Black Christmas
Weird Beard Brew Co.

Found this on the remainders shelf at Woodman's Kenosha. Turns out, it was imported by The Shelton Bros (RIP).
So freshness was not a positive factor for Black Christmas. Clearly on the downside of its life; so much so that it was difficult for me to use my imagination to guess what the brewer intended when fresh.

But, I do want to offer my micro-review of Weird Beard Brew Co. They certainly offer truth in advertising. They are a different brew crew in an industry filled with motley crues (old English for crews.) Their bottle copy about themselves (now eight years old) and Black Christmas was irreverent and well-written and better than half-funny. Seems like a brewer that Shelton would import and promote. This brewed water may not pass under a Shelton-like bridge again.

 

L- Superfically resembles Coke but with a torch behind it is a curious looking cloudy plum shade of purple/brown.
S- Smells quite toasty to me, plus perhaps a hint of mollasses.
T- Quite sharp right on the front, that came as a suprise for a beer of this colour. My palate is left with the slight numbness either from hops and/or the puckering result of *unsweetened* cranberries.
F- Notably dry, pungent taste but no richness/warmth to speak of - very different for a Christmas beer!
O- It's not working for me, it's just too off-piste, too hoppy/bitter-dry and lacks balancing body. I wouldn't drink this again.
330ml can with ABV% marked as 4.5%, (the bottle pic^ shows 5% ie unclear if the % varies between can/bottle).
BB: Nov-2021 £3.15 Bought from TremblingMadness/York as part of a 50-60 beer DIY chosen case for home delivery to London.

A: The beer is essentially jet black in color. It poured with a short off white head consistently covering the surface and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of dark and roasted malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell, having flavors of dark and roasted malts along with hints of fruit.
M: If feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The fruity flavors in the taste of this stout are interesting and unique, which peek through from the dark and roasted malt flavors.

Serving type: can

 

Poured into an English pint glass, the appearance was a dark brown close to black color towards the center with some sly ruby red coloring along the. Soft eggshell white foamy head slid off nicely to leave some filmy lace weaving out in strings.
The aroma started off with some cocoa powder dry sweetness. Subtle tart cranberries slide in for a fair balance as it warms. Some milk chocolate.
The flavor leaned towards the cocoa powder sweetness initially but allowed some tart cranberry edges to roll in underneath. Aftertaste of cranberries, dark chocolate bitterness and a touch of cocoa powder.
The mouthfeel was almost medium bodied, seemed just a touch under. Good carbonation. Semi-dry and some tart edges dot my tongue. Finishes with some cranberry tartness and cocoa powder.
Overall, I'd say it does the trick for Christmas eve. It's one I'd have again preferably for me but I have to admit the body does seem a touch leaner than a fair amount of stouts on the market.

 

 

 

330 ml bottle from FL.
Look: clear, very dark reddish brown body topped by a thin partial coat of beige head. Some black sediment remained on the bottom of the bottle despite a full pour.
Smell: like a typical schwarzbier.
Flavor: a black sour that's moderately tart and bitter. Cranberry is evident. Hints of bitter chocolate and coffee.
Feel: medium body and medium-light carbonation.

 

From a twelve ounce bottle, this brew is a little hazy, dark brown, and murkey. The aroma has a refreshing amount of cranberry and light chocolate notes. Balanced taste. Medium body. Not bad.