Fantasy Christmas Drinking
I’m betting there will be quite a few blogs about what beers people will be opening on Christmas Day this year (I’ve done one of my own for Pencil & Spoon that I’ll be posting soon). It’s my favourite day of the year, a day to celebrate and a brilliant excuse to open some good bottles of beer (it’s also the one day of the year that I have beer for breakfast). I’ve decided on a few that I want to open but this isn’t about them, this is about what your fantasy Christmas would be like. The Ultimate one.
There’s three categories. For me, the food and the company are always the same and I wouldn’t want it any other way. But the beer, the presents and the movie on TV I can change.
The Beer: You need a few. Don’t let anything hold you back, just go all-out and choose exactly what you want – the beers you most want to try. I like a coffee beer from breakfast, something to sip through the late morning, a sour to perk up the tastebuds before dinner mid-afternoon, then dinner and then a few beers for the evening, ending with something strong and dark.
The Presents: This year you get given a weekend away to go and drink beer – where do you go? Money is no option, someone else is paying. You also get one bottle of beer neatly wrapped up – what is it?
The Movie on TV: What one movie do you want to watch on Christmas Day?
Here are my choices…
The Beer: Breakfast would be Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout – it’s a beer I really want to try but never have. If I can’t get that then a Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel will do – I love that beer. Late morning I’ll want something hoppy and fruity, an IPA but nothing that’s going to be too strong or hoporific, so cask Marble Pint or Thornbridge Jaipur (two of the best British beers around). Then something sour and funky so I’ll be looking at Russian River’s –tions, any of them. With dinner let’s go crazy. I’d want an aged bottle of Fuller’s Vintage ale. The oldest they’ve got. That’s a perfect beer for roast turkey and all the trimmings. In the evening I want strong and dark - Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter, Speedway Stout or the incredible Good King Henry Special Reserve (basically, I want to drink the RateBeer Best list!). Now that sounds like an awesome day to me and it certainly would be a very merry Christmas! And, of course, I’ll be sharing all of these with family, so it’s okay.
The Presents: Tickets to GABF would be nice, so would a long weekend searching for awesome Italian beer or just a train ticket to get around the UK to visit a few new places. As for the bottle… a perfectly cellared Thomas Hardy 1984.
The Movie: It’s got to be fun and easy watching. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is one of my favourite films so let’s stick that on.
Have a jolly old time everyone, not long to go now until Christmas!
Oh, and I’m running some Beer Awards 2009 on my blog, if you want to take part then please do (post your votes on your blog if you have one, comment on mine or email me markdredge[at]gmail.com and I’ll post them) - we’re celebrating the last 12 months of great beer!
2 Comments to “Fantasy Christmas Drinking”
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Nice one! I’ve still not decided on all my Beer Awards yet.
As for Christmas
Beer: Breakfast – Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast or Saints and sinners Insomniac, then like you ill move onto some light IPA’s or some nice session beers like Timmy Taylors Landlord, ill see what sort of mood i am in. I’ve also got a a bottle of JJJ that and Yorkshire Stingo that i was saving for Christmas day, possibly followed by a lovely stout or porter like Bracia or lost abbey serpent.
All the beers above I’ve got in my beercupboard and have been saving them for Christmas so i guess it’s almost fantasy Christmas come true.
Presents: i would love a trip to NZ or california, not just for the beers but also do do some hiking and camping. So ill need some new hiking gear too (actually im getting that already lol ;o) )
Film wise i would go for a couple of classics followed by something funny so probably cool runnings, the goonies and then maybe bad santa or the hangover, there would also have to be a bond film as you can’t have christmas without bond.
The beer? How about a vertical of Anchor magnums. A few years will do.
Presents? Hey, it’s the vertical of Anchors I just drank! My cellar isn’t depleted! Hooray! GABF tickets, flight, room and spending money! What’s that honey? A weekend spa retreat for you on the same week? What a thoughtful gift!
Movie time? It’s Christmas, time for some good old football. You know, the one where you use your hands.
One note: All of Russian River’s Belgians are -tions. Not all are sour. Redemption, Damnation, Perdition and Salvation are regular non-sours available at the pub. I’d be glad to walk you through them some day.