Kerstmis Bier
Amsterdam Brewery

 

473 mL can from the LCBO, one of four brews in Amsterdam's Winter Flight mixed pack. Coded K1521 (Oct 15 2021) and served slightly chilled. I love it when old recipes are brought back from the dead.

Pours a beautiful, crystal clear amber bronze hue, generating nearly two fingers of foamy, soapy, buff-coloured head that dissipates within three or four minutes. Gobs of gorgeous webbed lacing are deposited in its wake, with a creamy collar remaining in place afterwards. Looks great, but the aroma is on the muted side - rye bready malt and honey sweetness, with suggestions of banana, fig, clove, cardamom and ginger snaps. It opens up somewhat as it warms, and oddly enough the alcohol is barely a factor.

Yum - I like this one. The jaggery gives it a nice sweetness - almost honey-like, with shades of golden treacle. Fruitier hints of date, banana and fig also come through, with bitter orange peel and grassy hops developing alongside the spicy tail end. The clove, ginger and cardamom are all present and accounted for, with vibes of licorice root and ginger reverberating into a spicy, boozy-sweet aftertaste. Full in body, with moderately low carbonation that weakly brushes against the tongue; feels smooth and a little slick. No real complaints, this is just a solid sipper/chest warmer for the winter months.

Final Grade: 3.98, a B+. Kerstmis Bier isn't technically a winter warmer, but the addition of spices and orange peel definitely push this hefty strong ale in that direction. To its credit, the spices are used in such a manner that they do not overwhelm the base beer, which itself is a tasty, competently brewed Belgian dark - and the 10.5% alcohol is exceedingly well integrated, an impressive feat on its own. One of the more interesting and satisfying 'new' Amsterdam offerings I've tried in recent memory: it'll warm your chest after shoveling up the first half-decent snowfall of the season, I can tell you that much from experience.

I bought a mixed pack at the LCBO in Ontario from the brewery
473ml at 10.5%.
Poured a 1 finger head into glass leaving a lace as you drink it.
Smooth and enjoyable to drink.
Alcohol is hidden at times like the Belgium beers most of them are .low to medium bitterness level makes. It easy to drink
The brewery did a good job on this beer .
Cheers.

10.5 %
Pours dark amber coloured with a healthy fluffy head. Sweet, caramel and Belgian spicyness on the nose and the taste. Dried figs and dates added on the flavour to make a unique taste. Very boozy feel
Dec 24 2021

Pours a clear dark red brown, small head forms and then is gone, no lace. Smells sweet, some maltiness, cranberry, wine. Tastes like cranberries, a smooth malty backbone and cherry candy flavour. The carbonation is very low, but smooth and the mouthfeel is medium. Okay but not good, kind of a struggle for me to get through this because its pretty sweet.

A surprisingly good brew by this brewery and by far the highest I have rated anything by them as well as a top 10 Ontario brewed. Nice brown amber colour with suds and works.Barley aroma. A yeasty nutty real chocolate and sweet spicey understated aroma. Some good yeast and it all works. Nothing soapy here. Medium mouthfeel. Thanks Pootz/Pootzboy.

Bottle fresh from the brewery. Pours a dark brandy color with a smallish tight off white head does not last long but laces the glass. Aromas understated..sweet, spicey. Mouth feel approachs oily, lovely mild blend of toffee malts and spice...moderate bodied but mild character for a dopple bock yet it delivers a substantial finish with the spice sweetness going to a tinny licorice taste. I like this bock...very drinkable

A nice unique strong bock, mild in character but flavorful and with the alcohol well hidden.