Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a

Merry Christmas!

From,
All Good Beer

Beers of the Holidays: Kerstbier

Its December 21st, the first day of Winter and its 82°F outside. This is not helping to improve my Christmas mood. So, I cranked up the AC and grabbed a bottle from the fridge with a label featuring two Santa Clauses drinking beer while dancing in the snow. If that can't help me forget about the record heat and get me into the Christmas spirit, then nothing can.

Kerstbier is a Holiday Belgian Strong Dark Ale brewed on a very small scale by Klein Duimpje Huisbrouwerij (Tom Thumb Homebrewery) in Hillegom, Netherlands. Although I just got this bottle, its from 2008 so its already got a couple of years of age on it. Aromas of caramel, plums and a hint of chocolate with alcohol becoming noticeable as it warmed. The flavour starts with a brown sugar sweetness followed by hints of ginger, nutmeg and other holiday spices. The finish is fairly dry with a lingering mild bitterness. The alcohol is also noticeable in the finish, particularly as the beer warms which is a surprise since the ABV is quite a bit lower then other holiday beers. This is the first time I've had this beer and its interesting and enjoyable, but not one my favourites.

Petrol Station Christmas Party

The Petrol Station will be hosting their Christmas Party on Thursday, December 23rd starting at 5pm.  And as usual, they'll be serving some pretty impressive beers throughout the evening:

Dogfish Head - Bitches Brew
Dogfish Head - Chateu Jiahu
Dogfish Head - Palo Santo
Stone - 10-10-10
Stone - Lucky Bastard
Avery - Czar
Avery - DuganA
Avery - Rumkin
Jester King - Black Metal
Saint Arnold - Weedwacker (cask)
Saint Arnold - Winter Stout (cask)
Lefthand - Imperial Stout (cask)
Victory - Yakima Glory (cask)
And more...

Watch their Facebook page for announcements of other beers being added to the lineup.

Beers of the Holidays: Delirium Noël

Delirium Noël is a Belgian Strong Ale brewed by Brouwerij Huyghe in Melle, Belgium.  Its a wonderful beer to drink when curled up in front of the Christmas tree near a roaring fire while watching it snow outside. I had the Christmas tree, but the roaring fire was displayed on my TV and there wasn't a snowflake in sight last night. Fortunately, it didn't affect my complete enjoyment of this beer. 

Drink this too fast and you'll
being seeing pink elephants.

I have several vintages of this one and opened a bottle from 2008. Since it comes with a 10% ABV, I've found aging it a year or so helps soften the bite from the alcohol, but the affects of it can definitely still be felt. This is a beer to slowly sip and savour. Aromas of sweet malts, caramel and dark fruits. Flavour is smooth and rich with bready toasted malts, caramel sweetness and brandied fruits. There's a spiciness often noticeable in the flavour of younger bottles, but its much more subdued in this one that's been aged for two years. It finishes with a soft warming sensation that spreads out across your body.  I highly recommend including this during your holiday celebrations.

Beers of the Holidays: Our Special Ale

For the past 36 years, Anchor Brewing has released a Christmas Ale that has become the quintessential holiday beer (for me, at least).  Technically, the beer is labeled as Our Special Ale which was originally done to allow the brewery to release other seasonals under the same label, but they never actually have.  And each year the recipe of the beer, as well as the tree on the label, is different and unique.  However, there's one thing that has been consisted which is that it just wouldn't feel like Christmas without enjoying a few of Our Special Ale.  I even shared a magnum of it with my brother-in-law on Christmas day last year. 

36 Years of Labels

Although the recipe does change each year, its another great beer to age and compare with other vintages.  Today I opened a bottle from 2006 alongside a bottle from 2010.  Surprisingly enough, the 2006 actually has a pretty strong smell of alcohol.  There are also aromas of burnt coffee and roasted malts.  The flavour is slightly sweet to start, but quickly turns to the bitter burnt coffee that was noticeable in the aroma.  Finish is tart and slightly acidic with a fairly thin mouthfeel.  The twist-off caps on the bottles probably didn't help the aging process, but I have had good luck with other past vintages.

The new 2010 release, however, is excellent as all fresh versions of it typically are.  I got aromas of candied ginger and other spices as well as some pine and black liquorice later on after it had warmed up.  Flavours of sweet dark malts and more ginger that lingers in the very dry finish.  Again, after it had warmed, picked up a little peppery spiciness as well as more black liquorice at the tail end of the finish.  Soft creamy mouthfeel, particularly after drinking the 2006 release.