For the past few years, I’ve bought Brady a beer advent calendar! He loves it, because not only does he get to try a bunch of different beer, he also gets a beer a day, which is a HUGE treat around here, as we don’t regularly have alcohol in the house. This year, I went with a different brand to try and mix it up a bit, and while he’s really enjoyed the “beer a day” part of it, I’m disappointed with this one :/ There are SO MANY REPEATS! It says it right on the box, but I had already purchased it. I could’ve returned it, I’m sure, but decided to just be ok with it. To be clear, he is not complaining. Its me. I’m just bummed there isn’t more variety. But! Its still beer! Haha!
I purchased Brady the “Original Stiegl Advent Calendar.” It set me back about $70, and included 22 beer, and 2 “gifts.” I should’ve looked closed when I bought it :/ I just saw that there was radler in it, and knowing Brady liked that, I jumped. My bad. Now I know.
As in past years, Brady has diligently kept notes on his beer each day. Because of the repeats, there will be some rollover, but he added what he was eating when he drank it and some other little details. Hopefully you find it enjoyable!!
1. Grapefruit Radler – flavoured extra light beer – 2.5%
– great jumping off point, sweet and light, alcoholic Five Alive
– 4/5
2. Radler Himbeere Raspberry – Malt Beer – 2%
– smooth with a hint of zing, raspberry is present but not over powering
– 5/5
3. Goldbrau Beer – 5.1%
– solid flavour, not too strong, makes you grunt with satisfaction
– 4/5
4. Radler Zitrone Naturtrüb – 2%
– a delightful summer treat, would be delicious and refreshing on a hot day
– 4/5
5. Paracelsus Bio-Zwickl – 5.2%
– pretty average, amber beer. Not a great after taste
– 3/5
6. Columbus 1492 Pale Ale – 4.7%
– very crisp and refreshing, hoppy and slightly bitter, delicious with a sweeter meal much like my gorgeous wife’s honey garlic chicken
– 4/5
7. Becher Glass
– arrived broken in box, looked fun, however was not big enough to hold an entire beer
– 1/5
8. Goldbrau Beer – 5.1%
– second time around for this one, just as solid as the first time, paired with ribs and potatoes this time and was a total win
– 4/5
9. Grapefruit Radler – flavoured extra light beer – 2.5%
– second time for this one too, paired with a burger, felt like summertime
– 4/5
10. Paracelsus Bio-Zwickl – 5.2%
– about the same the second time around, grilled cheese and soup mostly hid the aftertaste but it was still pretty average
– 3/5
11. Radler Himbeere Raspberry – Malt Beer – 2%
– so happy too see this one again, all the same feelings, so yummy
– 5/5
12. Radler Zitrone Naturtrüb – 2%
– second time here and so good yet again, makes me want to go to the lake
– 4/5
13. Goldbrau Beer – 5.1%
– third time for this one, consumed by itself and it wasn’t a standout, needs a hearty meal behind it but I’ll still give it the same rating as past days
– 4/5
14. Paracelsus Bio-Zwickl – 5.2%
– third time for this one and I’m still not super impressed, quite average, nothing to write a blog about
– 3/5
15. Columbus 1492 Pale Ale – 4.7%
– delicious as refreshing after a long day, paired with perogies and farmer sausage and was remarkable
– 4/5
16. Goldbrau Beer – 5.1%
– four times here and it’s come around again, long day of work and paired with pizza, oh goodness it was yummy
– 4/5
17. Radler Zitrone Naturtrüb – 2%
– third time yum, yum yum yummy
– 5/5
18. Grapefruit Radler – flavoured extra light beer – 2.5%
– third time, sooo good, very easy to drink it like it’s fruit punch
– 4/5
19. Columbus 1492 Pale Ale – 4.7%
– so yummy yet again, a wonderful combination of refreshing and slightly bitter
– 4/5
20. Goldbrau Beer – 5.1%
– fifth time for this one, very hearty and satisfying, paired with a mashed potato chicken bowl, very tasty
– 4/5
21. Paracelsus Bio-Zwickl – 5.2%
– four times around and it was a perfect beer for the end of a long work day, hearty and flavourful
– 3/5
22. Columbus 1492 Pale Ale – 4.7%
– four times and I have to bump my rating, this beer is fantastic
– 5/5
23. Radler Himbeere Raspberry – Malt Beer – 2%
– so glad to see this as my last hurrah, absolutely you favourite in the pack
– 5/5
24. Becher Glass – this one wasn’t broken, however it is still too small for a standard can/bottle of beer
– Hailey here! The pink foam is pretty cute in the skinny little glass! So there’s that!
– 1/5
Final thoughts!
Brady: No duds! It was ALL good! However, it wasn’t very adventurous. Would be great as a variety pack but less for an advent calendar. The beer was yummy but the excitement was lost. I wasn’t eagerly anticipating it every day the way I did in years past, when there were no repeats.
Hailey: It wasn’t my calendar, or my beer, but it was disappointing for me. There was way too much rollover. It would’ve been great for a person who specifically loved this brand of beer and wanted a variety pack, but it was kind of lame to watch :/ Once he started getting repeats, there were no new ones. No surprises. It was a bummer. A beer a day was still a treat, but it wasn’t as fun.
Anyone else have an unconventional advent calendar this year??