Advent Calendar Window 9

Advent Calendar Window 9 - Julebryg

I'm beginning to question 7.5% as a percentage gravity. It seems a little too common and predictable. Are they sure it's not 7.4% or 7.6% - how is it always 7.5%?

Needless observations aside, Window 9 has a beer I picked up in Belgium assuming it was a Christmas beer based on the term "Jule" in Det Lille Bryggeri's Julebryg 7.5%. Quickly shoving the beer into my basket having never heard of the brewery, I expected to find Det Lille Bryggeri to be a French brewer from Lille. However, as it turns out what we have here is a Danish brewer from the island of Zealand. New to me, whilst I'm not a huge fan of the branding, I like the look of the styles of beers they brew from their website. Discovering a new brewer when judging them at Christmas time seems hardly fair but needs must.

"Oh my love we've had our share of tears

Oh my friends we've had our hopes and fears

Oh my friends it's been a long hard year

But now it's Christmas..."

Bubbling up like champagne over a murky swamp water umber, Julebryg has scents of cherries, caramac and chip shop vinegar. It is initially overpoweringly sweet to taste, with those cherry notes mixed in with all manner of berries and a thick fudge spine. As it sits a tartness overcomes the glass creating a different dimension to this beer, like a warm cherry pie. Grassy hops provide a decent bitter, medium bodied finish that's different without being over complicated. Not exactly Christmas in a glass, but a lovely beer alternative to a Christmas sherry and a new style for me to contemplate. A good little seasonal beer that I would love to pick up a Vintage of some time and would like to see more from this brewery.

Purchased at De Hopduvel, Ghent, November 2013

Drank alongside a chocolate lamb that frowned upon yet another chocolate snowman from Cadbury's. The lamb's bell rang in disgust.

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