Dry Hopped Christoffel Nobel

European Strong Lager

330 mL

Netherlands

8.7% alcohol

LCBO 595 Bay Street

Purchased March 20, 2010

$2.35

A

My eye was attracted to Dry-Hopped Christoffel Nobel because of its nifty swing top bottle. I was thinking that it would be convenient if I wanted to save some of it for later. But, as it turns out, I had trouble putting it down.

I was already 3 or 4 sips into this delicious beer when I read looked for the alcohol content on the label. I was feeling a little more warm and fuzzy than usual, and found out why: 8.7% alcohol content. I was surprised to find that a lager had such a high ABV and even more surprised that I hadn't tasted it at all. The most noticeable thing about this beer is not its alcohol content but its deliciousness.

It pours cloudy yellow with a big, frothy head. It is quite hoppy, almost like an IPA but sweet. The first not is strong, pale hops followed by sweet honey notes followed and a grassy/hoppy flavor that sort of sticks to the back of your palate in a good way. It has the low-levels of carbonation that you associate with a high ABV beer, but that is the only thing that gives it away.

Great beer. I really don't have anything bad to say about this beer. I highly, highly recommend it.

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