12 Beers of Christmas 2018 Edition

[Scturo]

Thinking ahead, it may be best to separate them out into East Coast and West Coast. I spent $105 on shipping (and $40 canning), and sending out to the California folks was twice what it was to NY or my fellow Midwesterners. Everyone might save some money if divided by geography.

So you can pay to have a small batch canned? I’m trying to decide whether to buy a canner or not. Can you give me details about the canning you did? Where did you get it canned, how much beer did you have canned, pricing?

 

[anotherbeerplease]

Same here.

He came not to give... but to take...

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

Been out of the loop lately just an update for group 1, my 3 of my packages are out for delivery today, 2 tomorrow and the remainder on Friday. Sorry again for the late shipping this year.

 

[mirthfuldragon]

So you can pay to have a small batch canned? I’m trying to decide whether to buy a canner or not. Can you give me details about the canning you did? Where did you get it canned, how much beer did you have canned, pricing?

One of the quasi-local homebrew supply stores has a canner they rent out: $20 flat rate plus cost of cans, so right at $40 for 47 cans. I did supply my own beer line and connections because I was canning a sour and they did not want to risk contaminating their own gear. Cans weight about half an ounce, and bottles weigh ~6 ounces, so I save about ~16 ounces. Not quite enough to justify the expense by itself, but cans are a lot more durable.

I dropped the fully-carbonated keg off a couple of days ahead of time. Came by after work, spray-santize the cans and dunk the lids in a bath of Star-San. Hook up a Blichmann Beer Gun to the keg and gas. Purge each can with CO2, add beer, put the lid on, put it on the seamer, flip the switch, dies seal the lid, and voila, canned beer. Not really any different from bottling from a keg really. One of the guys from the shop did all the filling and I operated the seamer. Really easy process.

Overall, I don't think the seamer makes sense on a single-user situation. Cans only get cheap in bulk and bottles are essentially free, and the price of seamers is still pretty high. The only place it makes sense to me is shipping. If I was worried about "no glass" places, I would package in used soda bottles. My 2¢, anyway.

 

[Scturo]

One of the quasi-local homebrew supply stores has a canner they rent out: $20 flat rate plus cost of cans, so right at $40 for 47 cans. I did supply my own beer line and connections because I was canning a sour and they did not want to risk contaminating their own gear. Cans weight about half an ounce, and bottles weigh ~6 ounces, so I save about 1.5lbs. Not quite enough to justify the expense by itself, but cans are a lot more durable.

I dropped the fully-carbonated keg off a couple of days ahead of time. Came by after work, spray-santize the kegs and dunk the lids in a bath of Star-San. Hook up a Blichmann Beer Gun to the keg and gas. Purge each can with CO2, add beer, put the lid on, put it on the seamer, flip the switch, dies seal the lid, and voila, canned beer. Not really any different from bottling from a keg really. One of the guys from the shop did all the filling and I operated the seamer. Really easy process.

Overall, I don't think the seamer makes sense on a single-user situation. Cans only get cheap in bulk and bottles are essentially free, and the price of seamers is still pretty high. The only place it makes sense to me is shipping. If I was worried about "no glass" places, I would package in used soda bottles. My 2¢, anyway.

Thanks for the info. It would definitely be a want to have item. So at roughly $40 a batch extra it would take canning about 25 - 5 gallon batches (1330 12oz cans) to recover costs.

 

[fourfarthing]

As long as my submission this year isn't hated, I'd participate again.

What he said

 

[fourfarthing]

For those interested in more frequent HBT trades - we have a homebrew trade thread that's semi regular and you can brew whatever you want be it seasonal or not
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/...ug-and-mark-get-their-own-from-now-on.655881/

This. Always this!

 

[MapleGroveAleworks]

2019 thread is up and filling quickly if anyone is interested.

 

[mirthfuldragon]

Thanks for the info. It would definitely be a want to have item. So at roughly $40 a batch extra it would take canning about 25 - 5 gallon batches (1330 12oz cans) to recover costs.

The cost of materials was 39¢ per can plus the $20 rental fee and tax. 16oz cans would run 47¢ per can.

 

[HopHeavy]

N

No!!!!!!!! My BEER! Anyways, 17 out of 18 bottles isn't too bad. Do you know where in the box that one was? Looks like it got smashed pretty good.

I'm glad it got delivered.

I know. I lost one last year, too. The broken bottle was top and center. Thought it was weird that position broke. The bag kept the beer from compromising the box and saved the rest. However, we only received the nine bottles you see in the pics! Was there another box that met a similar, but worse, fate?

 

[Yeroc]

I know. I lost one last year, too. The broken bottle was top and center. Thought it was weird that position broke. The bag kept the beer from compromising the box and saved the rest. However, we only received the nine bottles you see in the pics! Was there another box that met a similar, but worse, fate?

Two of the UPS guys that delivered these beer packages to me were spinning them in the hands as they entered my office. I was like, "What the f#$k are you doing?" in my head. Maybe next year I'll get some FRAGILE stickers for my boxes.

