swimmers, surfers, an' stuff!

On the seventh day of Beermas I went and bought for me

Seven sea monsters swimming

Six owls nesting

Five malts of gold

Four avian hallucinations

Three French magicians

Two love ya dearlies

And the simplest answer there could be 

Again, we have to be a little bit creative.  There's a reference to water, so I feel like that's enough for swimming.  And while there are no birds, certain cities in Germany have a famous population of swans, and What Went Down is that famous German style, the kolsch.  Deya and Mikeller are the producers of this wild wet one.  It's a pretty light beer on the alcohol so probably safe enough if you feel like going swimming yourself afterwards.  I don't recommend messing with swans ever, though, stone cold sober or not. 

So very light-colored, and a fluffy cloud of head plopped on top like frosting.  I don't get much of an aroma from it at all.  It's a nice easy sort of IPA, a little bitter and a little bit of caraway, not much of the modern citrus.  It doesn't leave much behind, to be honest, it is one of the cleaner drinking beers that I've had recently.  It lives up to the kolsch name in that it's very light and refreshing, although I might go so far as to say it's not an especially good beer for cold weather.  On a summer day it would fit right in, with the light color, feel, and flavor, but now it doesn't do much to insulate the drinker.  That doesn't negate its niceness, but it is something to consider.  I personally would recommend waiting until, like, June for this beer.  It'll be a prize then, no doubt.

owls a-hooting!

On the sixth day of Beermas I went and bought for me

Six owls nesting

Five malts of gold

Four avian hallucinations

Three French magicians

Two love ya dearlies

And the simplest answer there could be 

There's a little bit of a stretch here, since there are no geese or eggs evident in this beer.  It is a bird, though, and it has a nest.  It might be an owl, but you can't deny it's a bird.  Interestingly enough, it's a Japanese owl, Hitachino Nest, and this is a Japanese Classic Ale. 

A somewhat dark colored ale, ruddy gold I'd say, and not cloudy at all.  There's an abundant amount of head, white and bubbly.  It has an odd aroma, a little salty even.  I'm reminded of both champagne and gose.  The flavor is oddly seasonal; I was not expecting such a cinnamon like poof.  It's a little spicy and not sweet exactly, but makes overtures to dessert.  It's a pretty normal thickness for a beer, although the taste makes me feel like it should be heavier.  It really goes down quite easily.  Also, very clean.  I don't get any weird aftertaste or stickiness at all.  There might be a touch of apple hiding in there, another wink to the holidays and apple pies.   

gold!

On the fifth day of Beermas I went and bought for me

Five malts of gold

Four avian hallucinations

Three French magicians

Two love ya dearlies

And the simplest answer there could be  

I admit, this is another lazy one, but sometimes you might as well take the things that just fit.  This is Gordon Finest Gold, a lager by John Martin Brewery.  It sounds like it should be a British beer, but it's actually made in Belgium.  So a little surprise after all.  I only wish instead of 10 it said 5 on the label, that would have fit absolutely perfectly.  I guess the other option would be drinking five.

Very normal looking beer, transparent, snow head, pretty standard beery smell.  It's actually quite lagery, with a lot of grain being most identifiable.  At first it tastes a lot like a normal beer, just calm bitter, but suddenly a sort of medicinal flavor bursts out, and the beer takes on a thick and round quality.  It feels much heavier than it looks, and the mild scent also didn't give any clues about its body.  It might be the Belgian influence that gives the beer some complexity and fruitiness.  It has that little tang at the end of the drink that so many Belgian styles possess.  It also packs quite a punch at 10%.  That might be like getting a fist of rings to the head if you're not careful.

yelling in your head!

On the fourth day of Beermas I went and bought for me

Four avian hallucinations

Three French magicians

Two love ya dearlies

And the simplest answer there could be  

Caleya has appeared more than once in these pages, pretty much always in lighter styles.  Hostia is a nice Dubbel with a psychodelic label that makes you imagine wails coming from it.  That's a calling bird of some kind, and you might even think you see more than one. 

