2018 Belgian Christmas Beer Festival Winners

Every December in Essen, Belgium a local beer club holds an international Christmas Beer Festival.

With 187 beers available for tasting over 2 days, participants were asked to vote for their favorite. Organizer, Gunter Mertens, reports the top 10 beers of the festival. Here’s the list.

2018 Christmas Beer Festival Top 10: 

1. Schuppenboer Winter 2018 (Het Nest, Oud-Turnhout)
2. Stille Nacht (De Dolle Brouwers, Esen )
3. Black Pudding (Vleesmeester Brewery, Boechout, gebrouwen bij Anders, Halen)
4. Murder 2018 Islay Oak Aged (Crow Mountain, gebrouwen bij Pirlot, Zandhoven)
5. Chimay Grande Réserve (Abdij ND de Scourmont, Chimay)
6. Winterkoninkske haspeng. Gr. Cru vintage (Kerkom, Kerkom gebrouwen bij Proefbrouwerij, Lochristi)
7. Sint Bernardus Christmas Ale (St. Bernardus, Watou)
8. Chimay Grande Reserve vieillie en barriques 2016 (Abdij ND de Scourmont, Chimay)
9. Oerbier Special Réserva (De Dolle Brouwers, Esen )
10. Jule Mælk (To Øl, Kopenhagen DK, gebrouwen bij Proefbrouwerij, Lochristi)

Unfortunately, only a couple of these beers are available outside of Belgium. I, for one, am preparing to join the 2019 pilgrimage to Essen December 14 & 15.

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    While it's difficult to picture Santa as a young man, he was once. He met the future Mrs. Claus one snowy night when she offered him a winter ale that she brewed herself. It was love at first sight - for both the Mrs. and her winter ales. With Santa's growing fame, his favorite brews became named after his favorite day - Christmas. Santa now travels the world each year to spread the joy that began in a stable in Bethlehem two millennia ago.

    Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.