Zwarte Piet's Christmas
Church Brew Works

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From:
Church Brew Works
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Ale
Ranked #8
ABV:
7.3%
Score:
88
Ranked #14,920
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 13.52%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
23
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 03, 2024
Added:
Dec 24, 2010
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  1
Brewed with ginger, cloves and bitter orange peel, this Belgian-style brown ale is a little sweet up front. You should notice some toffee, a touch of caramel, a hint of raisin and a slight little touch of chocolate intertwined with that initial sweetness. The ginger should be apparent, but not overwhelming. Those initial complex flavors will fade into the slightly more pronounced flavor of cloves. The hops were kept low to allow the bitter orange peel and cloves handle the very light bitter finish. The same yeast used in our Trippel is featured in this ale to add its own light clovy essence to the party.

The Vitals:
Original Gravity: 16.3º Plato
Bitterness: 9 IBUs
Grain Bill: Pilsner, Melanoidin, CaraFoam, Carafa II
Additions: Dark Brown Sugar, Ginger, Cloves, Bitter Orange Peel
Hops Used: Spalter Select
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of mpk2020
Rated by mpk2020 from Illinois

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft at the brewery in Pittsburgh
Jan 03, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by williamjbauer from Colorado

Jul 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by Bubba412 from Pennsylvania

Dec 24, 2014
Photo of BigRizz62
Rated by BigRizz62 from Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
It's a standard Christmas ale with traditional spices. Very drinkable
Dec 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.89 by geodonnokepyo from Pennsylvania

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Walkerjgt from Ohio

Jul 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by _morandi_ from California

Jul 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by vwbus7 from North Carolina

Jun 26, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by JessicaBurgo from Pennsylvania

Jan 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Waveoff from Pennsylvania

Jan 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by KJ2013 from Pennsylvania

Jan 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by ItsBeer4Me from Pennsylvania

Dec 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Loaf31 from Pennsylvania

Dec 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Mibarak from Pennsylvania

Jan 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by TrentW from Illinois

Dec 29, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Dec 16, 2012
Photo of Stinkypuss
Reviewed by Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Church Brew Works
Swartz Piet's Xmas
2012 edition
ABV listed at 7%

LOOK: Pours a dark brown color with a wisp of off white head.

SMELL: Orange peel and heavy ginger upfront with some clove, spicy cinnamon and brown sugar. The aroma filled up the air at the table making for an impressive nose.

TASTE/FEEL: Dark malts with ginger and citrus notes. Cocoa, black licorice and ginger are the big flavors. Just a bit of dark fruit flavor. Hop bitterness is subdued, as are the spices, which are kept to a low level. Rooty flavors and finishes with a light dry spice. Full bodied feel with a small dryness.

OVERALL: A successful holiday brew from the Church Brew Works. Lively flavors and a great aroma. This is a well done spiced ale.
Nov 23, 2012
Photo of AMiz602
Reviewed by AMiz602 from Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Seeing that it was named after Sinterklaas's helpers in Holland, I was immediately intrigued. And, as a seasonal beer, it was probably the best out of the bunch this time around.

It is a light brown beer, with just a little bit of head. It was not that thick feeling at all, and went down quite easily for having a high alcohol content. It was chocolaty, yet spicy all in one. Cinnamon, cardamom, and I believe some nutmeg had to be in there, possibly with some cloves. But, the malt really dumbs down the spiciness, and makes for a palatable, forgiving Winter beer.

It's a unique taste, and unlike most American winter ales. Brewed very much to be on par with European tastes. However, I'm not totally sure that it would be good on a hot day in June, but should be relicated to the cold days of January.
Jan 20, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by burnstar from Pennsylvania

Dec 27, 2011
Photo of thecheapies
Reviewed by thecheapies from Pennsylvania

3.22/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at Diamond Market downtown.

A: muddy, Belgian chocolate brown. Almost opaque, yet brown. Interesting. Maybe it's suspended yeast. No lasting head. No lacing.

S: milk chocolate, cinnamon, allspice, smells creamy--if that makes sense.

T: spice overload. Almost peppery. Sweet malt, wheat bread, more of the cinnamon, a little star anise and mild creamy chocolate.

M: medium-high carb. Feels a little prickly. Round body.

O: the tap was labeled 'Season Specialty', I was hoping it was Quadzilla. This beer is a decent brown with too many spices. Kind of on par with the unspectacular Cabin Fever.
Dec 21, 2011
Zwarte Piet's Christmas from Church Brew Works
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 23 ratings