It's a toasty warm brown dubbel, with a touch of banana aroma.  Not too much head, but it's resistant.  The flavor is very Belgiany, although without the aftertaste that stifles my fondness for that particular set of beers.  There's a little tang and sour in there, but it's a soft and round feeling beer, with a tiny bit of banana wrapped around it.  That fruitiness builds over time, and it's a more syrupy drink than many of my recent ones.  It has a nice holiday kind of flavor, something of a fruit cake in fact.  The weight of the alcohol just makes it like a worthwhile fruitcake instead of a cheap sanitized industrial one.

egg layers!

On the third day of Beermas I went and bought for me

Three French magicians

Two love ya dearlies

And the simplest answer there could be  

This one was a little hard to work out, but try this - Dude has a mustache that looks French and there's a bird.  Also a snake, and some of those lay eggs like birds.  The whole thing is very magical, and it's a countdown song that must have had some magic long, long ago.  Yeah, good enough.

I know I was griping about the excessive amount of pale ales in the Advent calendar, but here I am with another one.  Well, it's a double IPA and from Basqueland, so we know it's a damn fine beer.  It's called Truth Serum, so if it presents itself well we can believe it.  ...Right?  Anyway.  It's awfully cloudy for an IPA, but the citrus perfume is almost explosive.  There's also a mild hint of pine underneath.  The look makes me expect a NEIPA style juiciness, but that's not to be had.  Instead it's a real bomb of bitter/licorice, weirdly, with only the tiniest bit of pithy orange lurking in the background.  It has a lot of body, an odd mix of smooth texture in the liquid and prickly taste from a double dose of hops.  It's quite a beer to chew on, with more of a summery flavor, but the overall feel is quite suitable for a chilly winter evening.  It's like having a warm coat in an obnoxiously bright color.  And you love it.

turtle lovey dovies!

On the second day of Beermas I went and bought for me

Two love ya dearlies

And the simplest answer there could be 

Day two and I've had to forge some connections.  Brewdog's Elvis Juice - a singer with a lot of love songs, for lovers to nuzzle to, cooing like doves.  There, turtle doves referenced. 

A little darker colored than "standard" and exceptional head.  The foam isn't quite as white as some might prefer for a perfect beer, but it goes well with the hue of the liquid.  There's a snappy, saucy grapefruit tingle in the aroma, overwhelming anything else that might be there.  The taste is bitter, very strongly bitter, with barely any fruit at all.  If I didn't know about the grapefruit I would say that I was just hallucinating the smell.  After the first sip the grapefruit rises from the deep, with a little citrus sour cutting the bitter.  It develops a heaviness and a stickiness along with a mellowing of the flavors.  Sounds a lot like love, in fact.

pear tree!

 On the first day of Beermas I went and got for me

The simplest answer there could be

Yeah, so this is a little obvious, but never fear!  I've been more creative for other days.  To start with, we have The Good Cider Pear.  Of course.  The Good Cider claims it has once hundred years of history in San Sebastián behind it, and it could well be true given the popularity of cider in the north since forever.  However, I wonder if the company didn't have a name change fairly recently.  Although, maybe not.  If Germans, English and Flemings made the most lasting breweries, why wouldn't a cidery also be founded by British hands? 

It has a little more fizz than I was expecting, giving a slight head at the beginning and leaving a bubbly little ring around the glass.  It's very light colored and transparent, more tan than a lot of apple ciders.  The scent is strongly fruity, decidedly pear, and with a hint of bubble gum.  Don't know about that last part, but maybe it won't translate to the taste.  At first it's clearly just a pear drink, but then a wave of sour and bitter hits.  And yes, a little bubble gum trails the cider down the throat.  It's not too strong, though.  While it's not super sweet, it doesn't have the dryness of, say, an Asturian cider and is quite refreshing.  It would be more appropriate for warmer weather, but it's certainly not bad for December, and it fits the song.  So that's that.

the hell?

UGH!  I was waiting the whole month, with the hope that there would be a delicious stout waiting for me for Christmas, and what do I get?  Not a stout!  Not only that, but it's a repeat!  A repeat of the day before!  I am not impressed.  I mean, Nadala was very nice, but it's not a super beer that fits into the holiday theme in every nook and cranny.  I'm disappointed.  By all means, have yourself a Nadala winter ale when you find it, but I was absolutely hoping for something heavier, crazier, fluffier, or more surprising at the end of it all.  Well, stay tuned for Beermas.

almost time

Only two days left, will I get my black Christmas wish?  This is a fitting beer at least, a winter ale, with an oddly angelic label.  Nadala from La Pirata, time for a Christmas toast.

