Advent Calendar Window 10 - Kerst Pater Christmas Beer.

"Good luck, I wish you well.

For all that wishes may be worth.

I hope that love and strength, are with you for the length

Of your time on earth"

Brouwerij Van Den Bossche is a brewery in East Flanders, Belgium I know best for their astounding Buffalo Stout that is probably my favourite Belgian Stout, a style not talked about enough on these shores. Into their 4th generation of brewers, the beers from their Pater Lieven range - inlcluding a blonde, brune and Wit beer - could be described as being a little traditional and not too stand-out by their own right. I've only ever sampled them once though and it's high tide I returned to them soon.

However, to the main event quickly today. Window Ten of the Advent Calendar featured a beer purchased last December.

Kerst Pater - Special Christmas Beer - 9%

Mocha colour with a ruby tinge, this beer evokes images throughout rather than tasting notes. The smell reminds me of the busy, candlelit, Belgian beer cafes by the water's edge, with old wooden barrels as tables. The dark currants and light spicing on the nose are merely the scent wafting as you eye more churches and architecture. The taste is of tawny woodlands - why does this beer make me think of squirrels running up owl infested trees? Dark treacle and liquorice on the throat. Dancing dark Belgian yeast on the tongue. It's sticky and long but just that little too sweet to really make you want to sit by the fireplace. By the end I want to solidify it into small blocks and sell them as penny chews. There's still something of a star filled snowy evening in the finish and a Christmas carol or two in the background. It's a dark, sweet, treacle treat that is one to create pictures in your mind. It's good, maybe not incredible though.

Christmas Spirit Rating: 33%. Not being in Belgium makes me sad.

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