Well, here we are then: one of the biggest whales from Belgium, the legendary start of Dolle's Special Reserva editions and therefore the very first beer in Belgium to have been deliberately aged on wooden casks which previously contained another beverage, red Bordeaux wine in this case. The pioneering role of Dolle Brouwers cannot be underestimated, in being the first non-family-owned craft brewery in Belgium (around 1980, the same time as the beginnings of Abbaye des Rocs' brewing activities); then in 2000, this Special Reserva series, which is continued to this day and has been applied not only to Stille Nacht but also to Oerbier and on one occasion to Dulle Teve (of which a new one is in the process of preproduction now), marks the beginning, at least in Belgium, of what is now common practice among craft breweries around the world. The brewer, Kris, was generous enough to offer us a vertical tasting of all Stille Nacht Special Reserva editions yesterday and needless to say, I cannot thank him enough for his kind generosity - I did have a few Stille Nacht Special Reserva editions before, but never this legend, the ultimate one, a whale I never thought I would ever be able to taste. Carefully opened by Kris himself, the 17 year-old 75 cl bottle, with rusty crown cap and charmingly moldy and partially disintegrated label, did effectively - and contrary to my expectations - produce a minimal head upon pouring, in the form of a thin ring of eggshell-white, loosely knit bubbles, which expectedly disappeared shortly thereafter; the beer itself was of a most beautiful and intense, almost glowing orange-amber colour with a molten copper-like hue, clear initially but hazy with sediment near the finishing of the bottle. A milky cloud of dead yeast and proteins appeared only in the very end. The aroma was of an unbelievable complexity, depth and beauty - I cannot recall ever having sniffed any barleywine (because that is basically, though perhaps unintentionally, what were are talking about here) that comes close to this: gooseberry jam, candied orange peel and marmelade, beguiling vanilla-ish wet oak wood, sweet white dessert wine, honey liqueur, armagnac, matured sweet sherry, old cider, amaretto, marzipan, fresh fig juice, moist raisin bread and, as a sign of its respectable age, hints of wet cardboard and damp cellar, only adding charm, maturity and complexity. The onset was sweet, lush and almost 'praline'-like, hinting at candied figs, sugared fried apples and sweet raspberry jam, drenched in an orangey marmelade sauce with a light sourish sherry hint, that stretches towards the finish where it becomes more outspoken - though a kaleidoscopic, utterly refined and ravishingly beautiful candied sweetness remains the main flavour. Carbonation is evidently very soft (but not at all flat!), resulting in a thick, very vinous, almost syrupy mouthfeel. Thick layers of caramelly and slightly cookie-like malt sweetness with honey and marmelade sweetness on top blend with an unbelievably deep and rich finish, where sweet dessert wine flavours (rather than actual Bordeaux, strangely) are added, tannic woodiness renders a gently drying effect and very sherry-like oxidation, of the noblest kind I may ever have encountered in any vintage beer, establishes a deeply elegant and luscious maturity. Vanilla-, marmelade-, marzipan- and cognac-like impressions make this almost like a liquid crêpe Suzette - with yeasty breadiness added in the very end, soaked in brandy-like alcohol warmth. This is, along with some of the greatest lambics, the most impressive Belgian beer I ever tasted - I feel humbled by this, and not just because of its legendary status in the craft beer world. It is hard to describe, even for me, how beautiful, opulent, deep and aristocratic this beer is; this is without any doubt at the very top of what beer can do in a gastronomical sense, so I cannot but give this the perfect score - if this doesn't deserve that, then I don't know what does. What makes it all the more remarkable, is that it has remained in such mint condition after seventeen years - this only adds to the fact that this product was made and cared for with utmost knowledge, skill and experience. My deepest gratitude goes out to Kris, not only for being so immensely generous to offer this and other bottles for our tasting session, but for giving a beer as utterly beautiful as this to the world. A whole string of young craft breweries today, in Belgium but also on an international level, can and should learn from this. A day to never forget!