It's really quite a dark beer, not actually getting to black though.  The head is pleasing, although not abundant.  There's a sweetish aroma, something that makes you think of holiday desserts.  It's almost like some rum-barrel aged stouts *sighs wistfully*.   Happily, the flavor also leans towards the black beers, with a round and bitter entry and slightly spiky exit.  It isn't quite sweet, but there seems to be something balancing out the bitterness.  There's kind of a woody base, another reminder of barrel aged beers, and a touch of fruit in the middle.  It gives a woolly warmth and a feeling of a calm drink with a good fire, very seasonal.  

it's what I do...

The end is in sight, but only ales light the way.  No One has an interesting label, though, with a Game of Thrones style font and a wall of ... heads, I guess.  Different sorts of foxes?  Guineu has some flashy ideas. 

A pretty, dark gold beer with an ivory head, slight citrus scent.  Much like Hop Fiction, it's heavy and bitter, but with enough shiny orange to keep things light.  It has a little pepper kick to it, in spite of the heft, and it's easy enough to sip and savor.  It reminds me of Cibeles Imperial IPA, another powerful member of the set.  It's not especially complex, but flavorful and enjoyable.  It feels soft and creamy despite the touch of spiciness, and has a year-round appeal to it.  Perhaps the very sensitive would find it a little too much for a summer beer, but like many IPAs, it has that stimulating bitterness to pull you out of doldrums.  The weight makes it an acceptable choice for cold weather too, a jacket to bundle up your tastebuds in.

the truths we tell

I'm starting to think there's a distinct lack of appreciation for black beers, even in winter.  It's not that I lack appreciation for hoppy ales, but damn if I don't want them as a little highlight after some wallowing in the darkness.  That's how I spend my weekend evenings out, anyway.  At least La Quince has reliably tasty and presentable ales, be they IPA or APA, like Hop Fiction.  It seems to me I might have run across it before, if not as a bottle at home than a pint at Prost Chamberí. 

There's plenty of modern ale aroma poofing out after the cap comes off.  It's a fairly light colored beer, not a whole lot of head.  It's clean and transparent, with a show of tiny bubbles zipping up the glass.  The hops are potent and headstrong, although there's just a hint of grain lurking underneath.  There's bitter, musk and sneaking hints of plant life.  This is a real heavy pale ale, with a fullness of flavor that matches winter winds and summer sun.  While the flavors seem to blend into each other as you get further down in the glass, there's power and joy in it that you can't ignore.  I might be hoping for a stout tomorrow, but I'm pretty happy with my APA today.

herding cats

Yet another second chance!  I guess that should be expected, since the contributors to the calendar are easily found around here.  I remember being taken with the cats on the label, thinking it gave the beer an extra spooky look, but I guess they go with Christmas witches now.  Does Krampus drive a sleigh of snarling cats?  It's La Pirata's amber ale Sansa today.

This is a truly amber ale, with a dark ruddy color and off-white head.  The aroma is at once fruity and spicy, not hot spice but sort of like sesame.  It has a warm bready taste, with a little half-sour kick at the end.  The low spice is in the taste as well, a little caraway maybe?  It's a fuller feeling beer, getting rounder and slightly sweeter over time.  It's not as clean as those recent lighter colored beers, there is a certain amount of something hanging around after you swallow.  It kind of gets tame towards the end, but stays cozy.  I guess the cats were onto something with their fall appearance after all.

harvested

Well, here's another surprise!  Hopfenweisse?  A little German influence?  Let's see what you got, White Tusk, La Quince is backing you. 

