AUTHOR’S NOTE: I was invited to a special preview event of the 12 Beers of Christmas, which will officially take place on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.
If you wish to attend, see the event information below at the end of my post.
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I was recently invited to Der Braumeister in Cleveland…
…to preview their upcoming 12 Beers of Christmas.
Once I arrived, I took in the Germanic decor…
…plethora of nutcrackers…
…and holiday accents…
…before making my way to the table to enjoy some rather special beverages!
As the beer samples were being poured…
…my table of fellow bloggers was given some history on the beers we were about to enjoy (see the listing below)…
…and we listened attentively while enjoying various cheeses, meats and a teewurst.
When the samples were ready, we were free to pick and choose our beers…
…while enjoying some salted radish bread in-between samples…
…and it didn’t take long for our glasses to accumulate.
To help absorb the alcohol, the restaurant was nice enough to share some other specialties with us (both photos courtesy of Eat Drink Cleveland)…
…but eating can be slow with bloggers as photos are mandatory…
…so I also ordered myself some smoked salmon with cucumber and cream cheese…
…as well as some delicious potato pancakes…
…all of which went splendidly with my samples.
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The 12 Beers of Christmas will take place on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 from 5:30 pm to midnight, offering 12 hard-to-find seasonal beers (one of which is an Ohio exclusive).
This event typically sells out and reservations are strongly recommended for two seatings at 6 and 8 PM. You can call 216-671-6220 to make your reservation (reserved seats will receive an early Christmas gift while supplies last).
Also, this year will be the 200th anniversary of the song Stille Nacht/Silent Night. To celebrate, once everyone has had a bit to drink to strengthen the vocal cords, guests can sing the song together both in English and German (hopefully, not simultaneously). :-)
Here are the featured beers at the 12 Beers of Christmas Event…
#1 Samichlaus Classic Bier
Brewery: Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
Style: German Doppelbock
ABV: 14%
About: once the strongest beer in the world & brewed only once a year
Taste: brown sugar, toasted malts and hint of banana
#2 N’Ice Chouffe
Brewery: Brasserie d’Achouffe
Style: Belgian Style Ale
ABV: 10%
About: unfiltered beer which is refermented in the bottle and in barrels.
Taste: Spiced, sugar, balanced and unfiltered. Hints of thyme.
#3 Winter Welcome Ale
Brewery: Samuel Smith Old Brewery
Style: British Winter Warmer
ABV: 6%
About: first shipped into US in 1990
Taste: honey amber, butter cream
#4 Shiner Cheer
Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery
Style: American Craft German Dunkelweizen
ABV: 5.4%
About: since 1909, old world styles from Texas
Taste: texas peaches & pecan w bitter after taste
#5 Plaid Habit
Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Co
Style: American Craft, Scottish Ale
ABV: 14%
About: imperial brown ale, matured for 18 months & brewed in canadian whiskey barrels
Taste: boozy vanilla malt
#6 Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
Style: American Craft, Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 10%
About: brewed in 1994, six malts and months of aging
Taste: oaky vanilla malt
#7 Saint Bernardus Christmas Ale
Brewery: Brouwerij St. Bernardus
Style: Belgian Quad
ABV: 10%
About: Winter only & pours like a stout since 1946
Taste: mint-spice and molasses
#8 Delirium Noel
Brewery: Brewery Huyghe
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
ABV: 10%
About: Brewed for Christmas and New Year only, part of the Delirium “trilogy”
Taste: boozy, spicy and slightly bitter
#9 Corsendonk Christmas Ale
Brewery: Brouwerij Corsendonk
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
ABV: 8.5%
About: Winter availability only, one of 5 offerings by Corsendonk, smells like Christmas
Taste: chocolate, smoke, and spice
#10 Delicator
Brewery: Hofbräu München
Style: german winter doppelbock
ABV: 7.5%
About: OHIO EXCLUSIVE, Winter Special
Taste: nuts, malt, apple/pear
#11 Cranberry Tart
Brewery: Alaskan
Style: Fruit Beer
ABV: 5.8%
About: wheat yeast, amber seasonal autumn brew through Jan 1st
Taste: Spruce, cranberries, tint of sweet, crisp and refreshing
#12 Fistmas
Brewery: Revolution Brewing
Style: Red Ale
ABV: 6.5%
About: deep red, malty & brewed for the holidays specific, think of fresh baked bread
Taste: Caramel, orange, ginger
For more info on the 12 Beers of Christmas, you can check out the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/190501471887718