Costco Brewer’s Advent Calendar 2018: The Beers Are Here

Note: This post was updated on 10/31/2018.

The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are falling, and pumpkin is once again the main ingredient in, well, everything. Whatever associations you may have with fall, for me it meant checking out my local Costco. Lo and behold: The Brewer’s Advent Calendar 2018 has arrived. Sporting the same familiar look as last year’s edition, it was easy to spot. After a quick glance at the contents of the calendar, I decided to buy it once more. For around $65 you too can be the proud owner of one of year end’s best traditions.

Since this won’t be my first rodeo with the Brewer’s Advent Calendar, I will change it up a little. This time, I’ll be that guy that will pry open the doors of the box before Thanksgiving is even on your mind (or is it?). Not because I can’t wait, but because hopefully you’ll know if you want a calendar yourself after reading my posts.

Calendar Conundrum

The magic number is still 24, but this year there are eight new additions to the calendar. One of these eight already puzzled me, because it’s listed on the box as “Bierkutscher Edel Pils.” That was the December 11th beer in 2017. However, upon further inspection – not yet of the contents, mind you – it’s a completely different can and brewery (I believe) than a year ago. I’ll update this post with a review of the new beers in the coming weeks, so more on this mystery later. For now, I’ll consider it a new brew.

What’s Behind Door Number…?

I won’t make that deal, so I won’t ruin the surprise element of the calendar for you. However, if you care to get a general idea of the contents, read on!

These are the 16 beers that have returned in the Brewer’s Advent Calendar 2018:

• Kartäuser Doppelbock Dunkel (one of my favorites)
• Holzknecht Dunkelweizen (one of my favorites)
• Memminger Gold Märzen
• Herrnbräu Jubiläums Sud
• Publiner Irish Ale
• Zwönitzer Rauchbier
• Perlenzauber German Pale Ale
• Schloßbräu Rheder Original Pils
• Bergbräu Pale Ale
• St. Bonifatius Dark Bock
• Herrnbräu Tradition Festbier (one of my favorites)
• Rieder India Pale Ale
• Eaglebräu Weizenbier Dunkel
• Edel Bayer Urtyp Hell (one of my least favorite beers)
• Kress Bayrisch Zwickel
• Alpenkönig Gold Märzen

The “eight” new beers in the box:

• Hallertauer Hopfen Cuvée Pilsner
• Käuzle Hell Pale Lager
• Schnaitl Jubiläumssud Festbier
• Erlkönig Hell Pale Lager
• Hohenthanner Blau Weisse Hopped Wheat Ale
• Kurpfalzbräu Helles Pale Lager
• Schloss Weisse 1516
• Brauerei Egerer Edel Pils (the one with the identity crisis, a.k.a. Bierkutscher Edel Pils)

The dropouts compared to the 2017 Brewer’s Advent Calender:

• Wittman Urhell (sadly, because it was one of my favorites)
• Huber Weisses Hefe-Weizenbier (another one of the better ones gone)
• Alpenstoff Märzen
• Das Besondere Festbier (everything but “special”)
• Altbayrisch Dunkel (not that great)
• Grandl Helles Lagerbier (one of my least favorite beers)
• Urtyp Hell Goldenes Helles (not good anyway)
• Bierkutscher Edel Pils (as mentioned above, it may just have had a very good make makeover)

First Update on the New Brews

Now that I’ve had a chance to sample the first four new beers, here are my notes, starting with my favorite.

Hallertauer Hopfen Cuvée Pilsner
This blend – which is what cuvée means – of four different hops is very clear and light. It had a pleasant hoppy aroma. Sipping the beer gives you a nice bite with that slightly bitter aftertaste. Interesting enough to try again.

Schloss Weisse 1516
1516 is another reference to the famous German “Reinheitsgebot.” As I declared last year, while opening the Brewer’s Advent Calendar, “Hefeweizen”, or wheat beer, is one of my favorite styles of beer. This one came with the characteristic sweet aroma and a flavor reminiscent of banana(bread). Weirdly enough, the sweet notes didn’t linger for very long, which was slightly disappointing. I can’t say this was a good swap with Huber Weisses from last year’s calendar.

Brauerei Egerer Edel Pils
My palate must be playing tricks on me, as online research supports the fact that this is indeed the same beer as last year’s Bierkutscher Edel Pils. Where Bierkutscher was one of the more flavorful light brews in 2017’s advent calendar, Egerer’s Edel Pils could not impress me much. The redesigned can and redesigned (?) flavor could have easily fooled me into thinking this was a new beer. With this mystery out of the way, we now know that there are seven, not eight, new brews in the box.

Erlkönig Hell Pale Lager
The first of the newbies I tried ends up at the bottom of the pack. With anticipation building during the very slow pour and impressive amounts of foam, my hopes faded as quickly as this beer’s head. There wasn’t much flavor at all, except for that slightly metallic taste that made the rounds as well last year. At a certain point I was wondering if I had poured myself a glass of tap water. Skippable for me.

Second Update on the New Brews

The second round of new beers pleasantly surprised me with some solid flavors. Picking a favorite out of these four was a lot more challenging than with the first round. Because I just can’t resist a good wheat beer, I’d have to go with Blau Weisse.

Hohenthanner Blau Weisse Hopped Wheat Ale
This may sound crazy, but as soon as I poured Blau Weisse into my glass, I started smelling fruity bubblegum and Gevulde Speculaas (a Dutch Holiday treat). Two things I didn’t expect to discover in a beer’s aroma. Whether it was wishful smelling or the greatest aroma ever, it set the stage for a great tasting experience.

Schnaitl Jubiläumssud Festbier
While the eye-catching packaging seemed to mimic a soda can, Schnaitl did not suffer from any far-fetched flavors. With its golden color and pleasant, slightly sweet aroma, this well-balanced beer would easily make it into my regular rotation.

Kurpfalzbräu Helles Pale Lager
My apprehension about this beer style turned out to be unfounded after tasting Kurpfalzbräu Helles. Instead of encountering a flavorless brew, this lager left me wanting more. A good mix of citrus, sweetness, spiciness and a hint of bitterness.

Käuzle Hell Pale Lager
Last and, in this case, also least, another “light and bright” beer that is so typical for the Bavaria region. Käuzle didn’t appeal to me as much as Kurpfalzbräu. Visually, the former tried its hardest with its playful design and owl logo, but for me it was just alright.

Which beers are you excited about trying this year, and which ones are your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments below!