Bottle shared at A Day To Sink All Sea Shepards tasting. Very hazy orange to light brown with no head. Aroma of malt, caramel, mouldy notes, oxidized notes, sherry, wood, light cellar funk and toffee. Flavour is heavy sweet and light moderate sour. Full bodied with alcohol warmth and soft carbonation. [17-09-2016]

750 ml bottle shared at the original Chez Moeder Lambic’s cellar. Hazy amber orange color with small off white head. Malty and yeasty aroma, caramel, herbal notes, orange, cherries, sherry, vinous, wood. Moderate sweet and light acidic taste like aroma. Medium ily body with soft carbonation.

@ A day to sink all seasheppards. Thnx for sharing, everyone !! Pours unclear amber, not much head. Smell is very complex. oak up first. Than some yoghurty aspects, followed by some oxidation. taste is very full, sharp, sour notes. Over an oaky, fruity, barrelfunk, yoghurty taste. Aftertaste is very light ( for the age ) oxidation. Veyr nice indeed !

Hazy reddish orange pour. Nose is port, oxidation, dried fruits, leather. Taste is port, sweet fruits, leathery, caramel, pretty oxidized though. I’d imagine this is something really special without oxidation.

Bottle shared at the Kenny 20K mega monster tasting. 15/01/2016. Huge thanks to Kenny for this bucket list beer. Slightly hazed Carmel orange coloured pour with a fading off white head. Aroma is nice Belgian yeast, caramel, toffee, grape fruit, slight grainy. Flavour is composed of full, sticky, light grains, grape, fruit, some port, tangy dried fruit, sherry notes. Palate is sweet, medium full, grainy, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky, held up very well. Lingering lovely fruits. Really nice.

Bottle at Kenny’s 20K. Huge thanks for Kenny busting out this whale! It pour clear golden - amber with a small white head. The nose is rich, juicy, port wine, vinous, dried fruits, glacé cherry, plum, fig pudding marzipan, rice pudding, ice-wine and wood. The taste is rich, bitter - sweet, oily, dried fruits, port, vinous, wood, chewy, honeyed fruits, oily, stewed apple, warming alcohol, plum, fig, touch of spice, redcurrant and tangy red wine with a slick, dry finish. Medium + body, fine carbonation and oily mouth-feel. Great depth of flavour and balance. Has held up brilliantly. Exceptional..

Bottle split at Madmitch76 20K tasting, massive thanks to Kenwold himself, 15/01/16. Clear golden amber with a big ole off White covering. Nose is dates, sweet’n’sour exhaust, mellow dried fruit, xmas cake, airy malts, caramelised sugar. Taste comprises figs, dates, shades of port, alcoholic tickle, caramelised brown sugar, toffee, light spice, almonds, sweet licks. Full bodied, fine carbonation, warming alcohol at the curtain call. Solid Belgo strong ... has aged very well and masks the alcohol to good effect. Nice gear.

Bottle shared at Kenny’s 20K tasting - London. Did not expect that I would ever get to try this one, so a massive thanks goes out to Kenny for sharing this with us all! Pour mostly clear, bright orange-gold with a frothy white head. The aroma holds a lot of vibrant fruits, ripe apples, melon. citrus. Medium to heavy sweet flavour with notes of smooth apple sauce, light woody dryness, peach, pear, honey, stewed citrus fruits. Full bodied, lightly chewy, with fine carbonation. Warming finish with more ripe and chewy fruits, honey, pear, citrus, some pale bread, toffee. This stuff is just absolutely outstanding. Great depth, nicely rounded. It has aged immaculately.

UPDATED: NOV 7, 2016
Bottle share at Chriso’s, many thanks to madmitch20K for sharing this one. As ’De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2000’. Vibrant orange, opaque, small off-white head. Aroma is port wine, icewine, light sourness. Smells like a mix of red, white and port wine. Body is medium, tingly carbonation, smooth. Taste is thin port, syrupy fruits, apple, musty with touches of elderflower, dry finish with some booze. A memorable beer. Exceptional.