Tomb
Fancy beer drinking for your time off
Maybe it’s the little kid in me but the first snowfall and the tinkling of beer bottles get me as excited as a child on Christmas morning. This year’s host of festive beers that pay homage to that old sleigh-riding cookie-eating guy in the red hat are worth all the excitement.
Samichlaus Bier — Since 1979 this beer is brewed only once a year on December 6 Saint Nicholas Day in Europe and bottled 10 months later. This was once the strongest beer in the world and is the only lager on this list of naughty but nice beers. This seasonal nectar has a light peppery bitter finish and a hint of Christmas mandarins. It’s incredible with chocolate or great alone as a winter nightcap.
N’ice Chouffe — The brewing gnomes of Achouffe work as hard as Santa’s elves but they can be seen on the bottle’s label taking a well-deserved break by the fire in their fur-trimmed red hats. This brew has a gentle warming effect that will keep Jack Frost away on the coldest winter night. It’s a festive concoction; a perfectly balanced trifecta of dark malt a big nose of freshly baked Christmas cake and a long lingering finish of cinnamon and clove-like spiciness that may entice the drinker to break out in Christmas carols.
Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve Ale — This is the only North American beer in this year’s selection of Santa-inspired offerings. The bottle’s stencilled Santa appears to be seriously partying down with an overflowing Oktoberfest-sized tankard in hand. The bottle gives a new meaning to getting a “glow on” as its silk-screened label glows in the dark. Santa’s Private Reserve is an amber brew that is done in typical Rogue palate-kicking fashion. It is big malty turned up to 11 and yet remains balanced. The bitterness of this brew is not for the faint of heart but will be a treat for your Hop Head-loving friends.
The next two beers are beautifully presented. Their 750 millilitre champagne-style bottles and Santa-themed artwork make them a unique gift idea. They will leave a more memorable impression on your Christmas hosts than that ubiquitous bottle of wine.
Gouden Carolus Christmas Ale — This strong dark ale has an aroma that may cause visions of sugar plums to dance through your head. As with all the Belgian beers noted here this one has some serious Christmas cake or pudding in the nose. Speaking of noses if you consume this bottle alone you may have a nose as bright as Rudolph.
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale — The thick head on this beer is as beautiful as a fluffy snowfall on Christmas Day and may take until spring to dissipate. This elixir has a velvety taste and a huge fruity nose of roasted malt and a long dry spicy licorice finish. Beer in hand the St. Bernardus monk pictured on the label sports Kris Kringle’s cap. It’s a great seasonal touch.
For the unimaginative this year’s crop of Christmas beers is way better than that lump of coal you were planning on giving your brother-in-law. For those lucky enough to have a good cellar these seasonal offerings with the exception of the Rogue beer will age gracefully and are good presents for the ghost of Christmas Future. To paraphrase the old chimney slider himself “Beer-y Christmas to all and to all a good night!”
