Brasserie Dubuisson - Scaldis Prestige de Nuits 2016

Scaldis Prestige de Nuits is one of our favorite high-end Belgian releases, and the 2016 vintage is drinking perfectly right now. Prestige de Nuits begins life as Scaldis Noël, a classic holiday ale first introduced back in 1991, before aging for six months inside of barrels that previously housed Premier Cru red Burgundy wine. Just over 100 bottles of this uber-rare release were sold in the U.S. last year.

Scaldis Prestige de Nuits pours a dark caramel-brown color, capped by creamy, well-formed foam with excellent retention and lacing. Even before this has proper time to warm up, the aromatics of dates and sherry and brown sugar just spill out, tempered by a subtle touch of holiday spice from the beer base. The caramelization of the Scaldis Noël supports the deep, plush fruits coming from the red Burgundy barrels. The pairing feels perfect.

As with Prestige de Charmes, the nimble carbonation keeps this feeling lighter than it is. We found dates, raisins—just immense depths of caramelized maltiness and Burgundy impacts, with an underpinning of subtle oak tannins providing a lean edge of bitterness. With gentle fruity warmth from its alcohol, this often captures a rather wine-like vibe on the whole, with an ABV to match. The 2016 Scaldis Prestige de Nuits feels like an ideal way to conclude this barrel-aged special offer: combining rich holiday ale with expressive red-Burgundy notes.

The 2016 vintage of Prestige de Nuits seems to be in its prime right now, with a developed core caramelization that isn’t overly so. This should continue to age gracefully for another few years at least, just keep an eye on overall levels of oxidation. A perfect nightcap beer to share, while properly sized to work alongside grilled steak or spice-rubbed pork.