We kicked off December with a belated St. Andrew’s celebration where we battled five Scottish brews. We also added a Tripel battle to our 2024 Belgian Beer Battle. In mid-December, we headed over to Munich for a weekend of Christmas markets, sightseeing and beer-related activities. And of course, we’ve been out and about trying beers as well as sampling some delicious festive brews at home.
This month’s top five new brews
Here’s a rundown of our favourite new brews for December 2024.
Edelstoff by Augustiner (Germany)
Lager 5.6%
During our visit to Munich, we made a special trip to the Augustiner Keller so we could try Edelstoff poured straight from wooden casks. It didn’t disappoint and this lively beer hall is definitely worth a visit.
Brewer’s note: A bright export beer, sparkling and fresh at the same time, brewed with noblest raw materials. This high-class product of the Old Bavarian brewing art. A great treat for every beer expert.
Brewer’s website: Edelstoff from a wooden barrel | Augustiner Keller
Old Jock by Broughton Brewery (Scotland)
Scotch Ale 6.7%
This Scotch Ale was our beer of the night in our Scottish beer battle. We both took a sip and said “mmmmm” at the exact same time. It had lovely fruit cake flavours and was a well-balanced beer. Would happily drink a few of these.
Brewer’s note: Old Jock Scotch Ale is a masterclass in Scottish craft brewing, proving that the simple things in life deliver the best reward. Brewed by Broughton Ales, Scotland’s original, award winning, independent brewery, Old Jock is a rich and full-bodied, with intense caramel aromas and roasted maltiness, complemented by First Gold, Perle and Fuggles hops. The original, Scottish strong ale, Old Jock is the perfect companion to the finest food.
Brewer’s website: Broughton
N’ice Chouffe by Brasserie Chouffe (Belgium)
Winter Ale 10%
This was one of our New Year’s Eve selections and it was fantastic. Hard to belive it was a 10% beer as the alcohol flavours weren’t overpowering at all. You certainly have to be careful as it’s very easy drinking.
Brewer’s note: N’ice Chouffe is the winter beer of the Achouffe brewery. We advise you to enjoy it from mid-October to mid-February, preferably by the fire. It is a dark, slightly hoppy beer, spiced with thyme and curaçao, made from orange peel.
Brewer’s website: Brasserie d’Achouffe – CHOUFFE
Vintage Ale 2024 by Fuller’s (London, UK)
Vintage Ale 8.4%
We fell in love with Fuller’s Vintage Ale a couple of years ago and were fortunate enough to attend a tasting session with the brewer of the original 1997 vintage and the current head brewer (back in 2023). This was another of our New Year’s Eve beers and it was as good as we expected with wonderful Christmas cake flavours.
Brewer’s note: All of our Vintage Ales are very special beers. We’ve created a new recipe every year since 1997, picking the best ingredients at the time, to make a strong beer with a complex character. This version is brewed with Pilot, CF299 & Target hops and Pale Ale & Extra Dark Crystal malts
Brewer’s website: Fuller’s Brewery Online Shop
* BEER OF THE MONTH *
Aventinus by Schneider Weisse (Germany)
Weizendoppelbock 8.2%
This was our favourite beer of our Munich visit and our beer of the month. So smooth and just delicious. And it paired perfectly with some tasty Bavarian food.
Brewer’s note: For golden moments by the fireplace: “Mein Aventinus” – the wholehearted, dark ruby coloured wheat beer, intensive and fiery, warming, well-balanced and tender. Bavaria’s oldest wheat “Doppelbock” – brewed since 1907! Its sturdy body in combination with its sweet malty aroma is an invitation to profound indulgence – an ingenious blend with a strong body. Perfectly matches rustic dishes, dark roasts and sweet desserts.
Brewer’s website: Schneider Weisse – Weissbier mit Tradition seit 1872
Honourable mention
These new brews didn’t quite make it into our top five, but we still feel they are worth a mention.
Kasteel Tripel by Kasteel Brouwerij (Belgium)
Belgian Tripel 11%
We’ve tried a fair few Belgian beers in the last couple of years, but there are plenty more to go. This month we did our final Belgian beer battle of 2024 when we tried eight Belgian Tripels over two nights. Although Kasteel wasn’t our favourite, it was the best one we’d never tied before and a great beer.