There's a suspicious amount of citrus in a weisse aroma, but hops lovers would probably be overjoyed.  It's a rather cloudy beer too, despite the cheery golden color.  The taste is quite overwhelmingly wheaty.  It has that little dance of sweet and sour, a little whippy swipe at the palate as it goes down.  It's light and bubbly, a bright and snappy beer, without some of the volume in feel of more standard wheat beers.  Some more sour fruit starts to come out with a little warming, sort of a sour cherry or something of the kind.  While the German beer reference is fitting for the time, the beer is too summery for me.  On a warm afternoon in some sizzling square it would be delightful, but now, even in front of a fire, it doesn't carry quite enough weight for me.  Maybe I need to find a good bonfire.

slightly constrained

Ok, still no black beer, but there is something different today.  It's La Pirata's Kollektivist, a wild ale.  They credit Russian brewery Bakunin with the inspiration, but it sounds more like a Belgian beer to me. 

Cidery aroma and Halloweeny orange color, but not a lot of head.  Some bubbles to come out, but they fizz away rapidly.  The flavor also recalls cider, with a weird blend of fruity sweetness and woodiness.  It's kind of like a barrel ages cider, I would think.  Although dry, it's a mouthful, very present, perhaps thankfully without a lot of aftertaste.  The sour end of the taste grows in strength giving the beer a more Belgian profile.  It's a different kind of beer, and it's always good to try new things, just in case, but it's not a beer I would seek out for myself again. 

underground

Ok, not an IPA or APA, but still not a stout.  A Kellerbier does seem like an appropriate choice for the moment though.  La Quince and Queens will show us the way.

It's a perfect beer appearance, the right color, clarity, bubbly and white foam on top.  There's a little tanginess in the aroma, something of a tomato juice kind of smell, a little fruity and a little salty.  It's surprisingly fruity in taste, and that fruit is apple.  It's like a fizzy apple juice in practically all senses, just a little bit less sweet.  There's a lightness and a bubbliness, and the vaguely bitter taste gives the drink a little celebratory feel, something closer to a champagne than a simple juice.  It's still a light and easily drinkable beverage, without any noticeable aftertaste, very clean and simple.  I would argue that it's more of a transitional season beer than a near winter beer, with the little weight that it has, but it's not a bad thing for the moment.  After a while a sort of woody taste comes up in the beer, giving it a traditional feel, like a beer that has actually been stored in some cool basement for months, until it's deemed ready for the world.

in the winter sun

I don't tend to think of Berliner wiesse as a cold weather beer, much more for the summer months (see this August, in fact).  Here it is, though, Guineu's Lovin' Fruit.   

Dark orange and icy-looking, it makes me think of a frothy iced tea.  Especially those with a little fruit in them, since there's a mandariny scent that puffs up from it.  The taste is juicy and rich, although I wouldn't call it sweet even with the fruit essence.  I actually think that makes it more appropriate for the cold weather, a sweet fruity drink would be too summery probably.  The delicate balance of sour fruits and weisse beer feels a little warmer, kinder to the stomach in the near-winter.  As I've heard recently, pineapple has a certain link to the end of year holidays, and it whispers out of the beer quietly, one of the Christmas ghosts.  Which one, I wouldn't know.  Maybe past, since future doesn't actually whisper and Marley only brings warnings, not fuzzy memories.

not trapped at all

I'm sure I've seen this label floating around the beer shelves, but I'm not sure if I've actually picked it up.  I might not have, since it's gluten free, and I feel like I shouldn't snap those up when I have no problem with gluten at all.  The gluten free selection seems to have gotten bigger in the last few years, and it's mostly national beers that populate it, La Pirata in this case.  The label looks like a nice fall scene, actually, so the fact that it's another APA might be forgiven.  I'm expecting something nice and snappy from Súria. 

It's a very pale beer, with scanty bubbles sprinkled over the top.  It's not strongly aromatic, but there's a whiff of almond or walnut about it.  It's not especially hoppy in smell, but you know that they must be there somewhere.  The taste has more bitter to it, and a touch of nuttiness as well.  As befitting the color, it has a light feeling in the mouth, very easy to drink.  It's a pleasantly autumnal flavor with the walnut/almond, much like the chestnut beers that come out around this time.  Actually, now I'm surprised there haven't been any chestnut beers in the box.  Well, still a few days to go.  The nutty flavor falls away after a few minutes leaving something more cucumbery, a fresher earlier-in-the-year sensation.

the right thing

This was a pleasing label somehow, although it's not exactly cheery.  I guess the colors are relaxing, calming, the right ones to make you think of peaceful moments.  The name might be a little more demanding if you take it literally, though - Étika.  Trying to tell us something with your cool little APAs, Guineu? 

