Once again, we had a blast putting together our annual Craft Beer Advent Calendar!! We've thoughtfully chosen twenty-four of the best beers to enjoy in December 2021, and wrapped them up together as the best advent calendar ever: one that surprises you with a new, limited, seasonal beer every day!

We've represented many of the best cans and bottles coming from our amazing local craft beer scene, alongside some ancient, traditional brews from across the planet, and even included some new and unexpected flavors and styles as well. With an array of IPAs, a smattering of sours, some crisp clean lagers, some way more obscure and nerdy lagers, plus all the roasty malty dark beers you could possibly want to keep you cozy throughout this holiday season... this year's selection is sure to delight any craft beer drinker, from novice to connoisseur.

We thank you for joining us for our second annual Beer Advent Calendar, and invite you to sip along with these daily tasting notes that we’ve put together for each individual beer. Once again for your convenience we saved the heaviest-hitters - those with alcohol contents over 7% - for the weekends. We sincerely hope you enjoy these selected seasonal offerings as much as we really do too!!

Cheers to you, cheers to craft beer, and cheers to the 2021 holidays!
Kim, James, Kelly, Jules, Jessica, Kathryn, Ashley, David & Pamela

Brouwerij Alvinne Phi

Moen, Belgium - 10% abv

What to say about this beer? Better to dive right in.

It is clearly alive, crackling and popping in the bottle after removing its substantial crown top. Pour it carefully and admire the huge, fluffy head that has staying power—rare for a sour beer. Try to keep the yeast in the bottom of the bottle exactly where it is. Retention is the reason for that oddly-shaped neck on this classic, bottle-fermented Belgian strong sour ale. The aroma is enticing, all quince and lemon marmalade, stewed apricots, and a mild barnyard influence.

The first sip will shock you with its freshness, and the second sip may too. Soon, fruit sweetness appears on your palate, encouraged by the peppy carbonation evident in this wonderfully composed brew. The savory finish, however, is arguably the real winner here, lingering for minutes, and begging for rich foods to accompany the tart and sweet symphony already playing in this bottle.

Sip easy! This one can sneak up on you.

pmenschDecember 17, 2021JamesComment