Every December — while the bartenders close down our Proctor District craft beer bar, bottle shop and restaurant for the night — Peaks & Pints co-owner Pappi Swarner grabs three holiday beers, heads upstairs to his office, cranks his computer speaks to an 11 and watches holiday Youtube videos. Obviously, he can’t perform his holiday tradition this year … at Peaks & Pints. No, his holiday happiness now takes place inside his home, much to the chagrin of his wife and daughter. In the spirit of giving, we offer you the chance to share his joy. Today, he pairs Brouwerij de Molen imperial stouts with the appropriate The Year Without a Santa Claus on ye ol’ Youtube — specifically the Snow Miser/Heat Miser song. While not Christmas or holiday beers per se, Pappi does love de Molen imperial stouts during the holidays as they pair well with his favorite stews, traditional Dutch desserts and cheeses. He also loves windmills and Menno Olivier launched de Molen 2004 at the historical windmill De Arkduif along the Oude Rijn river in the Netherlands. Bodegraven. Besides, the stouts also keep him warm as most likely he’ll be forced to carry out this ritual in his backyard. Hope you enjoy Peaks and Pints To-Go Christmas Beer Flight: de Snow Miser.
Peaks and Pints To-Go Christmas Beer Flight: de Snow Miser
de Molen Mout & Mocca
10% ABV, 81 IBU
Brewer Menno Olivier brough 12 years of experience to his Brouwerij De Molen, which translates to “The Mill Brewery” as the operation is located in a 300-year-old windmill. He began brewing in his kitchen as a hobby, went on to brew in Westmaas and Amsterdam, and then served as master brewer of De Pelgrim, a Rotterdam city brewery. His Mout & Mocca, translating to English as Malt & Mocha, is a coffee Russian imperial stout with biscuit malt, some chocolate, leather and light coffee on the nose. The taste follows the nose leading with coffee and dark chocolate and ending bitter.
de Molen Hel & Verdoemenis
10% ABV, 102 IBU
Translating to English as Hell & Damnation, de Molen Hel & Verdoemenis, the Dutch brewery’s flagship, is a Russian imperial stout brewed with brown malts, an English traditional specialty malt, Chocolate malt, and a mix of classic herbal Saaz and bitter, citrusy Columbus hops that shine through the sweet mocha character. Add to this a more-than-generous 10 percent alcohol note to keep Pappi from freezing in his backyard.
Hel & Verdoemenis Scotch Whiskey BA – Brett
11% ABV, 102 IBU
The Hel & Verdoemenis Scotch Whiskey Brett BA, a variant of de Molen’s flagship, is aged for 6 months on a smokey whisky barrel, with the last month being infused with a Brettanomyces strain, which adds more and more funky red fruit notes over time, but offers chocolate, sourness, roasted coffee, smoky barrel and dryness now.
