Today’s Advent beer hails from Le Roeulx, Belgium, and the Brasserie St-Feuillien, which brews a range of abbey-styled beers, saisons, and others, including its popular Christmas ale, Cuvée de Noël.

It’s a strong, dark ale with 9% alcohol by volume first introduced in 1969, one of the first Christmas beers made in Wallonia, according to the brewery, which further says:

This beer has a generous head compact and firm. Its slightly brown colour is the result of the roasted barley. It has a dark ruby brown colour and a very intense aroma. The aromatic herbs and spices used greatly enhance its delicious smell. This beer is full-bodied with a smoothness that is the result of the synergy of caramelized malts, carefully controlled fermentation and long cold storage. St-Feuillien Cuvee de Noel has a very subtle bitterness that is the dominant flavor in this harmonious ale that strikes a perfect balance between all the different ingredients.

Cuvée de Noël is just the kind of beery Christmas treat I’d be looking for under the tree or in a stocking, and one I’d pair with Christmas cookies and fruitcake. (Yes, I like fruitcake!)

Brasserie St-Feuillien was founded in 1873 by Stéphanie Friart, the great-great-aunt of current family owner-operators Benoît and Dominique Friart, as noted by the website. And:

With its fifth generation now at the helm, the Friart family continues to brew a wide range of beers, including the St-Feuillien Abbey, Saison and Grisette beers, demonstrating a determination to stay rooted in the region’s history and keep this local tradition very much alive.

Find Brasserie St-Feuillien Cuvée de Noël on:

• Untappd
• BeerAdvocate
• RateBeer
• Facebook

Image credits: St-Feuillien’s website.