Advent Calendar Window Seven

Fairly straightforward window today for the first time thusfar. One beer and all the time in the world to drink it.

Number 7 reveals Brasserie de Silly's Enghein Noel 9%. A brewery I've only encountered in saison form presently with their Silly Saison and delicious La Cre Tonnere, the Enghein series comes from purchasing the Tennstedt Decroes Brewery in 1975 and I've not tried any yet. I bought the Enghein Noel back in the summer to secure its purchase so there's a chance I'm drinking a beer aged for at least a year before trying.

Pouring a surprising honey yellow, it's notable for its unexpected chocolate caramel fragrance with a mix of vanilla extract. It is a different form on the tongue, creating a strong toffee flavour with herby afterthoughts, like sage and coriander. But the spice is there, coming in at the last second with orange peel and cardamon. It is altogether sweet, but the mixed spice is enjoyable. The warming in the chest is the only reminder of the strength, blended well. But that's about it. The beer is gone before I've really made anymore of a decision about it. It was a decent Belgian Christmas ale without frills or excitement, like a Christmas present you already knew you were getting. I haven't sat back and wished for another nor am I glad its finished. It was just pleasant whilst it was there.

Enjoy with: The Polar Express, because it's definitely a Christmas film but doesn't do much else.

Comments

THE STATE OF CASK part 2: The Cask Consumers

In what has become one of the most written about subjects amongst beer communicators for a long while I am going to follow on with my own thoughts about cask beer. Yet these ideas are formulated from potential posts I've been writing the odd paragraph about for around 18 months but never managed to construct into something relevant. I have much to say on the subject; so much so that rather than making this into one enormous read I've split it into three sections regarding the current trends and effects on cask beer as I see it. Today I look at the problem with consumer's and the immunity of one Timothy Taylor's Landlord. Part 1 can be read here . On the first Saturday morning of June 2016 I travelled to Stockport Beer Festival with my Aunt Marie and Uncle David; famously more traditional beer drinkers. They enjoy a day out in Stockport as, coming from Dewsbury way, they don’t actually see much beer from my side of the Pennines, incl...

National Winter Ales Festival 2013 - A Reasonable Farewell

Perhaps if this had been three years ago I would really have lamented the loss of the National Winter Ales Festival in Manchester . Not only has it long been held in my home city, but it was also my first ever beer festival, signifying a special place in my heart. That first visit was in 2006 and the event was then held in a co–operative building near Victoria station. At the time, my young ale loving mind was rather gobsmacked by the wondrous multi roomed, multi floored experience as barrels and casks of the good stuff stood waiting for me to try at no more than 90p for a generous half pint. Breweries and beer styles I had never heard of were present. It was also where I had my first taste of rauchbier, an encounter I have never regretted. I paid £3 to enter that day as a non CAMRA member. The organisations members that did travel with me on the occasion entered the festival for free (so they say, I’m inclined to believe they paid at least £1.) “They’re not a money making ...

Beer is Available in Supermarkets

Thanks to @Adam_G_Manning for the photo and everyone else who offered to help on Twitter This beer blog has become a near eternal snake of content but at least I’m distinctly aware of it. First comes the repeated speeches every time a brewery sells up to a large multinational. Then comes the turn of brouhaha because a supermarket has changed its range of beers. It must be that time of year and I still feel as impassioned to comment. It was, once again, the major retailer T esco who increased their range two and a half weeks ago - this time with additions including North Brew Co and Magic Rock - for the second time in 6 months. I felt the need to make comment about the bewildering excitement then, just as I did in 2016 with the arrival of Dale's Pale and Pinner . This time there has been further furore, both from people that see the positives and negatives, aided by successful marketing tactics that has led to an awful lot of commentary. Late to...

Beer Compurgation

Search This Blog