xmas eve? What's in the bottle?

A strong scotch ale, but why should Christmas Eve change my choice of beer?

Phil

Christmas Eve is more of a liquor day. Like Baily's or egg nog with your choice of liqours. As much as I love beer, I just don't associate it with Christmas.

Any Belgian holiday ale. Scaldis Noel is very nice. Samichlaus (ex-Swiss, now Austrian) is also a good one for the occasion.

A lot of brewers-- and the people who drink ther beer-- from Belgium to Austria to England to the United States obviously disagree with you.

Nothing says Christmas like Anchor's "Our Special Ale." Of course I am also a sucker for Rogue's Santa's Private Reserve and Yellow Snow.

If you want a Belgian ale, Joel mentioned Scaldis which is great if you can find it, Affligem Noel is pretty good too and may be more available.

Thanks everyone! I have some great ideas churning now. I had beer block! Like writers block but worse. I am having company over and they love beer. I do not want to ruin Xmas eve with Bud, Miller etc..... In fact, None will be in the house!

-David

Never tried it and it's their 30th edition!!!

Of course I am

I empathize with that statement.

I had the Affligem Noel before. Nothing to write home about.

Best regards, Bill

You misspelled "Nothing says sucking on a pine tree like Anchor's 'Our Special Ale.' "

Personally, I find the stuff vile. But I rarely like spiced beers. It's definitely a niche sort of beer, and people who've not tried it should tread carefully. Just because you like other Anchor beers doesn't mean this one will be good. Unless you like the taste of pine sap, pine needles, pickled ginger and something vaguely reminiscent of nail polish remover along with your malt and hops.

-Steve

Don't they make Bud with a festive holiday label? ;-)

Heh. I must admit that some years have been less successful than others with OSA. Still, anything is better than Samiclaus in my opinion (except Cranberry Lambic).

_Randal

Heathen! It's one of my few dozen "top ten" beers. I've even got a brew inspired by Sami in my homebrew fridge right now.

If you lived in the 'other' hemisphere you would most definitely associate beer with Christmas. Summer Ales and Tasty Lagers. Hmmm. As for the howling Antartic winds that pierce through you in the middle of July, I'd go a Barley wine. Steve W.

Just goes to show how widely varying tastes are. To me, the only successful year of OSA would be some year they neglected to brew it. Sami, OTOH, I'm quite fond of (although I wouldn't call it one of my absolute favorite bocks, let alone one of my favorite beers).

-Steve

"Steve Jackson" wrote in news:uy7wd.20184$1%.18255@fed1read03:

@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com..

Don't be a f*ck. Anchor gets points for doing this in the first place. C'mon. Sticke, Dusseldorf in general...

If the point is to do something just to do it, then...not a bad thing IMO. Why not brew from malted acorns just to brew from malted acorns? Gonna buy three cases? No? Wha...!? What's yer point?

Oh, yeah. Huge, sweet, nothing else. Yeah, that's better than a spruce beer. Way better. No, really. Waaaaaay better...

Scott Kaczorowski Seal Beach, CA

For me it will be My sole remaining Speedway Stout, if I can find the time to drink the behemoth. If not I may wait until next year, see how it matures. Any of my usual favorites will do too. Remember Christmas is not just a time of giving yourself the gift of great beer, it's also a time of relatives. The older you get the more help you need being merry. So don't look too desperate with a case of bud in your fridge, do it right the first time with something big and above 9%. Feel those cheeks getting rosy now.....Yup! Merry Christmas, or Happy Holiday.

Mike

Good wine (am I allowed to mention that here) works good too, and is more socially acceptable to drink in quantity around the holidays, so get that too just in case. That's my plan.