12 Beers of Christmas - 2023 Edition

[Rish]

Wow, two deliveries in one day! @JAReeves , your lambicky made it. Looks like the box was abused some but bottles are in good shape. Thanks for the bonus!

 

[passedpawn]

I haven't been tracking whose has arrived - but I think they all did. The only damage seems to be this can from @BAF. It looks like something leaked, but when I squeeze it nothing comes out and it seems to hold pressure. If I traded more, I'd definitely get a canner. So cool.

 

[mjdonnelly68]

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!

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

@passedpawn Your beer is here!

 

[Beekeeper]

View attachment 836619

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!

I'm pleased that I could make something that you enjoyed.
And I absolutely love the photo composition!

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

 

[Rish]

Good job, @Beekeeper . Tasty!

 

[mjdonnelly68]

View attachment 836645

Quite the spread.

 

[passedpawn]

@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.

 

[mjdonnelly68]

I haven't been tracking whose has arrived - but I think they all did. The only damage seems to be this can from @BAF. It looks like something leaked, but when I squeeze it nothing comes out and it seems to hold pressure. If I traded more, I'd definitely get a canner. So cool.

View attachment 836613

I'm still waiting on yours @passedpawn. Hopefully tomorrow.

 

[passedpawn]

@4_Sons_Brewing what is the xtra that was in your shipment? K&H. No description there. Sorry if I missed it above somewhere

 

[passedpawn]

@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.

 

[Beekeeper]

I intentionally left the yeast in the bottle, so ended up with a nice clear beer (I know many folks like their hefe cloudy).
[/QUOTE]

I also prefer not to rouse the yeast in this brew.
Much of that particulate matter is from the chamomile petals, cinnamon bark, etc.

 

[thetick]

Had the Abbey last night -- didn't grab a picture, though. Very nice job, @Beekeeper! It was delicious!

 

[mjdonnelly68]

I'm still waiting on yours @passedpawn. Hopefully tomorrow.

Received yours today @passedpawn. Love the label - can't wait to try the gruit.

 

[4_Sons_Brewing]

@4_Sons_Brewing what is the xtra that was in your shipment? K&H. No description there. Sorry if I missed it above somewhere

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.

 

[4_Sons_Brewing]

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.

 

[JAReeves]

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?

 

[passedpawn]

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.

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.

 

[4_Sons_Brewing]

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.

 

[mjdonnelly68]

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!

 

[JAReeves]

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.

 

[Beekeeper]

I sent a barrel-aged blackberry cider not a kolsch as an extra.

Thank you @JAReeves! Your Lambicky and Cider arrived today, completing my set of Chrismas merriment.

 

[mjdonnelly68]

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!

Downshifted to this 'light' beer @Rish. Thanks for including - I dig it.

 

[passedpawn]

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!

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!

 

[Rish]

this 'light' beer

Yep, compared to the dubbel! Only 8.2%!

 

[Rish]

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!

 

[Beekeeper]

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.

 

[tdf]

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.

 

[Beekeeper]

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.