December is here, so that means that I started opening the cardboard doors on this year’s Brewer’s Advent Calendar from Costco.
The coming weeks I will give you an overview of the beers that are in the calendar, and what they are like. I am not claiming to be a connoisseur, so I won’t get too technical in describing the beer.
All 24 beers in the box are German, and come in 16.9 oz. (500 ml) cans.
These three beers started off the Advent.
December 1: Schloßbräu Rheder Original Pils
Schloßbräu pours like a lager, including the large foamy head, that lingered for quite a while. My initial thoughts when I tasted this beer, were of Heineken. In my case that is not a good thing, as I am not a fan of the bitterness of the aforementioned brand. To me this was very hoppy, and it had an aftertaste that I could not quite place. I noticed other people calling it “metallic.” Even though I warmed up to this beer (and the beer warmed up to me I suppose), it was just alright.
December 2: Herrnbräu Tradition Festbier
The cheerful design of the Herrnbräu can, along with the type of beer (Oktoberfestbier) lifted my hopes for day two of the Advent calendar. This caramel-colored crisp beer had a very short-lived foam on top. The taste was clean and smooth, and lacked the bitterness that the Schloßbräu had in abundance. I can see that Herrnbräu would do well on any Oktoberfest.
December 3: Holzknecht Dunkelweizen
When I think of “Weizenbier,” summer comes to mind. It’s because the usually Belgian or Dutch styles that I am accustomed to, seem to be made for warmer weather. Holzknecht is a dark variety of Weizenbier called “Dunkelweizen.” This darker variety seems better suited to the colder temperatures. The beer had a cloudy honey color and some more foam on top than the Herrnbräu did. I got a good deal of sweetness from it (banana?), and a slightly tart refreshing aftertaste. I would say a keeper, if it weren’t for the fact that it’s gone, and the calendar (as far as I know) does not provide duplicates.
Verdict on Beers
These first three days had beers that ranged from alright to really tasty, so we’re off to a good start. There is not a clear winner for me, as I thoroughly enjoyed both the Hernnbräu Tradition and the Holzknecht Dunkelweizen.
Next time I will compare the beers from December 4 to 8 for you. Have a great week!
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