I’m writing this post in October, but I’m tucking it away in the Wordpress scheduling system to be posted today, December 6th.

That’s because December 6th is the Feast of St. Nicholas, and is observed by the good people of Austria in a way that nobody else can match. On December 6th, the elves at Schloss Eggenburg (Eggenburg Castle) begin brewing a beer known as Samichlaus (Sami-klaus) that will take the better part of a year to finish.

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The beer is, as you may have guessed, named after Santa Claus, and it is without question the finest, most complex beer I have ever tasted. It reminds me more of a fine cognac (XO, not VSOP) than even the best that Belgium has to offer.

At over 14% alcohol, it’s got more potency than most wines. It’s creamy, with a tongue-coating mouthfeel and hints of carmel and sugarplums and brown paper packages tied up with strings…I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s one of a kind.

I’m writing this in October because that’s when I tried this beer for the first time. We bought one small bottle, and then Jamie and I decided immediately that a beer this good must be saved for special occasions only. We decided to make it a tradition to have this beer in Advent, particularly on Christmas Eve and then again on Christmas Day. We plan on giving it as a gift to our closest friends and family for their enjoyment during this, our favorite season.

And of course, you can bet we’ll be having some today, in honor of Good Saint Nick.

You can find this heavenly brew at Total Wine and More and at Whole Foods - if you’re lucky. It’s considered one of the rarest beers in the world, so good luck tracking some down.

Filed under: Beer