X-Mas 2010 Beer Round-Up

Here it is--your Ferment Nation Christmas 2010 Beer Roundup!

Check out these three Christmas beers this Yuletide.  Make yours the merriest, yes the merriest, and the happiest, yes the happiest.  Drink Safely and don't forget to leave Santa a wee nip of something strong to take the edge off!

Corsendonk Christmas Ale:

This Belgian dark ale comes in a great gift pack (six beers and a glass) for the holiday season. It is very even-tempered as a dark ale and quite tasty. The aroma is just wonderful and complex with hints of dried fruits and some exotic spicing. [Read the Full Review]

Nøgne Ø / Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales / Stone Brewing Co.Special Holiday Ale:

Bearing gifts, they traverse afar... I'm not very familiar with Nøgne Øas a brewery but I'm about to become really interested in this brewery from Grimstad, Norway. This 2009 version of the special collaboration between Kjetil Jikiun and the other two wisemen (Ron Jeffries from Jolly Pumpkin and Mitch Steele from Stone) is worth its weight in rare herbs and glinting riches. This Special Holiday Alepours so dark reddish brown that it is almost black, topped with a generous foamy tan head. [Read the full review]

Anchor Holiday Ale 2009:

Eleven months I wait for this brew to hit the shelves. As soon as the pumpkin ales have all shown their fall finery in liquor stores around town I begin to peek around for the first winter brews. Anchor Brewing offers one of the most solid and stalwart lines of brews and the "Our Special Ale" stands out among these. Every year the recipe is different (and so is the tree pictured on the label) so it's a holiday surprise every time. [Read the full review]

Nøgne Ø / Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales / Stone Brewing Co. Special Holiday Ale

Nøgne Ø / Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales / Stone Brewing Co. Special Holiday Ale:

Bearing gifts, they traverse afar... I'm not very familiar with Nøgne Ø as a brewery but I'm about to become really interested in this brewery from Grimstad, Norway. This 2009 version of the special collaboration between Kjetil Jikiun and the other two wisemen (Ron Jeffries from Jolly Pumpkin and Mitch Steele from Stone) is worth its weight in rare herbs and glinting riches. This Special Holiday Ale pours so dark reddish brown that it is almost black, topped with a generous foamy tan head. The foam contains many tart, fruity flavors and notes of spice but actually covers up some of the aromas. Sip away some of the foam and let it die down a bit to release the full riches of this fragrant beverage.

What a unique twist on the holiday brewing tradition! Brewed with Michigan chestnuts (rich and hearty Americana), white sage from Southern California (for some sass) and Norwegian juniper berries (probably Santa's favorite), this perfectly crafted dark ale contains all the right flavors to complement any holiday meal. Its medium body won't compete with dinner and it has the rich tartness that could accompany a dessert -- even a rich mince pie. Actually, it would go perfectly with mince since its chestnut, juniper, and sage are an alternate wintry mix: fruit, spice, and bitters with a twist.

This brew is not very hoppy. It's fruity but not a fruit beer by any means. Tart but not sour, Nøgne Ø is a must-try for anyone who has ever tried a holiday beer... ever. Surprisingly accessible, it can be tried by anyone but will be loved by the select few who have discerning palates. The flavors are rich but not over the top.

Other holiday brews like it? Not that I know of. But if you've had Jolly Pumpkin's Noel de Calabaza and come away a bit intrigued yet startled by is bold assault on the tastebuds -- give this puppy a try. You'll be blown away but not confused. And if you love Anchor's Holiday Ale but wish there were just a little more body and festive trappings ... Nøgne Ø is right up your alley. Anchor may be coming close to porter land but Nøgne Ø is an ale beyond measure.

Whether you share the brew at a holiday meal, wrap your hands around it in front of a fire, or share it with shepherds on a silent night -- drink it. Share it if you can, hog it if you must, but go get some this holiday season. If you drink it by yourself keep in mind that it is 8.5% abv, so get a chauffeur for your sleigh or your camel.

By the way, did I mention that this is a collaboration between Stone, Jolly Pumpkin, and Nøgne Ø? Why wouldn't you try it? Sheesh!

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales/Stone Brewing Company/Nøgne Special Holiday Ale:

Representation: 1.0
Accessibility: .95
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score: 3.95 Flags

Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza Special Ale

Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza Special Ale:

This holiday gem is an ale aged in oak barrels, bottled conditioned for richness and complexity. The oakey flavor is subtle -- works nicely with the Flemish sour-style tartness. The spicing is the interesting part here -- the medley of fruits and spices conjure up images of sitting by the fire and sipping this brew with both hands wrapped around the glass. It reminds me a little bit of mince pie: cloves and cinnamon mixed with plenty of sweet-tart fruites like raisins and cherries, cranberries, figs, and orange peels. It would be spiked, of course, with some warming alcohol essence like brandy. Yummy and a little pungent.

I also picture a mulled wine ... again, the spices warm and comfort the jolly drinker with a dessert-like brew. This ale pours a deep reddish-brown color with a tremendously thick, foamy head.

Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza is ultra rich and flavorful but overall remains a medium-bodied beer. Bottle-conditioning allows for continued growth and changes with the passage of time. Having already been barrel aged, the spices blend in with the brew in a most permanent way. But bottle-conditiong actually keeps the brew fermenting even while it waits to be drunk. The resulting mixture is spice-infused and richly complex. These are not ingredients flung together in a kettle and then sold to goobers who need their beer to be 30 degrees below zero to kill off any flavor that may be lurking at the bottom of the bottle! No, these are ingredients masterfully blended into a definite "sippin' tea." By the way, I think I just got a bite of ginger.

I would recommend this beer to Flemish Sour lovers (Monk's Flemish Sour, Duchesse de Bourgogne), fruit beer lovers (Dogfish Head Festina Peche and Raison D'Etre), and lambic drinkers (Lindeman's Framboise or Kriek).

I would not recommend Noel de Calabaza to anyone who thinks the beer might taste like pumpkin. It doesn't. It isn't very hoppy, though there is a certain dryness that is notable, especially in the finish. There is a nice malty base but the malt has neither the caramely brown taste like a doppelbock nor is it boozy like a Scotch ale.

Not for beginners, Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza is so flamboyant that it could be off-putting. It would take a pretty sophisticated palate to truly understand and enjoy this brew. I think that the European sours are a little too much for El Presidente, but this Michigan beer tickles my tastebuds. Maybe this makes sense: a cross between a Scottish ale, a Flemish sour, and a Belgian lambic. Oh, by the way, pour this brew into a snifter... better yet, make it two snifters and share a bottle of holiday cheer with someone adventurous. At 9% abv, drinking a whole big bottle by oneself is a little tricky.

Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza Special Ale:

Representation: .95
Accessibility: .85
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: .90

Total Score: 3.7 Flags