To finish things off for our December pack of course we have the obligatory Belgian Christmas beer. And this was a new one for me.
Brasserie De Bocq is a fairly large (for Belgian breweries) regional brewery in the town of Purnode in the province of Namur. The original brewery was started in1858 when a farmer decided to make some beer in the winter months.
It changed hands early in the 2000’s, but still remains an independent, family-owned enterprise, most known for their delicious Belgian Witbier Blanche De Namur. Other notable labels are the Gauloise and Corsendonk beers, with the Tete De Mort series coming into being much more recently.
Our Christmas beer pours a brown colour with a billowing white head that sticks around for the duration of the beer. Aromas of brown malts, caramel, dark fruits, licorice and spices are all present.
All those aromas are present in the taste. Early sweetness of those caramel malts and dark fruits make for a tempting start. But it doesn’t take long for the Christmas spices to make themselves known. Licorice for sure, coriander (always a good bet with Belgians) and a little woodiness present as the beer progresses.
For a Christmas beer it is quite easy drinking, not overly complex but a nice beer that definitely bring the Christmas spirit to your glass.
A rich and boozy Christmas beer to 'add lustre' to your festive celebrations
The 2016 annual vintage Christmas beer from Brasserie Dubuisson
by Brouwerij Corsendonk (at Brasserie Du Bocq)
To help celebrate Christmas in July we have this festive treat from Corsendonk
by Brouwerij Corsendonk (at Brasserie Du Bocq)
The Christmas ale from this well-regarded abbey label
A wonderful winter seasonal offering from the Delirium label - one we look forward to each year
by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)
The winter seasonal offering from the Chouffe Brewery - a dark beer brewed with thyme and bitter orange
A decidedly different and very interesting Kerstbier
A lovely spiced fruit cup of Christmas pudding in a 10% strong dark ale
The Struise Tsjeeses is their blond-amber Christmas seasonal beer, with this 2014 vintage being aged in Bourbon barrels
Tongerlo's Christmas beer is a little different to most of the Belgian Kerstbiers
Struise's winter seasonal offering - a 10% strong blond spiced ale
A dark seasonal offering, capturing all the rich flavours of the festive season.
A Christmas beer that is lighter, drier and hoppier than a standard winter seasonal
Great example of a Belgian Witbier, voted 'Worlds Best Wheat Only Wheat Beer' in 2009.
Brasserie Du Bocq's classic witbier with fresh raspberry juice added
Although the name has changed, this Belgian Pale Ale was the first beer produced by the brewery
