12 Beers of Christmas 2017

[JDXX1971]

I think it completes the trades over all. Yes?

Not yet, I am expecting dryboroughbrewing's package tonight and still waiting for boasist's package.

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

@HopHeavy Pete's spiced dunkelweizenbock is straight up sweet banana bread in a glass!

 

[JDXX1971]

@HopHeavy your Mad Russian Christmas just filled my favorite snifter. I Love it man!! This is one Killer brew.

This is my first taste of the 12 BoC, so excited to dig in. Not being a heavy drinker I figured I better get the ball rolling if I am going to taste them all by Christmas.

 

[JDXX1971]

@dryboroughbrewing your Tripel Ruten has arrived thank you very much. One of the regular ones leaked a minute amount so off to the fridge it went and will be my second taste of the 12 BoC here shortly.

 

[HopHeavy]

@HopHeavy Pete's spiced dunkelweizenbock is straight up sweet banana bread in a glass!View attachment 550320

I have had both versions of Chalk Line Santa now... I think anyone will find the X version is way over the top spice wise. Couldn't really say I liked it much at all. Pete explained that the X bottles were spice test runs, so I guess some might have a different experience. The regular bottles are pretty good, like walking by a bakery, not choking down the spice rack.

 

[HopHeavy]

@HopHeavy your Mad Russian Christmas just filled my favorite snifter. I Love it man!! This is one Killer brew.

This is my first taste of the 12 BoC, so excited to dig in. Not being a heavy drinker I figured I better get the ball rolling if I am going to taste them all by Christmas.

Great, glad you liked it! I was a bit disappointed in the spicing on this, too. Too much licorice from the anise, but that seems to be fading a bit. I felt like I derailed a pretty novel RIS, but Randy made us do it, right? The base stout was an attempt at SN Narwhal, of which I have only had the barrel aged "Trip in the Woods" version. I have no idea how close it came to the regular Narwhal, but it had character and was real tasty. I also have no idea where 2 1/2 gallons of the stuff went in only a couple weeks since Thanksgiving!

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

I have had both versions of Chalk Line Santa now... I think anyone will find the X version is way over the top spice wise. Couldn't really say I liked it much at all. Pete explained that the X bottles were spice test runs, so I guess some might have a different experience. The regular bottles are pretty good, like walking by a bakery, not choking down the spice rack.

To be clear, I really enjoyed the banana bread aspect, it tasted very holiday season appropriate.

 

[MapleGroveAleworks]

I appreciate the spice comments on these beers. I have the spiced dunkel weizenbock for the 2018 exchange and I am going to be very cautious to not overspice it.

 

[JDXX1971]

Great, glad you liked it! I was a bit disappointed in the spicing on this, too. Too much licorice from the anise, but that seems to be fading a bit. I felt like I derailed a pretty novel RIS, but Randy made us do it, right? The base stout was an attempt at SN Narwhal, of which I have only had the barrel aged "Trip in the Woods" version. I have no idea how close it came to the regular Narwhal, but it had character and was real tasty. I also have no idea where 2 1/2 gallons of the stuff went in only a couple weeks since Thanksgiving!

This explains a lot for me, I am a big fan of licorice and also of SH Narwhal. I actually have three Narwals in the fridge right now. I will do a side by side taste one of these days soon (after Christmas) Yours is definitely one of the ones I will cellar for a year, I can see this being pretty phenomenal next year.

 

[JDXX1971]

To be clear, I really enjoyed the banana bread aspect, it tasted very holiday season appropriate.

Yeah this is a Holiday beer trade, I quite expect all the spice flavors. Tonight I try the Mistress 4 X-mas Gingerbread Ale.

 

[HopHeavy]

If anyone's interested I'll fill out bjcp scoresheets when I try the beers and send them via pm.

I think I would like that, but I am probably mistaken!

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

Bring on the reviews, I so rarely do 'clean' Belgian beers that I'd appreciate the feedback.

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

Quoth the wife "they really nailed the fruitcake".

 

[JDXX1971]

Quoth the wife "they really nailed the fruitcake"

This just made my day! Tell your wife I said thank you very much.

 

[cmac62]

How do you get into group #2? I definitely want in

 

[BigCrazyAl]

How do you get into group #2? I definitely want in

Post in here!
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/12-beers-of-christmas-2018-edition.642063/

 

[HopHeavy]

Alright, had a little trip out of town this weekend, but I managed to start tasting as soon as I got back.

