Advent Calendar Window 13

Advent Calendar Window 13 - Bristletoe

"The best time of year, when everyone comes home,
With so much Christmas cheer, it's hard to be alone,
Putting up the Christmas tree, with friends all around,
It's so much fun, when Christmas comes to town."

It’s been tough to keep on top of this Advent Calendar in the midst of moving house in December and the subsequent discovery that I have more belongings than is necessary, most of them being entirely useless. But, whilst the posts may be slightly delayed, the beers are still being drunk accordingly. We have now entered the part of December when Beer Advent Calendars become a matter of determined commitment. Drinking before heavy social occasions or with debilitating hangovers just for the love of Christmas themed beers is something only for the devoted.

So this post relates to Saturday 13^th December and Window 13 of this Advent calendar. I’ve tried to get this beer for the two previous year’s efforts but have always found it soldout. This year it makes it and, somewhat ironically, was also behind Window 13 of the set Ales by Mail calendar. Consequently, it’s already been reviewed by others, including entertainingly by Justin Mason for his Advent Calendar blog posts. He’s also much better at keeping his posts up-to-date than I.

Bristol Beer Factory – Bristletoe 4.7%

The recipe of Bristletoe differes slightly each year and this is the 2014 version. It pours a distinctive woody brown shade but is flat, though glass selection may have affected this. It’s rather festively sweet on the nose - lots of dates, coffee revels and chestnuts.A lot of that follows into the initial flavours, with a grainy and woody maltiness cutting through spicy sweetness. The body is a little thin but a light smokiness keeps everything together and the finish comes about with a large hit of vanilla, raisins and cereal. It’s something I would have crooned over in previous years when I was looking for beers in this format. In terms of British festive beers, this has been one of the most authentic at this strength.

Christmas Spirit Rating: 82%. Good to see, friends I know, kissing under the Bristletoe...

Revisit: Gouden Carolous Christmas from December 2012, because why wouldn't you?

Special Holiday Ale by three terrific breweries from December 2013

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