Brewer’s note: Kasteel Tripel is a bottle refermented, clear honey-coloured beer. On the nose, we are met by aromas of banana and clove. The carefully selected aroma hops give the beer a mild bitterness, complemented by fresh fruity notes. The warming mouthfeel and slight spicy finish, where the high alcohol content becomes most pronounced, rounds off the flavour profile.
Brewer’s website: Vanhonsebrouck
Stewart’s 80/- by Stewart Brewing (Scotland)
Scottish Heavy 4.4%
Another brew from our Scottish beer battle and one worth of a mention. Beautiful fruit cake flavours and a porter-like finish.
Brewer’s note:
Full-bodied and flavoured auburn classic Scottish heavy, with malt and dried fruit on the nose and a smooth and creamy texture.
Brewer’s website: Stewart Brewing Craft Beer Brewery
Revisited
Not a new brew but a beer we’ve revisited recently because it’s one of our favourites.
Hofbräu Original by Hofbräuhaus (Germany)
Helles 5.1%
We’ve tried Hofbräu Original before, but there’s something special about drinking it from a huge glass in the Hofbräuhaus beer hall in Munich old town especially when you pair it with traditional Bavarian pork knuckle.
Brewer’s note: Hofbräuhaus is a symbol of Munich’s hospitality and the Bavarian gift for creating a snug and cosy atmosphere. Beer-lovers from all over the world come here to enjoy its famous beers. More than any other, Hofbräu Original embodies the special atmosphere of the beer-making capital of Munich, and exports it to the four corners of the globe. Its refreshing, bitter flavour and alcoholic content of around 5.1% volume have made it famous worldwide. A Munich beer with character.
Brewer’s website: Startseite | Hofbräu München
Plum Porter by Titanic (Staffordshire, UK)
Plum Porter 4.9%
We first tried this plum porter back in 2022 and when we saw it on cask in a local pub, we just had to treat ourselves. Little did Alex know at the time, but I’d already bought a bottle of the grand reserve for him for Christmas which I’m looking forward to him sharing with me.
Brewer’s note: First brewed in 2011 as a one-off seasonal, our multi-award winning Plum Porter has gone on to become a genre-defining speciality beer beloved by drinkers both at home & in the pub!
Brewer’s website: Titanic Brewery
Edelstoff by Augustiner (Germany)
Lager 5.6%
During our visit to Munich, we made a special trip to the Augustiner Keller so we could try Edelstoff poured straight from wooden casks. It didn’t disappoint and this lively beer hall is definitely worth a visit.
Brewer’s note: A bright export beer, sparkling and fresh at the same time, brewed with noblest raw materials. This high-class product of the Old Bavarian brewing art. A great treat for every beer expert.
Brewer’s website: Edelstoff from a wooden barrel | Augustiner Keller
Old Jock by Broughton Brewery (Scotland)
Scotch Ale 6.7%
This Scotch Ale was our beer of the night in our Scottish beer battle. We both took a sip and said “mmmmm” at the exact same time. It had lovely fruit cake flavours and was a well-balanced beer. Would happily drink a few of these.
Brewer’s note: Old Jock Scotch Ale is a masterclass in Scottish craft brewing, proving that the simple things in life deliver the best reward. Brewed by Broughton Ales, Scotland’s original, award winning, independent brewery, Old Jock is a rich and full-bodied, with intense caramel aromas and roasted maltiness, complemented by First Gold, Perle and Fuggles hops. The original, Scottish strong ale, Old Jock is the perfect companion to the finest food.
Brewer’s website: Broughton
N’ice Chouffe by Brasserie Chouffe (Belgium)
Winter Ale 10%
This was one of our New Year’s Eve selections and it was fantastic. Hard to belive it was a 10% beer as the alcohol flavours weren’t overpowering at all. You certainly have to be careful as it’s very easy drinking.
Brewer’s note: N’ice Chouffe is the winter beer of the Achouffe brewery. We advise you to enjoy it from mid-October to mid-February, preferably by the fire. It is a dark, slightly hoppy beer, spiced with thyme and curaçao, made from orange peel.