View attachment 550381

@TBC , I opened your Mistress Sunday night but Pete hadn't had it yet. I figured I would wait for his experience. Both bottles were pretty light on carb but big on taste. I couldn't place a familiar flavor from my childhood when Pete came up with Ginger snap cookies and I felt foolish. We both enjoyed it! Nice job

 

[Easycreeper]

@b-boy I like it! Got a score sheet with notes for you if you're interested. Of course, it comes with the warning that I don't judge beers at all. I can only give you feedback based on what I like and what I just happen to pick out in the flavors.

 

[b-boy]

@b-boy I like it! Got a score sheet with notes for you if you're interested. Of course, it comes with the warning that I don't judge beers at all. I can only give you feedback based on what I like and what I just happen to pick out in the flavors.

Sure - I'd like some feedback.

I know there are some carbonation issues. It was my first time using my bottling gun. I didn't have any foaming issues, but I noticed that the carb levels were low in many of the bottles. Some seemed OK, however. I keg carb'd to 15 psi, but I must have lost some along the way. I had no problems pouring from the keg, so I'm blaming the bottling gun (or more likely, my inability to use it properly )

There are three ingredients besides yeast, grain, and water in the beer - coriander seeds, orange zest, and chamomile. The chamomile seemed to overpower the others IMHO.

As you can see, I can also use some help with my label-making skills. My printer just wouldn't cooperate.

 

[Easycreeper]

Sure - I'd like some feedback.

I know there are some carbonation issues. It was my first time using my bottling gun. I didn't have any foaming issues, but I noticed that the carb levels were low in many of the bottles. Some seemed OK, however. I keg carb'd to 15 psi, but I must have lost some along the way. I had no problems pouring from the keg, so I'm blaming the bottling gun (or more likely, my inability to use it properly )

There are three ingredients besides yeast, grain, and water in the beer - coriander seeds, orange zest, and chamomile. The chamomile seemed to overpower the others IMHO.

As you can see, I can also use some help with my label-making skills. My printer just wouldn't cooperate.

Carbonation was one of my notes. Nothing bad, just noted the medium carb level. I'll send the score sheet via PM. It's not terribly detailed mind you...

 

[JDXX1971]

@TBC The Mistress 4 X-mas was killer man, I really liked it. I gave it a smooth pour into my goblet and got a nice 1/2" head on it, underneath was perfectly carbbed crystal clear yummy goodness.

 

[Auger]

Unless there's a way to do attachments through the PM system here that I can't figure out, if you want a scoresheet, PM me your email address and I'll email a PDF. @passedpawn and @Easycreeper yours are done.

 

[Easycreeper]

Unless there's a way to do attachments through the PM system here that I can't figure out, if you want a scoresheet, PM me your email address and I'll email a PDF. @passedpawn and @Easycreeper yours are done.

I just took a pic of mine and did the usual image insert. Not sure how legible it is since I haven't heard back from b-boy yet. I'll still PM my email though. Thanks for taking the time to score our beers.

 

[passedpawn]

Unless there's a way to do attachments through the PM system here that I can't figure out, if you want a scoresheet, PM me your email address and I'll email a PDF. @passedpawn and @Easycreeper yours are done.

Just drag/drop the PDF right into the PM (conversation) edit box. It should attach.

 

[passedpawn]

Or, just click the "Upload a File" button that is under that same edit box.

 

[b-boy]

I took a look at my score sheet from @Easycreeper. He sent it via PM. It was very clear and easy to read. Thanks.

 

[passedpawn]

FYI, I just fixed something in the forum. You can add files to your conversations (PMs) now (i.e., attach a PDF or similar).

 

[passedpawn]

@passedpawn is lucky number one. Nice job man...this beer is dangerous.

Almost 11%. It's a pretty big beer. I hope you guys are not operating heavy machinery after consuming

 

[JDXX1971]

Just got home to a package awaiting me! @boasist thank you for the Honey Ginger IPA. With that I think all packages in this trade have been received by everyone!!! Awesome deal guys, cant wait to try them all.

 

[MapleGroveAleworks]

Hope you all enjoy them. Sounds like everyone made some great beers.