12 Beers of Christmas - 2023 Edition
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1st Beer of Christmas - @Beekeeper's Abbey Weizen:
Pours a bright gold with a thick white head. Carbonation is spot on. Very nice, spicy aroma. Light spices hit just right and give the beer a bright, very enjoyable saison-like flavor. An excellent quaffer. Tore through my first one before sprinting to a second (Friday beers are the best beers). Great job @Beekeeper - this is a really well brewed beer. Cheers!
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I'm pleased that I could make something that you enjoyed.
And I absolutely love the photo composition!
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Quite the spread.
@Beekeeper Weizen was delicious. Its flavors perfectly matched my expectations after reading the recipe. I could taste the coriander and of course the belgian yeast notes. Meringue head was a bonus. I intentionally left the yeast in the bottle, so ended up with a nice clear beer (I know many folks like their hefe cloudy). Wish I had chilled two of them.
I did not pick up any of the cinnamon.
I did not pick up any of the cinnamon.
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I'm still waiting on yours @passedpawn. Hopefully tomorrow.
@4_Sons_Brewing what is the xtra that was in your shipment? K&H. No description there. Sorry if I missed it above somewhere
@kwilson16 great beer. I think it's very similar to the one I brewed for this same event some years ago. I recall it did not maintain any head for some reason, perhaps related to the cherries.
I also prefer not to rouse the yeast in this brew.
Much of that particulate matter is from the chamomile petals, cinnamon bark, etc.
Had the Abbey last night -- didn't grab a picture, though. Very nice job, @Beekeeper! It was delicious!
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These beers were from my Son’s Wedding - k&H are the initials of the couple.
The beer should have a beer type checked on the side (if I labeled them correctly).
I did 5 different beers for the wedding - they were the only beers I had available to include as extras, as I spent most of the summer brewing those, so tossed an extra one into each box.
If it’s not checked - then it will truly be a Christmas surprise - but it will be one of the 5 beers listed on the side of the can.
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I had to catch up last night - had the Abbey Weizen and the Cherry Dubbel.
I’m not very good with tasting notes, but I’ll say both were very good beers.
The abbey had hints of lemon peel and a bit of saison like funk, which I really enjoyed. My son who is not a craft beer guy also enjoyed it.
The dubbel had some nice tartness from the cherry, loved the color.
Both very drinkable and enjoyable beers, look forward to enjoying the remaining bottles of these and all the others.
I’m not very good with tasting notes, but I’ll say both were very good beers.
The abbey had hints of lemon peel and a bit of saison like funk, which I really enjoyed. My son who is not a craft beer guy also enjoyed it.
The dubbel had some nice tartness from the cherry, loved the color.
Both very drinkable and enjoyable beers, look forward to enjoying the remaining bottles of these and all the others.
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I already heard from one person who had FedEx treat their box like a red-headed stepchild. Did anyone else get any damaged bottles from me?
Ah, should have noticed the check mark. Hoppily Ever After is it. Which makes me think... My youngest boy is getting married in May. I should get something on tap just like that. And maybe a mead for bottling.These beers were from my Son’s Wedding - k&H are the initials of the couple.
The beer should have a beer type checked on the side (if I labeled them correctly).
I did 5 different beers for the wedding - they were the only beers I had available to include as extras, as I spent most of the summer brewing those, so tossed an extra one into each box.
If it’s not checked - then it will truly be a Christmas surprise - but it will be one of the 5 beers listed on the side of the can.
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That’s the IPA - modeled after Double Hearted from Bell’s. Congrats to your Son. I was both flattered and frightened when he asked me to brew the beer for the wedding - fortunately it went off without issue.
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2nd Beer of Christmas - @kwilson16's Spiced Cherry Dubbel:
Kicking off my Saturday session early as we're home all day baking Christmas cookies so went first with @kwilson16's Spiced Cherry Dubbel (bet you didn't intend on it being an eye opener did ya'?). Poured a gorgeous reddish 'Auld Bruin' brown with a slight white head that dissipated fairly quickly (no suprise at this ABV). Clean aroma with no hint of hops or of hot alcohol (a pleasant surprise at this ABV). Cherry solidly asserts itself and brings with it the slightest hint of sourness which, being a fan of the Duchess (de Bourgogne), I am definitely here for. Let the second half of the pint warm up and the flavors blossomed while still holding any hot alcohol at bay - quite the trick. I would have had a second but it being 11% and it being 1pm here on the east coast - I reluctantly chose to push my next one off until another time. If I'm being honest, the label also had me worried over what my third grade teacher Sister Alice Marie would think of me now. (For those scoring at home, catholic guilt lasts 46 years - and counting). Very enjoyable and dangerously drinkable beer @kwilson16. Cheers!
Kicking off my Saturday session early as we're home all day baking Christmas cookies so went first with @kwilson16's Spiced Cherry Dubbel (bet you didn't intend on it being an eye opener did ya'?). Poured a gorgeous reddish 'Auld Bruin' brown with a slight white head that dissipated fairly quickly (no suprise at this ABV). Clean aroma with no hint of hops or of hot alcohol (a pleasant surprise at this ABV). Cherry solidly asserts itself and brings with it the slightest hint of sourness which, being a fan of the Duchess (de Bourgogne), I am definitely here for. Let the second half of the pint warm up and the flavors blossomed while still holding any hot alcohol at bay - quite the trick. I would have had a second but it being 11% and it being 1pm here on the east coast - I reluctantly chose to push my next one off until another time. If I'm being honest, the label also had me worried over what my third grade teacher Sister Alice Marie would think of me now. (For those scoring at home, catholic guilt lasts 46 years - and counting). Very enjoyable and dangerously drinkable beer @kwilson16. Cheers!