 

[jerbrew]

Uh oh. Did put the wrong label on the two boxes? Crap I'll get with @biochemedic. He got way too much. might have to pay him to ship. I apologize for that. I feel pretty dumb. I'll get back to you.

 

[anotherbeerplease]

I am by no means an expert but in the "instructions for packing" thread from 2012, they are not using nearly enough bubble wrap. Also for 3 beers you need a box at least 12x10x5 or so, because you need some space between the bottles and the box to absorb the shock.

 

[BigCrazyAl]

To group 2: I show all of the Quad shipments as delivered. If you didn't receive yours by today, PM me.

My only shipment I'm waiting on is going to be here tomorrow according to the tracking which will complete my collection. Looking good group 2!

 

[MapleGroveAleworks]

5 spots left in both the west and east coast groups for the 2019 exchange!

 

[Yeroc]

To group 2: I show all of the Quad shipments as delivered. If you didn't receive yours by today, PM me.

My only shipment I'm waiting on is going to be here tomorrow according to the tracking which will complete my collection. Looking good group 2!

@BigCrazyAl, I received your quad. Thanks!
Also received the gingerbread beer from @fourfarthing!

 

[btbnl]

Quad and Gingerbread arrived safe and sound - thanks.

 

[HopHeavy]

@dryboroughbrewing ... Your parcel arrived safe and sound. Looking forward to the cranberry lambic. I would post a picture, but my phone went let me!

 

[TBC]

@dryboroughbrewing your package arrived safely. I’m looking forward to yours the most since I wasn’t able to try it in the 2017 trade. Thanks man!

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

@dryboroughbrewing ... Your parcel arrived safe and sound. Looking forward to the cranberry lambic. I would post a picture, but my phone went let me!

Its actually cranberry and crabapple, I didn't love just the crabs so I threw in 10 pounds of cranberries when I chucked in the cab sauv soaked oak. (I made 10 gallons)

 

[MapleGroveAleworks]

Its actually cranberry and crabapple, I didn't love just the crabs so I threw in 10 pounds of cranberries when I chucked in the cab sauv soaked oak. (I made 10 gallons)

Me and @BradleyBrew can't wait to try yours as well! I'm brewing it for the 2019 exchange. I may seek some advice out from ya at some point.

 

[HopHeavy]

Its actually cranberry and crabapple, I didn't love just the crabs so I threw in 10 pounds of cranberries when I chucked in the cab sauv soaked oak. (I made 10 gallons)

Gotcha... Cranberries seem like a frequent sub on that one, at least on the boards here. I didn't have it last year, so I really have no frame of reference. But I am betting we will enjoy it!

 

[BigCrazyAl]

I have a full collection from group 2 with no casualties. Awesome job everyone! I'm going to start getting into these tonight. Thanks to everyone that had a hand in orchestrating this.

 

[mirthfuldragon]

Gotcha... Cranberries seem like a frequent sub on that one, at least on the boards here. I didn't have it last year, so I really have no frame of reference. But I am betting we will enjoy it!

Crabapples are hard to find. The best way is simply to ask around, because there is probably at least one tree on your block and your neighbor will probably let you take whatever you want, since they are pretty much indedible in any real sense. Cranberries you can buy year-round at the grocery store.

I feel like the crabapples did not really add anything. I may see about sending mine to a competition, but I would enter it as straight lambic and not as a fruited sour, since the crabapples disappear in that they have a clean, sour taste to them. Putting it against a framboise or pesche would be a non-starter; there's just not a lot of fruit taste to the crabapples.

 

[Yeroc]

Crabapples are hard to find. The best way is simply to ask around, because there is probably at least one tree on your block and your neighbor will probably let you take whatever you want, since they are pretty much indedible in any real sense. Cranberries you can by year-round at the grocery store.

I feel like the crabapples did not really add anything. I may see about sending mine to a competition, but I would enter it as straight lambic and not as a fruited sour, since the crabapples disappear in that they have a clean, sour taste to them. Putting it against a framboise or pesche would be a non-starter; there's just not a lot of fruit taste to the crabapples.

@mirthfuldragon, I‘m planning to send a post at some point with thoughts on all the beers I’ve tasted so far but here are my thoughts on yours…

Crabapple Lambic
AROMA: First a pleasant lactic sour aroma followed by what I think is a musty/dusty Brett funk (I mean that in the best way).
TASTE: Light sourness at the forefront. I don’t know the taste of crabapples, but I get tart green apple here. Nicely carbonated beer. A very enjoyable, lingering pleasant aftertaste. Well done!

 

[mirthfuldragon]

I don’t know the taste of crabapples, but I get tart green apple here.

Crabapples are like if a mealy Red Delicious had the tartness of a Granny Smith; they are very pithy. It is a relatively sharp sourness, not like a blueberry or raspberry at all. The nose came through in a big way, and I feel like it did not develop until I added the crabapples. Thank you for the review!

