The Xmas Beer Calendar 2023

5 months ago

Whoooooot again one for me

Another year and another beer calendar for Christmas time. What a great present I got from my family. It seems, I’ve been a nice family guy even the last year.

Hey Hive Family
let us travel the world again
and enjoy great beer from Belgium

Day 1 - Valduc

As I didn't know this beer, I was surprised about the lovely taste. Something special.

See what others say:

An atypical white beer without the addition of spices. The flavors of spicy hops and its fruity yeast give it a singular refreshing taste. Its delicate and subtle nose delivers the natural fragrances of banana and mango. The wheat that serves as its base is reminiscent of beers in the good old times.

^{Source untappd.com}

They have a bunch of nice beers from Valduc and I enjoy the cover art.

^{Source carrefour.be}

Day 2 - Kwak Blonde

Yummy, this was a surprise for me. A well-made blonde beer. Just delicious.

What others say:

This sparkling golden beer, at least when poured in Belgium, is delivered to you with a wooden dowel that grips the glass for you, which itself is very unusual in shape. A spherical bulb at the bottom rests on a wooden platform. From that bulb, it then becomes a thin cylinder rising upward before opening up to a conical rim at the top. This gives plenty of space for its large white foam head to develop without spilling over. The shape of the glass is unique in not only does it make you a little unsure if the wooden handle will release the glass when you bring it to your lips using the dowel rod (it won't). But also, once you get down to the bulb, it encourages a very hefty chug that you may not be ready for, thus you may need to take the tilt very, very slowly.

Anyway, the palate consists of faint toasted white pieces of bread that creep through the massive head before toffee takes over the mid-palate. From there, tangy pear skin develops in a semi-dry finish, where the exhale is slightly herbal.

^{Source beeradvocate.com}

Day 3 - Ename Blond

Sadly, this one is still in my fridge waiting for me....

Others say:

The Character, Tastes & Aromas of Ename blond

There is an obvious fruitiness in the nose. The taste has touches of citrus (lemon, tangerine and orange). It is complex, with a malty sweetness, fruity and hoppy notes.
All told, a robust, yet light beer, with a nice dry and lasting finish.

^{Source beertourism.com}

About that beer and brewery

1990 was an important year for Brouwerij Roman, as they launched a triumphant trio of abbey beers: Ename Blond, Dubbel and Tripel. The launch coincided with an open air spectacle held amongst the abbey ruins. The Ename Blond was, perhaps, the most favoured of these three, and, in 2002, Roman also introduced a winter beer called Ename Cuvée 974 (now known as the Cuvée Rouge).

This abbey beer actually makes a quite massive leap back into history. In fact, its roots go all the way back to the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Under this treaty, the river Scheldt became the designated border between Flanders and the Germanic Holy Roman Empire. A fort was built at Ename, with the purpose of keeping the Count of Flanders, and his army, on their side of the river.

However, in 1063 the fort fell into the ownership of Benedictine monks, who converted it into an abbey. Before long, beer was being brewed here, for a fruitful, long seven centuries. Then, Ename abbey's story was ended, as it was destroyed during the French Revolution. It was never rebuilt.

With a history like that to match up to, Ename Blond is bound to be complex: a thirst quencher and degustation beer all in one. Refreshing, light but with plenty of complexity.

^{Source beertourism.com}

The hiding place

What a lovely simple and self-made place to hide 24 beers. Each day I’m allowed to grab only one bottle out of this box to bring it to the fridge and enjoy it a little bit later.

The whole box is filled with Hay for the hamster to give all the good beer a safe way to stay.