Brewer’s website: Brasserie d’Achouffe – CHOUFFE
Vintage Ale 2024 by Fuller’s (London, UK)
Vintage Ale 8.4%
We fell in love with Fuller’s Vintage Ale a couple of years ago and were fortunate enough to attend a tasting session with the brewer of the original 1997 vintage and the current head brewer (back in 2023). This was another of our New Year’s Eve beers and it was as good as we expected with wonderful Christmas cake flavours.
Brewer’s note: All of our Vintage Ales are very special beers. We’ve created a new recipe every year since 1997, picking the best ingredients at the time, to make a strong beer with a complex character. This version is brewed with Pilot, CF299 & Target hops and Pale Ale & Extra Dark Crystal malts
Brewer’s website: Fuller’s Brewery Online Shop
* BEER OF THE MONTH *
Aventinus by Schneider Weisse (Germany)
Weizendoppelbock 8.2%
This was our favourite beer of our Munich visit and our beer of the month. So smooth and just delicious. And it paired perfectly with some tasty Bavarian food.
Brewer’s note: For golden moments by the fireplace: “Mein Aventinus” – the wholehearted, dark ruby coloured wheat beer, intensive and fiery, warming, well-balanced and tender. Bavaria’s oldest wheat “Doppelbock” – brewed since 1907! Its sturdy body in combination with its sweet malty aroma is an invitation to profound indulgence – an ingenious blend with a strong body. Perfectly matches rustic dishes, dark roasts and sweet desserts.
Brewer’s website: Schneider Weisse – Weissbier mit Tradition seit 1872
Honourable mention
These new brews didn’t quite make it into our top five, but we still feel they are worth a mention.
Kasteel Tripel by Kasteel Brouwerij (Belgium)
Belgian Tripel 11%
We’ve tried a fair few Belgian beers in the last couple of years, but there are plenty more to go. This month we did our final Belgian beer battle of 2024 when we tried eight Belgian Tripels over two nights. Although Kasteel wasn’t our favourite, it was the best one we’d never tied before and a great beer.
Brewer’s note: Kasteel Tripel is a bottle refermented, clear honey-coloured beer. On the nose, we are met by aromas of banana and clove. The carefully selected aroma hops give the beer a mild bitterness, complemented by fresh fruity notes. The warming mouthfeel and slight spicy finish, where the high alcohol content becomes most pronounced, rounds off the flavour profile.
Brewer’s website: Vanhonsebrouck
Stewart’s 80/- by Stewart Brewing (Scotland)
Scottish Heavy 4.4%
Another brew from our Scottish beer battle and one worth of a mention. Beautiful fruit cake flavours and a porter-like finish.
Brewer’s note:
Full-bodied and flavoured auburn classic Scottish heavy, with malt and dried fruit on the nose and a smooth and creamy texture.
Brewer’s website: Stewart Brewing Craft Beer Brewery
Revisited
Not a new brew but a beer we’ve revisited recently because it’s one of our favourites.
Hofbräu Original by Hofbräuhaus (Germany)
Helles 5.1%
We’ve tried Hofbräu Original before, but there’s something special about drinking it from a huge glass in the Hofbräuhaus beer hall in Munich old town especially when you pair it with traditional Bavarian pork knuckle.
Brewer’s note: Hofbräuhaus is a symbol of Munich’s hospitality and the Bavarian gift for creating a snug and cosy atmosphere. Beer-lovers from all over the world come here to enjoy its famous beers. More than any other, Hofbräu Original embodies the special atmosphere of the beer-making capital of Munich, and exports it to the four corners of the globe. Its refreshing, bitter flavour and alcoholic content of around 5.1% volume have made it famous worldwide. A Munich beer with character.
Brewer’s website:Startseite | Hofbräu München
Plum Porter by Titanic (Staffordshire, UK)
Plum Porter 4.9%
We first tried this plum porter back in 2022 and when we saw it on cask in a local pub, we just had to treat ourselves. Little did Alex know at the time, but I’d already bought a bottle of the grand reserve for him for Christmas which I’m looking forward to him sharing with me.
Brewer’s note: First brewed in 2011 as a one-off seasonal, our multi-award winning Plum Porter has gone on to become a genre-defining speciality beer beloved by drinkers both at home & in the pub!
Brewer’s website: Titanic Brewery
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