by Brouwerij Corsendonk (at Brasserie Du Bocq)
1398.
A fair time ago, the Priory of Corsendonk, comprised an all-important brewery and malt house. History tells us this thanks to Lucas Vosterman, who produced a plate detailing the priory clearly depicting the granary, malt house, water-well and brewery.
Unfortunately, an emperor from Austria, Jozef II, ordered the closure of both the monastery and brewery in 1784. Boo Hoo Austrian important person.
However, in 1906, Antonius Keersmaekers within his brewery produced a famous Pater beer. From 1982, the Corsendonk brew became a well-known name, and currently now a worldwide famous brand. The bottles designed simply from recall of the Middle Ages.
The Corsendonk Christmas Ale - this months Christmas in July - promises a deep red brown ale, made from roasted special malts, the finest hops and seasoned with a hint of coriander. It gives the best that a Christmas beer can give, with a round balanced taste and a dry and refined aftertaste.
The pour delivers as promised, with a beige slowly subsiding head. On the nose, it provides a heavily malted, slightly spiced bread like aroma. The initial sip and the malts shine through, followed by candied citrus, almost apricoty. This remains, floating on the tongue, some spices come through, subtle, but present and then finishing dry, lingering, but longing for more. It’s a delicious beer, and worthy of Christmas, even if in July.