On the occasion of Christmas, beer enthusiasts gather to celebrate this occasion in their own way. It is an opportunity for them to come together and discuss over packs of different beer brands. However, one might wonder about the origin of this habit that could be considered a tradition. While rumors suggest that it dates back several centuries, we will attempt to dissect this topic in this article.
What is Christmas beer?
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Christmas beer is a beer that is specially crafted for the Christmas holidays. While regular beers are sweet and meant for all types of people, Christmas beers have quite unique characteristics. Indeed, they have a pronounced taste that quickly sets them apart from other classic beers. For example, you can order some at this link www.mabiereartisanale.fr/abonnement-biere.html.
Their production is also slightly different. Christmas beers are brewed in small brewing kettles, which gives them their distinctive flavor. Additionally, these beers are stronger in alcohol than others and can also be amber or brown. There is also a slight spicy aftertaste due to the brewing method that combines different types of malt and hops.
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Origins of Christmas beer
One must dig quite deep to find the earliest origins of Christmas beer. Indeed, it can be said that this category of beer is primarily a brewer’s story. Thus, the first Christmas beers were not intentionally produced. They rather resulted from certain technical shortcomings that brewers faced in their craft.
In the origins of beer, it was difficult to preserve it for long periods during the summer months. Brewers were therefore forced to regulate their production according to the season. Thus, from autumn onwards, some of them prepared their winter brews by using up all the remaining raw materials. This allowed them, among other things, to avoid unnecessary losses. Over the years, a new type of beer emerged that enthusiasts called October beer.
With optimal temperatures, this beer had the chance to mature properly until December, when it was by default used for Christmas.
In addition to this aspect, other habits also exist that would explain the origins of Christmas beer.
- In Belgium, traditional breweries have been producing dark amber beers for years that they served exclusively during Christmas.
- In France, Christmas was celebrated with a specially crafted beer that was flavored with a number of spices.
- In Germany and the Netherlands, brewers tend to opt for a beer with high quantities of malt and caramel during Christmas. This is mainly due to the cold climate of these countries.
- The United States and Canada have long maintained the tradition of Christmas beers that were similar to those produced in Belgium, albeit with a strong detectable hint of hops.
There you go! You now know everything about the tradition of Christmas beer.