Advent Calendar Window 3 - X-mas Zinnebir 2013

Window Three was picked by a colleague today and it's a rather odd fellow this, or at least a secretive one. I'm quite a big fan of regular Zinnebir, after having it recommended to me by a member of staff at 57 Thomas Street, Manchester (in a pre-drinking build-up to a Snoop Dogg concert in 2011 - my memory is famous.) My experience with the Brasserie de la Senne, Brussels has been sporadic moments such as this. I had their Taras Boulba first around seven years ago in my student days. I know for a fact it was purchased simply because of it's label and I doubt I as the first or last to do this. In fact, I love De La Senne's labels and this Christmas beer tonight is no different.

I only found out such a beverage as X-Mas Zinnebir existed this past few months so I have the 2013 version that I picked up at Beermoth. The translation of Zinnebir appears to be Little Bastards. This is often a reference to stray dogs in Belgium that may explain part of the canine themed beer label, that screams festive joy as much as Rage Against the Machine do. De La Senne's own website doesn't want to let you in on the secret either, giving no notes on the website to this beer, just a picture acknowledgement of its existence.. Well, I didn't ask for a backstory, I asked for a Christmas beer, and this one may have tried to take the Christ out of Christmas but it may yet be brilliant.

"Maybe they'll be an open door

Maybe the love that shone before

Will shine once more."

X-mas Zinnebir 2013 7.8% pours a lovely rufous and sienna shade with big, frothy head. The nose is delightfully complex; ruby port, Belgian yeast, chestnuts, baked plums, soy sauce and burnt oak. Initially, the taste is a little less dramatic. Soft vanilla ice cream, sherry and dried pears wrapped between a barky bite. It's a smooth, medium body that doesn't hit you with a burn until it's at the bottom of your chest, but it's a familiar, comforting warmth. It's an interesting Christmas beer and just about retains the character of one, whilst avoiding the high mulled spice road. It feels like a slightly more relaxed barley wine, or less in-your-face Christmas classic, which is hard to express when talking about a beer that's still 7.8%. But the beer has left the glass all too quickly without leaving a huge lasting impression. This was a good experience, just not an eternal one.

Purchased at Beermoth, November 2013

Enjoyed alongside a chocolate bear with a ribbon bowtie and another head of Father Christmas. Apparently, Christmas is already running out of icons...

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