is full and rounded, opening with malt sweetness and the complex fruit esters typical of bottle-refermented ale. Poperinge hops contribute restrained bitterness and herbal structure (30 IBU) that balances rather than challenges the beer's inherent sweetness. The 12% ABV manifests as a gentle warming sensation rather than sharp heat.

full-bodiedfruity estersbalanced hopswarming alcohol

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with residual fruit character and a subtle honey-like sweetness that persists without cloying. The alcohol warmth builds gradually and gently fades into a smooth, malty fade.

long finishwarminghoney sweetness
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
89
Taste
87
Appearance
86
Finish
88
Serve at 6–8°C

Cold enough to sharpen the hop aroma without numbing the palate. Around 7–9°C keeps the citrus and pine vivid without losing bitterness definition.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink fresh — hop aroma fades fast. Best within 3 months of canning or bottling.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Stille Nacht

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About Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ale?

India Pale Ales are hop-forward ales with ABV typically 5.5–7.5% and IBU 40–70+. Bold citrus, pine or tropical aromas alongside firm bitterness and a clean dry finish.

Finding a similar Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, full-bodied, sweet character as Stille Nacht will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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