I kinda forgot about Xmas too...

Xmas, a time for sharing with friends and family. Also a great time of year to be of Jewish background. I spent Xmas at Kate's house where the food and friends were abundant and of excellent quality. There are a bunch of Xmas Ales around too so I thought to share some of these with the loverly crew. Here's a few examples of what got smashed...

Rogue are a craft brewery in Portland, Oregon on the West Coast of America. They have mad philosophy, a Rogue Nation thing where they grow their own grains and hops, encourage people to be conscious of what they put in and where their dollar goes. Legends. The Santa's Private Reserve features their very own Rudolph hop which gives the amber ale the edge of an IPA, piney sprucey tingly goodness to balance the rich, sweet malts in the brew. It's fairly light-bodied, which is good because there's a lot of food on the table. As the sun starts to set the glow-in-the-dark label adds a good, fun element to the Xmas drinking. Yay for Rogue Santa!

Red Hill Brewery are an island of squareness in a sea of creative microbrewers. They brew true-to-style beers and the Belgian style Xmas ale is a great example. A complex mix of malts, abundance of hoppings with their home-grown hops and patience for a long maturation make this ale extremely respectable. It's really is amazing that the Xmas pudding flavours, the nutmeg and coriander seed, are derived from the malt and hops and yeast, no added spices. Although not as pudding-like as last year I truly enjoyed this vintage and have stashed a box in the cellar at Josie Bones to compare to next year's. Be warned tho - 8% beers are not for smashing, savour this one and don't be shy to share a bottle. It'll stretch your evening and you wont be the guy on the couch getting a texta makeover from your friends.

This one I wouldn't share. Nor would I hurry it. It's amazing, more like a sherry or brandy than a beer. 14% ABV, seriously rich and juicy, perfect with cheese and the kind of beer that changes the world for people who "don't drink beer". Eggenberg Samichlaus, brewed on the 6th of December each year then cellared for 10 months before bottling and release. I drank the 2009 vintage and it's almost exactly the same as 2008, 2007 and probably the first one brewed nearly 200 years ago. Merry Xmas indeed.

In between Xmas ales we enjoyed Harrington's Rogue Hop Organic Pilsner, Kooinda Pale Ale, Grozet Gooseberry and Wheat Ale (a sweet and fruity treat) and someone brought a slab of Sol which I believe is still at the bottom of the eski. I particularly enjoyed Kate's "Glass of Water" made from vintage local sparkling wine and mandarin vodka - equal parts. It wasn't beer, but it wasn't really a glass of water either. And special mention goes to Jules' hazelnut cassata which we enjoyed with Rogue's John & John Hazelnut Ale Aged in Hazelnut Rum barrels.

It's a strange brew, fairly light bodied with this nutty, syrupy undertone followed by the nutty, oaky, rummy goodness of their hazelnut rum. I have a feeling it was old stock but still very enjoyable. A scoop of cassata turned it into a hazelnut spider to die for. Beer spiders, way of the future.