This is something very different from the usual Christmas beer offerings, and that was the intention of the brewery. They wanted to offer something unusual, that stood out from all the festive dark, spiced beers we are used to.
I don’t even know how to put this beer in a style box really. I mean, the label identifies it as a Kerstbier (Christmas beer), but the only winter seasonal beer I’ve had close to this is De Ranke’s Noel Belgian Pale. But this is even more out of the box than that beer, with an ABV of 5.8%. And it is bottom-fermented, meaning it is technically a lager!
It pours a cloudy, dull yellow colour and the aroma isn’t all that strong. There’s yeast notes as well as some spices, but nothing really too distinct.
Tasting this beer, it is almost as if it is done in two halves.
The front half has a pleasant sweetness and an interesting mix of earthy spices.
The back half loses the sweetness, dries out quite a bit and has a firm bitterness. That hop bitterness lasts long into the aftertaste, and there is a little astringency from the spices that make this even more so.
It is refreshing, moreish and something decidedly different that I hope you are glad to have tried. Oh, and I’m going to call this a (bottom-fermented) Belgian Pale Ale.
A rich and boozy Christmas beer to 'add lustre' to your festive celebrations
The 2016 annual vintage Christmas beer from Brasserie Dubuisson
by Brouwerij Corsendonk (at Brasserie Du Bocq)
To help celebrate Christmas in July we have this festive treat from Corsendonk
by Brouwerij Corsendonk (at Brasserie Du Bocq)
The Christmas ale from this well-regarded abbey label
A wonderful winter seasonal offering from the Delirium label - one we look forward to each year
by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)
The winter seasonal offering from the Chouffe Brewery - a dark beer brewed with thyme and bitter orange
A lovely spiced fruit cup of Christmas pudding in a 10% strong dark ale
The Struise Tsjeeses is their blond-amber Christmas seasonal beer, with this 2014 vintage being aged in Bourbon barrels
Tongerlo's Christmas beer is a little different to most of the Belgian Kerstbiers
Struise's winter seasonal offering - a 10% strong blond spiced ale
A dark seasonal offering, capturing all the rich flavours of the festive season.
A Christmas beer that is lighter, drier and hoppier than a standard winter seasonal
A typical Belgian Tripel from one of Belgium's old family breweries
A pleasant Belgian blond from the Witkap family of beers