It's a very classic looking beer, with just the right amount of fluffy white head.  It's not super strong in smell, but a happy citrus perfume does waft up.  At first it's very normal modern pale ale, not as bitter as many IPAs, but with the light fruitiness that exemplifies the style of today.  It has a nice substance, not too thick, but makes you take notice.  It gets a little heavier over time, but the flavor remains upbeat and perky.  I'm longing for a stout to pop up again, but there's still time, and Étika is no slouch when it comes to a tasty drink.

dug up

Ah, finally something at least a little different!  Now, amber ales are like brown ales in my experience, in that you never really know what they're going to throw at you.  They mainly group together by their hue, less by any sort of flavor profile.  Anyway, it's La Quince, so Roots is well worth checking out for what it has to offer. 

It spills out in in a coppery river, with the head seeming dark at first but ending up a very light beige.  The aroma is very subtle, but vaguely hoppy bitter.  The taste doesn't take much from the smell, being more appley sour.  There's a little bitter in the aftertaste, just washing down the fall fruit.  It has a sharpness and spiky personality that grabs your attention as you drink.  It's not as festive as some more piney ales or sweeter amber ales, but it's a good time and a hearty beer.

halfway point

Well, well, looks like another repeat.  I was told Sexy Sadie was a good bet when I first got it, and I guess La Quince thought it was impressive enough for a holiday treat.  Yet another IPA, but a new variation for the calendar, DDH Oat IPA.  Again, Naparbier is involved in production, so a number of people are in background supporting this beer.

It's a juicy looking IPA, unfiltered apparently, with a very NEIPA presentation.  It has a muskier scent than a NEIPA would, though, more along the lines of its style.  The taste is surprisingly sour, with a good amount of citrus, although much more lemon and grapefruit than orange.  It has a smooth and rolly feel, probably an effect of the oats, which gives it a pleasant amount of body without being too overwhelming.  Although a bitterness develops at the back of the tongue over time, the beer itself remains slick and downable.  It doesn't get heavy or syrupy, and start pushing out surprising variations in flavor.  I find it a pretty good balance, maybe a little more sour than I would like for the season, but in some cozy bar or living room a little brightness is never unwelcome.

a pattern developing

The pale ales don't stop coming!  The saving grace is that the breweries are accomplished in making them (besides other styles, of course), so you can't be upset with the beer itself, just the lack of variety.  Ok, technically Esgarrapats is an APA not an IPA, and coming from Guineu you know it will be perfectly fine, but I still think the season calls for some more darkness.

Light and tickly IPA aroma, with a good amount of citrus.  The smell doesn't have much pine or muskiness, a bit to my surprise.  It's a tannish orange color, with a nice fluffy head, appealingly transparent.  No bitter in the aroma, but I guess it's all in the flavor - strong bitter first, then drifting back to a sort of bitter orange, never quite leaving up on it.  It has a good mouthfeel, not too heavy but present.  As it sits it develops almost a minty quality, not in taste, but there's a sort of prickliness that rolls through while you drink.  A little bit astringent, like some of the hoppier IPAs I've had.  

some monkey business

Oh dear, it's a whole parade of IPAs.  But, today it's my favorite type, a NEIPA.  The can promises some fun, with jolly green giant ape, so it would be foolish not to give Dankey Kong a chance.  It's La Quince, although produced by Naparbier, so expectations are high. 

It's a cloudy, peachy-looking beer, not a lot of head or aroma, but there is a touch of fruity perfume.  Maybe psychological, since I'm envisioning peach juice, I get a good whiff of peach in the nose too.  But it's a peach tree in pine forest.  The flavor is heavy at first, very bitter, then it flattens out to a sort of cucumber melon before finishing on a tangy note.  It has a little more heft than the last couple of ales, slightly thicker in the mouth.  While the others were perfectly drinkable, this one is a more engaging, more fun kind of beer.  A shining light in the closing of the year, yes sir.

safe bet

Yet another IPA, I am starting to despair!  Well, not so much, I do like my IPAs too.  They also give a nice warmth on a cold December night.  We're back with Guineu and the playful looking Txiripa. 

