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Noel de Calabaza

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Deep mahogany and malty, with layered hops and the taste of figs, raisins and sugar plums, plus cashews and rum-laden truffles woven in between. Noel de Calabaza is a Belgian-style strong dark ale at 9 % ABV, from Jolly Pumpkin in Dexter, Michigan, a brewery of barrel-aged sour bières since 2004.

ABV
9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltydark fruitnutty
malty
dark fruit
nutty
fruity
spicy
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with dark fruit esters—dried figs, raisins, and plum compote—layered beneath toasted Malz character.
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Noel de Calabaza

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany hue with a rich, dark brown core that catches light with warm amber undertones. The beer presents good clarity with a dense, cream-colored head that builds generously and clings to the glass with persistent lacing. Moderate carbonation is evident in the gentle rise of bubbles.

deep mahoganydense headwarm amber glowgood clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with dark fruit esters—dried figs, raisins, and plum compote—layered beneath toasted Malz character. Subtle notes of roasted nuts, warm spice, and a whisper of alcohol warmth emerge as the beer settles, with hints of rum-soaked confectionery and cashew nougat in the background.

dried dark fruittoasted maltwarm spiceroasted nut undertones

◐ Taste

Entry is full and malty, with a soft sweetness of sugar plums and candied fruit that develops across the mid-palate. The flavor evolves through layers of fig, raisin, and subtle cashew nuttiness, with creamy chocolate and rum-laden truffle notes woven throughout. Bitterness remains restrained at 25 IBU, allowing the malt sweetness and fruit character to dominate, while a gentle dry edge emerges toward the finish.

full-bodied, maltydark fruit, fig, raisinsweet confectionerynutty richnessrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is medium-long, with lingering sweetness and a drying effect that prevents cloying heaviness. Warmth from the 9% ABV persists gently, accompanied by fading notes of roasted nuts and dried stone fruit.

medium-long finishwarm alcoholdrying aftertaste
85
hopIQ score
Aroma
86
Taste
87
Appearance
82
Finish
84
Serve at 12–16°C

Warmer than most — 12–14°C. The fruity esters, spice and warming alcohol need room to breathe.

Goblet

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Noel de Calabaza

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About Belgian Strong Dark

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Strong Dark?

Belgian Strong Dark is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Belgian Strong Dark

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, dark fruit, sweet character as Noel de Calabaza will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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