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I’m going to just ditto on this previous post. I wasn’t paying attention to the numbers on the label, and 11%? When I am making tortillas from scratch on the grill? Looks like store-bought in my families future.
Thank you @JAReeves! Your Lambicky and Cider arrived today, completing my set of Chrismas merriment.
Downshifted to this 'light' beer @Rish. Thanks for including - I dig it.
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Haha, catholic schools for me too. I know exactly what you're saying.
Also, I had NO idea that was 11% until you just wrote that!
Yep, compared to the dubbel! Only 8.2%!Very tasty cherry dubbel, @kwilson16 ! Nice subtle cherry aroma and flavor, no hint that it's 11%. I like it. I had a little trouble with that fancy cap cover, though!
I had to laugh, as I just opened this and mentioned to the wife that I'm not a fan of the foil cover. Agreed, that's a smooth, tasty 11% cherry. @kwilson16 you can be proud of that brew day.Very tasty cherry dubbel, @kwilson16 ! Nice subtle cherry aroma and flavor, no hint that it's 11%. I like it. I had a little trouble with that fancy cap cover, though!
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Catching up from yesterday. Beautiful color on this Abbey Weizen.
As others mentioned, there's a great funky aroma up front. Light belgiany yeast character behind a really nice, crisp lemon zest. I get a tiny bit of cinnamon finish after a swallow. This is not generally my favorite style but this one is crisp and refreshing!
You all have me revved up for the Dubbel. 11% eh
Quick edit as I let it warm some I started to get a bit of banana too. Just enough.
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I haven't yet identified the "funky aroma up front" - all I can find is the chamomile flowers, when my nose warns my tongure that this is not a typical wheat beer. I still have a couple bottles left to try and read more into this.
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Ooh that's a great beer. I had my pocket knife ready for the foil, thanks for the heads up .
Nice and tart, with a strong cherry flavor up front. It seems pretty highly carbonated which fits this beer perfectly. I'm waiting for it to warm up some now but it's hard not to finish!
3rd Beer of Christmas - @shetc 's Spiced Juniper Rye Bock:
Beer pours a beautiful reddish brown with a slight head that dissipates quickly. Very clear and inviting - a good looking pint. Clean aroma straight out of the fridge - no hop or spice aroma off the bat. Medium to low carbonation. Subdued spiciness of the Rye comes through with the first sip - a really nice flavor (I'm a huge fan of rye in all its forms - beer, bread and whiskey). Color and appearance are really nice - enjoyed staring at it. Flavors open up as the beer warms bringing what I assume are the juniper berries forward. Not super familiar with Juniper but it seems to impart a very nice flavor completely appropriate for the season. Nicely brewed @shetc - Cheers!
Beer pours a beautiful reddish brown with a slight head that dissipates quickly. Very clear and inviting - a good looking pint. Clean aroma straight out of the fridge - no hop or spice aroma off the bat. Medium to low carbonation. Subdued spiciness of the Rye comes through with the first sip - a really nice flavor (I'm a huge fan of rye in all its forms - beer, bread and whiskey). Color and appearance are really nice - enjoyed staring at it. Flavors open up as the beer warms bringing what I assume are the juniper berries forward. Not super familiar with Juniper but it seems to impart a very nice flavor completely appropriate for the season. Nicely brewed @shetc - Cheers!
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@kwilson16 I only got a small sample of the dubble as we were tasting all sorts of beer with my neighbors. We all enjoyed it. I'll do a proper glass when I'm on vaca next week.
+ Malty flavor, full bodied, warming. Very drinkable. Wife likes this one as well!@shetc , this is a tasty beer! Like the color and mouth feel. Just a touch of juniper and spice. Nice brew.
Like trying to identify just the guava in a hawaian punch, without having tasted guava alone, I don't 'know' juniper, so I am unable to identify its presence among the flavors. Heck, I didn't know what chamomile blossoms smelled like either.
Recipe please. Is this one straight out of Randy’s book?
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Had the Junioer Rye Bock tonight. The rye really shines (like others that have posted I really like rye, in all forms). I get a dark berry or fruit flavor almost like raisins, I’m suspecting that’s the juniper berry. Really nice beer. Enjoying this a lot tonight.
Behind on my posting… @passedpawn, I got your beer yesterday. Thanks!
@kwilson16: I had the Dubbel last night. It was awesome! Really liked the tartness and the cherry flavor. Thanks and well done!
@kwilson16: I had the Dubbel last night. It was awesome! Really liked the tartness and the cherry flavor. Thanks and well done!
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Received the gruit today - I think that makes a complete set for me. Looking forward to enjoying the rest.
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Geez, how did I get behind?! 
@mjdonnelly68 Santa Sips is delish. The spices are prominent but very nicely in balance with the malt and body. The most seasonal one I've had so far.
@mjdonnelly68 Santa Sips is delish. The spices are prominent but very nicely in balance with the malt and body. The most seasonal one I've had so far.