 

[Blackdirt_cowboy]

Got the group 2 abbey weizen today. One dead soldier in the box. The bottle didn’t break, just the cap leaked. That’s the only one I lost out of this whole deal, a homebrew trade, and a local only trade. Not too bad at all.

 

[btbnl]

Last of my Group 2s arrived today, and I have them all lined up just like BigCrazyAl - thanks all.

Incidentally, the background image behind the Spacey Hummingbird is an as-yet unpublished picture of the Big Bang from the Planck satellite.

 

[fourfarthing]

Last of my Group 2s arrived today, and I have them all lined up just like BigCrazyAl - thanks all.

Incidentally, the background image behind the Spacey Hummingbird is an as-yet unpublished picture of the Big Bang from the Planck satellite.

Ok. That is f cking cool.

 

[Yeroc]

Since I'm leaving town for a few days, I wanted to get in some "12 beer" tasting since I can't take it with me. Below are some thoughts on the first bottles opened.

Group 2
@btbnl
Spiced Cherry Dubbel
Aroma: Malty with caramel notes.
Taste: Nice dubble. There’s this taste I often get in dubbels that I don’t really find in other beers; I identify it as a pleasant tobacco type flavor. I get that here along with the malt and dried dark fruit. Sorry, I’m not sure I perceive the cherries and spice. I take that back -- I get some spice in the lingering aftertaste.

@Blackdirt_cowboy
Spiced dunkel weizenbock
Aroma: Holiday spices and dark dry fruit.
Taste: Ginger snap cookie! Malty, and again, the holiday spice. I feel like I also get a bit of an herbal cola thing. Anyone else? Wonder if that’s an effect from the combination of malt and spice - interesting.
This just gets better and better as it warms toward room temp.

@fourfarthing
Gingerbread
I forgot I was supposed to let this carb when I got it and accidentally opened one early.
Aroma : Ginger, obviously.
Taste: Easy drinking brown ale with light ginger flavor. Nice and I get why the recipe called it liquid cake.

@Auger
Fruitcake ale
Aroma: roasty, graham cracker, chocolate, earthy... dark fruit
Taste: First sip was spice and clove forward. Then that leads to what I can only describe as a coca-cola, sasparilla perception. I really get a herbal cola vibe. Raisin and dark fruit. There’s a good amount of residual sweetness but well balanced by the hop bitterness.

@November
Christmas Gruit
Aroma: Fruity, lightly herbal gin quality. I don’t know if this makes sense but the nose has a similar quality to the aroma of some sours I’ve had (just in the aroma). I also get some menthol as it warms.
Taste: sweet on the front. honey and spices meld together well and even more so as it warms up. Nice tannins. I have no experience at all with gruits so didn't know what to expect. Fun to drink. A little too sweet for my taste buds. I don’t know what yeast was used, but I wonder how it would be with some brett or bugs to dry it out a bit more.

@Zimm9
Abbey Weizen - Shipped but I’ll have to try when I’m back in town after Xmas.

@BigCrazyAl
Caramel Quadrupel
Aroma: Rich caramel/toffee. Earthy. I got some slight spice on the nose which might be yeast derived since I don’t think there is spice in the recipe.
Taste: Wow, big and boozy! Nice bitter finish balances out the malt. I was expecting this to lean toward malty sweetness but happily, no. I need to have the next bottle with a hearty meal.

@mirthfuldragon
Crabapple Lambic
Aroma: First a pleasant lactic sour aroma followed by what I think is a musty/dusty Brett funk (I mean that in the best way).
Taste: Light sourness at the forefront. I don’t know the taste of crabapples, but I get tart green apple here. Nicely carbonated beer. A very enjoyable with a lingering pleasant aftertaste. I really like sour beers and this is one of my favorite 12 Christmas beers.

@anotherbeerplease
Spiced Bourbon Stout
Aroma: Woo! Complex. Roast at first, then chocolate, coffee, and bourbon. Vanilla and lastly… coconut? Yeah, I think I get coconut. S’more and graham cracker, too. Maybe I’m imagining the juniper in the nose but I think I get some.
Taste: Chocolate and coffee again. Bourbon with a lighter roast quality than expected. Well balanced! Creamy mouth feel. Gentle lingering bitterness. Warming alcohol. I’m not that much of a stout fan because often they are too big or unbalanced for me, but this one really works for me. Nicely done!

Group 1
@TBC
Saffron Tripel
Aroma: It’s all about the saffron. Not much room for anything else with this strong spice. I think it’s more restrained than my triple.
Taste: Still sort of all about the saffron but a pretty nice balance between the soft malt and the saffron. Good job!
I’ll have to try saffron in food sometime. Actually, I bet a saffron tripel would be a nice match with the right meal. I wonder what food would be a good pairing.

Looking forward to seeing other brewers' thoughts on these beers.
Thank you all for sharing your beers!