Christmas Beer!

Do they do this in other countries too?

[Nick_W]

The Christmas Beer came out last weekend in Denmark, all the major breweries produce an extra strong beer for the cold season and they tastes SUPERB ;)

Anyone else enjoying a Julebryg?

Nick

[Rugles]

In Canada... a great beer drinking nation, there used to be a beer that only came out at Christmas. I can't remember if it was a Molson or Labatt product. But it was a strong, dark ale if I remember corectly.

Otherwise, they just change the graphics on some of the cases. Nothing to get excited about.

Enjoy your festive beers Nick!

[tosspot17]

I think some of the smaller brewers in the UK bring out a special Christmas beer. I'll keep my eye out, and let you know what they're like ;)

[Macguru]

As a home brewer, I make my own. The batch my family will enjoy this year was bottled on July 17 2002. Perfectly aged in my dark cellar at 16 C, I expect a final density of 1007 and alcohol level at 8.5 %.

Cheers!

[SuzyUK]

No "Beer" for me but you enjoy...

>>alcohol level at 8.5 %
hmmm.. you enjoy too!

Christmas festivities have started here in general and they include alcohol so Cheers!

Suzy

[Reflection]

Otherwise, they just change the graphics on some of the cases. Nothing to get excited about.

Beer is always a reason to get excited ;) but I dont remember the Christmas beer in Canada.

[Rugles]

>>>>but I dont remember the Christmas beer in Canada.

I remember, it was called Bock and I think it was a Molson product. Have not seen it in a long time.

>>alcohol level at 8.5 %

I thought that when you get above a certain alchohol level it is no longer called beer.

[troels nybo nielsen]

> I thought that when you get above a certain alchohol level it is no longer called beer.

I believe that just like with wine there is an upper level for what is possible to reach. But that level is higher.

[Reflection]

>>I thought that when you get above a certain alchohol level it is no longer called beer.

I believe anything above 5% is considered to be a different type of alcohol, thats why beer above 5% tastes different than beer of 5% or less.

[jatar_k]

We have a bunch of winter beers out here in Vancouver that come out. I don't remember one with the christmas name to it but I have brewed some myself, mmmm.

The winter beers here fit the bill, great stuff.

[Macguru]

>>I thought that when you get above a certain alchohol level it is no longer called beer.

I use beer as a generic term regrouping, pilsener, carling, ale, porter, stout, bitter and the likes. A strong beer can be cranked up to 12 % of alchool with triple fermentation. Definitly not a thirst quenching beverage... ;)

Christmas beer is supposed to be a strong Ale in wich most add the following flavor enhancing ingredients :

Pale honey
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Allspice
Cloves
Grated ginger root
Grated orange rinds

It uses a lot of bitter hops and dark malted barley. My strongest brew. But my favorite remains my bitter Scottish Ale. Only 5 % in alcohol but it really makes all my taste buds say Cheers!

[ritualcoffee]

yeah - a couple "winter" "holiday" beers come out from the local breweries around Boston.

then again, it is almost time for me to find some warm mead. :)

[lorax]

>> Bock

Bock beers tend to be spring beers. Bock beer is traditionally brewed in the fall, at the end of the growing season, when barley and hops are at their peak. The beer is "lagered" all winter and enjoyed in the spring at the beginning of the new brewing season. So it's not necessarily a "Christmas" beer! :)

Around here we have a few micro-breweries that have a Christmas beer. And they're quite tasty. I tend to buy locally brewed beers but occassionally dabble in 'foreign' beers. So I'll be on the lookout for something tasty.

[superscript]

Ref: alcohol levels in beer etc.

There's an upper limit to the strength due to the alcohol poisoning the very same yeast that's producing it. The only way to get a higher strength is to resort to distillation - and now its no longer a beer/wine, but a spirit.

hic..