After 3 years aging in my basement, I cracked open a 2016 bottle of Krampus.

Guests of our annual neighborhood holiday open house included a slew of craft beer enthusiasts. I dug out a homebrew from the basement, a 3-year old bottle of Krampus. It’s a clone of Samichlaus, an insane Christmas ale of about 14% ABV. It’s a beer to drink with friends, never alone.

After aging in the basement, my Samichlaus clone is not recognizable from the terribly sweet, flat and “green” beer of 3 years gone by. It’s still flat (expected in high alcohol beers) but now has a complex cherry flavor which is from oxidation, a part of the aging process. The cherry notes mix well with a pleasant boozy taste. It’s a very good ale, but strong and not for the faint of heart. But, we had a few stouts to mix with the 3-year old Kampus and presto, a much more drinkable holiday ale. Sort of a cherry cordial celebration ale!

Cheers!

Warren