As Christmas approaches, many of us look forward to a well-earned break and time with family and friends. And it is quite likely you may end up in a pub at some point over the festive period.
But, beware! If you fancy a pint, you risk encountering the dreaded Christmas beer!!! Beers with names like Rockin' Rudolph, Santa's Ruin, Good Elf, It's a Cracker...the list goes on. At least one of those names has been used but I'm sure you get the picture!
In my view, 90% of these are an excuse for brewers of some of the most boring beers to pump them full of 'Christmas' flavours like cinnamon and cloves, badge them with a seasonal hand pump clip featuring a cartoon Santa/Reindeer/Elf/Christmas Tree(delete as required), then add a novelty flashing light and/or a bauble, whilst at the same time stopping supplying their regular beers so those that don't want a mouthful of seasonal spices are left with no alternative!
Now not all of them are bad - Batemans' Rosey Nosey has always been pretty good, and on the Continent there is a proud tradition of brewing quality beers for the festive period - but the majority take the pleasure away from a Christmas pint, particularly when places like Wetherspoons seem to cram their bars full of them. Why can't brewers understand that people who like pale and hoppy beers, standard bitter, stout or mild, for example, don't necessarily want to change just because it is Christmas. There are some excellent beers around all year such as Titanic's Plum Porter which are absolutely perfect to drink at Christmas. And with some of the innovative brews that are being produced these days by some of the more enterprising brewers, many of us have got used to some far more interesting and better-balanced beers.
I suppose it is too late for this year, as some have already started to creep on to the bar, but next year it would be nice if we were able to walk into a pub safe in the knowledge that we are not going to be overwhelmed by a bank of Santa and Rudolph-themed beers.
In the meantime, I hope you all have a fantastic festive period and that you enjoy your Christmas tipple....
But, beware! If you fancy a pint, you risk encountering the dreaded Christmas beer!!! Beers with names like Rockin' Rudolph, Santa's Ruin, Good Elf, It's a Cracker...the list goes on. At least one of those names has been used but I'm sure you get the picture!
In my view, 90% of these are an excuse for brewers of some of the most boring beers to pump them full of 'Christmas' flavours like cinnamon and cloves, badge them with a seasonal hand pump clip featuring a cartoon Santa/Reindeer/Elf/Christmas Tree(delete as required), then add a novelty flashing light and/or a bauble, whilst at the same time stopping supplying their regular beers so those that don't want a mouthful of seasonal spices are left with no alternative!
Now not all of them are bad - Batemans' Rosey Nosey has always been pretty good, and on the Continent there is a proud tradition of brewing quality beers for the festive period - but the majority take the pleasure away from a Christmas pint, particularly when places like Wetherspoons seem to cram their bars full of them. Why can't brewers understand that people who like pale and hoppy beers, standard bitter, stout or mild, for example, don't necessarily want to change just because it is Christmas. There are some excellent beers around all year such as Titanic's Plum Porter which are absolutely perfect to drink at Christmas. And with some of the innovative brews that are being produced these days by some of the more enterprising brewers, many of us have got used to some far more interesting and better-balanced beers.
I suppose it is too late for this year, as some have already started to creep on to the bar, but next year it would be nice if we were able to walk into a pub safe in the knowledge that we are not going to be overwhelmed by a bank of Santa and Rudolph-themed beers.
In the meantime, I hope you all have a fantastic festive period and that you enjoy your Christmas tipple....
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| Image from Mikkeller.dk |
I'm with you Chris . The only themed ale I was happy to have on our bar ( in the day!) was Phoenix Humbug! Baaah Humbug!
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