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...

BEER INDUSTRY PERSONNEL - COME TO DADDY!

Around 7 months ago I started dating a pub manager. It was inevitable in many ways. Amongst the perks that come with being involved with somebody on the other side of the bar, came the dread of how to react in future to the interactions involved in bar work. It isn’t a situation I’ve been in before so it has required adjustment. I’ve never had a partner pull up a chair in the office and stare at me through part of the working day whilst occasionally ordering goods from me. So you don’t want to interfere in your partner’s work whilst still getting to enjoy the pub. You don’t want to suddenly take up a spot on the bar where you make gooey eyes at each other with every pull on a hand pump. You don’t want to be one of those possessive teenagers, watching like a bar hawk and scowling at any intimidatingly handsome pair of arms that makes your other half roar with laughter. You want to separate their work from your social life and allow everything to sti...

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 Compurgation

Search This Blog