More typical IPA aromas, a little fuller than the session IPA.  There's citrus in the flavor, but on the sour candy side.  It's only the slightest tad bitter, perky, a great example of a lighter modern IPA.  Again, it's quite a clean taste, spreading joy and disappearing in a puff of hops.  There's also very little weight behind it, so definitely a good conversation beer.  It's quite easily enjoyable, but simple, leaving me a little disappointed that I can't describe any weirdness about it at all.

drinking on a prayer

Harumph, another IPA...better than export pilsner I'm sure.  It is La Quince, after all.  While the Black Velvet family has a special place in my heart, I have to say La Quince has also been dependable with their IPAs.  This one is a session IPA, so it shouldn't be too hard to get down, although I have to say I find the name a bit quirky.  God Bless The Session IPA, indeed. 

Not especially aromatic, but there is a tell-tale citrus bloom.  Clear, but a sort of dirty gold color, while the head is a bright clean white.  There's a two-toned flavor with a clear bitter bottom and orange blossom top with an odd space in the middle.  There's a bit of a twist, sort of a twang that comes at the end of the sip, which keeps things interesting.  While the beer itself is light and slippery, there is a kind of stickiness that leaves some ale-y aftertaste.  It barely leaves a mark, session ale that it is, but it's a teasing and and pleasant beer, leading or following a winking conversation.

but not the last drink

Here's another IPA, but a NEIPA!  I won't complain about that.  It's La Pirata's Last Run, with an interesting character on the can.   

The very full can almost sends up a little geyser, but I think I managed to save pretty much every drop.  There's an Orange Julius kind of scent that wafts off the liquid gold inside, with a little extra sweetness kick in there.  The beer is a bit cloudy and very light colored, much like a mixed drink with orange juice.  It's shockingly unsweet in taste, with a pretty good wallop of bitter, and a cool cucumber chaser.  There's even a little salt swimming around in there.  I have had some NEIPAs that go a little too far on the bitter and citrus, and I do have a preference for the juicier ones, but this sea water orange has a very refreshing effect.  It's pretty light in the mouth, not much of a winter beer in my opinion, but it's not bad at all.  Something to keep in mind for warmer days.

reruns

I've had my share of LLipa before, it's one of the typical offerings that La Quince has at Prost Chamberí.  Or used to have, it's been a while since I've had the pleasure of going down there.  It's the third IPA in a row, so I hope there are some black beers coming up towards the end. 

The bottle opens to the expected piney, fruity, fuzzy scent.  The ruddy orange color also makes the beer look like a flavorful drink.  The head is creamy and resistant, although not overly abundant.  The taste is very much IPA, although with less fruit than you might suppose, it's a little more traditional.  It's bitter and hoppy, with a strong texture in the mouth.  It's not rough or spiky, it's very smooth in spite of its weight.  Although bitter, the taste is very clean, leaving nothing sticky behind.  An essence of pine starts to take over after a bit, but the beer stays very relaxed and calm.  You could enjoy it by itself perfectly well, but it's just light enough to pair up with some flavorful food without causing trouble.

heading to the clouds

I was expecting my calendar to be only bottles for some reason, but I pulled out a can for day number 5.  I guess it shouldn't be a surprise, craft breweries have been happily using bottles for many years, and it can be argued that they are better than bottles all around.  A lot of newer breweries have been relying more on cans than on bottles, although Guineu has put out a number of more traditional bottled beers.  DreamHops has an evocative label, perhaps even to the point of inviting a lawsuit, very calming and serene.  We'll see how calming the beer itself actually is.

It is a very standard looking beer, perhaps a little disappointingly light in color, but a fairly nice head.  A sharp and fruity aroma, too.  The taste isn't as nice as the scent, a little on the bitter side, but without a lot of personality by itself.  Some session ales are right in line with the genre, fruity, piney, heavily hoppy, but Dreamhops is a bit ephemeral to be honest.  It's nice, there's nothing offensive about it, but I personally prefer a more aggressive beer.