So everybody is super familiar with Santa Claus/ St. Nicholas/ Father Christmas all that right? Jolly old elf, gives presents as rewards to all of the good girls and boys. Well originating in pre-christianity Alpine Europe is a rather terrifying and bizarre character, Krampus, who sits firmly in opposition of St Nicholas. A demonic satyr-like creature that beats bad children with sticks and rusty chains! Weird and wild stuff right? If you've got the time to fall down a pretty fascinating Wikipedia rabbit hole, check out all of this historical Santa Claus/ Krampus stuff. So, just as Krampus is the opposing figure to Santa, This beer is the opposing figure to all of the hearty Christmas ales that I've been drinking lately. Southern Tier's Krampus is an Imperial helles lager. A Christmas lager? Very interesting. To the beer!
Krampus pours a brassy vibrant gold. Tons of effervescent bubbles rise up through the crystal clear brew to feed into a finger of quite resilient bone white head. That head leaves some great lacing on the way down.
The aromas are led off by lots of sweet grain. Very fruity, tons of citrusy lemon, and even some grape. Plenty of floral, grassy hop aroma as well. It's a bit boozy as well.
Krampus is medium bodied and very smooth. A bit of a light caramel/ biscuity malt lays the groundwork for a lovely creamy fruitiness. Bits of tart lemon, apple, and grapefruit give this beer an almost Belgian-like level of bold, complex fruitiness. It finishes with a lovely mouth coating bitterness.
I really enjoyed this beer. Especially since it's really nothing like any of the other Christmas beers that I've been enjoying lately. And I really have enjoyed them. It's been a blast looking at all of these different Christmas beers. If you're looking for something different than hearty, malty beers this Christmas, a bottle of Krampus would be well worth your time.
HD
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