MONCRIEFF – MOVIES AND BOOZE

CHRISTMAS BEERS FROM BELGIUM

With thanks to O’Brien’s Wines

www.obrienswine.com

Introduction –

For our last two outings at Movies and Booze, we have reviewed Christmas beers – traditional English Ales, and novelty beers, with their own tradition (Bad Elf).  For our third and final outing at Christmas beers, and with Santa coming in just a few days, we are sampling Christmas beers from Belgium – the country where beer and indulgence are synonymous.

Our first beer is from Brouwerij de Huyghe, and is their Christmas version of the Delirium range of beers that started with Delirium Tremens – Delirium Christmas (sometimes also called Delirium Noel).  Our second Christmas beer is from a beautiful brewery based in the town of Mechelen (north of Brussels).  Brouwerij Het Anker’s Christmas beer is called Gouden Carolus Christmas.

Seasonal Christmas Beers –

The idea of seasonal beers is something that is relatively new to Ireland.  For the most part, Ireland has lost any tradition that it might have of seasonal beers.  Up until relatively recently, the large breweries were focused on limiting choice in beers so that they could concentrate marketing funds on a discrete number of brands.  There is no doubt that this has lead to some truly amazingly artistic Christmas ads on the television.  However, in the past, this has been at the expense of the choice in the range of beers available to us as beer drinkers.

Other countries are much more adept at maintaining traditions of seasonal beers.  Oktoberfest in Germany has become an iconic festival, with many breweries brewing Oktoberfest beers to celebrate this harvest event.  Easter and Springtime also sees a number of seasonal beers appearing in some countries (Marzen beers in Germany spring to mind, as does Het Anker’s Easter beer).  Traditions are emerging from craft breweries who are establishing new traditions with beers designed to celebrate specific occasions.  Pumpkin beers, Summer ales, Winter warming barley wines and many other examples of seasonal beers are being brewed the world around to celebrate occasions, seasons or events.  All of this leads to more choice – and more choice means that we have even more possibility of finding a new beer even better than our current favourite.

When it comes to seasonal beers, Christmas is probably the season most associated with taste and indulgence.  There is a tradition for breweries to brew special beers for Christmas.  For example, Chimay Blue was originally brewed as a Christmas beer.  Only after its popularity grew to the extent that it was being demanded all year round did the monks decide to make it a permanent beer brewed in their brewery.

In terms of indulgence, no country knows how to do it better when it comes to beer than Belgium.  The Belgian beer culture is built around depth of flavour, complexity, character, individuality, eccentricity and pure taste experience.  So, if you are looking for an indulgent beer celebrating Christmas, the most indulgent season of the year, Christmas beers from Belgium are possibly the best choice to make.  We need to remember that the beers are typically a step above your average beer in terms of a.b.v.  However, when it comes to Belgian beers, they are beers to sip and savour.  The axiom ‘Drink less, drink better’ (a favoured suggestion of the late Beer Hunter, Michael Jackson, never applied more).

Delirium Christmas –

Beer Style                           -  Christmas Winter Warmer Ale

Alcohol by Volume         -  10% a.b.v.

Brewed by                          -  Brewery de Huyghe

Brewed in                           -  Gent, Belgium

The deLaet family has been operating a brewery in Gent for generations.  A number of years ago (over two decades ago now – on the 26^th December 1989), they decided that brewing a beer called Delirium Tremens, with a psychedelic blue label with pink elephants on it, brewed to 8.5% a.b.v. and full in flavour was the perfect way to re-vitalise the fortunes of their brewery.  Perched with great trepidation between madness and genius, fate tipped on the side of genius, and their future was assured.  In 1992, the brewery established “Confrerie van de Roze Olifant” (the Brotherhood of the Pink Elephant).  The beer was awarded the title ‘Best Beer in the World’ at the 1998 World Beer Championships in Chicago, and they have never looked back.

Delirium Christmas is de Huyghe’s Christmas seasonal, extending their range to include a beer brewed only for the Holiday Season.  Taking a step up further from Delirium Tremens in a.b.v. (the original was 8.5% – Delirium Christmas is 10.0%), this beer is definitely one to sip and savour.

The flavours from Delirium Christmas are simply amazing.  Initially the beer pours with a full, off-white creamy head, and presents with a rich burnished gold, amber colour.  Sweet brown sugar, molasses, dark fruits and red fruits all combine with spices (nutmeg, cinnamon and even chilli spices) on the nose.

The flavour delivers on the promise of the aroma in this beer.  A complex combination of sweet (red fruit, brown sugar, cherries, cranberries and molasses), spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, chilli and cloves) and rich organic flavour with warming alcohol makes this beer a taste experience that delivers layers of indulgence.  The finish leaves a lingeringly pleasant sweetness combined with spice, and suggestions of alcohol-laced Christmas pudding.  An absolutely delicious way to celebrate the Christmas holidays.

Gouden Carolus Christmas –

Beer Style                           -  Christmas Winter Warmer Ale

Alcohol by Volume         -  10.5% a.b.v.

Brewed by                          -  Brewery Het Anker

Brewed in                           -  Mechelen, Belgium.

The town of Mechelen is truly picture postcard perfect.  With a beautiful cathedral, resplendent with Rennaissance art and sculptures, idyllic cobblestoned streets and a small town ambience, it is truly a delightful place to visit.  In some cases, the town that a beautiful product comes from does not live up to the beauty of the product that hails from that place.  It is a pleasure to say that the beers that come from Mechelen’s brewery – Het Anker – are just as idyllic as the town from which they come.

Brewery Het Anker brews a range of beers under the name ‘Gouden Carolus’.  A Gouden Carolus is a gold coin that bears the head of Charlemagne.  Each one of the beers that comes from Het Anker – Gouden Carolus Classic, Hopsinjoor, Ambrio and Tripel – are each a little treasure of their own.  Gouden Carolus Christmas is doubly so.

With Gouden Carolus Christmas, we have taken a step up in a.b.v. again – at 10.5% a.b.v. it is a half percent above the lofty heights that Delirium Christmas has already reached.  While one could argue that a half percent here or there when you get to above ten percent is largely academic, one thing is for certain – the beer delivers on the complexity and character suggested by this high a.b.v., but does so in a way that is both indulgent, but incredibly pleasing.

Sweet, luscious rum soaked dark fruits some through on the nose combined with spice (white pepper, cinnamon, and a combination of eucalyptus and mint) all come through on the nose.  Simply smelling this beer is a pleasure in itself.

The taste of this beer simply adds to the aroma in spades.  Rum soaked currants, dates and figs, dark cherry, vanilla, spiced oak, notes of brown sugar, cloves and cinnamon, and mint and eucalyptus all combine with dark liquorice and a rewarding alcohol finish.  Gouden Carolus Christmas is the perfect beer to sip into Christmas evening, and enjoy before a log fire to finish off the evening after a delicious Christmas dinner.

Availability –

The Christmas beers that we have reviewed are available at the following outlets (though availability may be limited this close to Christmas, so ringing ahead might be advisable) –

More about: Dean McGuinnes Delirium Christmas Gouden Carolus Christmas Movies and Booze