Today is one of the official starts of the Christmas period.  Of course, it depends on your perspective.  Last Friday was Black Friday in the U.S. – the day on which Americans celebrate rampant commercialism and the capitalistic side to the Holiday Season.  Religiously speaking, Advent is probably the official official start of the Holiday Season from the church’s point of view – a fact attested to by the many children who have started opening their Advent Calendars, and adding a sugar rush to the start of each day for the next number of weeks.  But to-day is the feast of St. Nicholas and the day on which (when I was young) all of those from the country traditionally make their annual trek to the ‘Big Shmoke’ to buy presents for their loved ones for the holiday season.

Whatever the official start to Christmas, there is no doubt that the Christmas season is upon us.  In that spirit, we are tasting some Christmassy beers to-day.  Our festive offerings are continuing a tradition that we started a number of years ago – tasting ‘Elf’ beers in the run into Christmas.  Things are getting a little out of hand this year, though, as the beers we are tasting are Criminally Bad Elf and Insanely Bad Elf.

Christmas Beers / Winter Warmers –

There has always been a seasonal element to drinks.  Alcohol has been central to many social celebrations, and often specific drinks were associated with specific seasons, times of the year, holiday events or occasions.  One only has to mention egg nog or mulled wine, and many people immediately think of Christmas.

The same logic applies to beers.  Octoberfest, Spring season Marzen beers, Summer Ales or Winter Warmers are all associated with their respective season.  Beers associated with specific holiday occasions are re-emerging as more common now with the growth of craft beer in the states – pumpkin beers for Halloween and Thanksgiving being a clear example.  However, out of all of the times of the year, Christmas is probably the time of the year most closely associated with specific seasonal beers.  Whether they be winter warmers, or Christmas ales specifically, I can’t think of another occasion during the year that attracts more interest from the point of view of brewing specific celebratory beers.  Chimay Blue, for example, was originally brewed as a Christmas beer, and only became a year round beer a number of years after it had been received so well over the Christmas period.

Two things are characteristic of Christmas beers – alcohol strength and spice.  To-day, we are very much focusing on beers that are built around the former.