Wednesday, December 18, 2013

German Christmas Beers at Spuyten Duyvil

Frohe Weihnachten, New York!

The Monarchy is the experimental-revivalist offshoot of Freigeist which itself is the experimental offshoot of Cologne's small brewery, Braustelle. Brewer Sebastian Sauer and his colleagues are rediscovering and updating Europe's lost beer styles as well as creating new ones along the way. Where will the offshoots end??

This Thursday, December 19th, at Spuyten Duyvil, come try some truly unique beers that The Monarchy has brewed for the Christmas season. Taking inspiration from Christmas cookies and cakes from around German, the brewery has brewed rich beers with traditional spices. Santa doesn't need milk AND cookies; all he needs is a glass of The Monarchy! We'll be providing samples of the inspirational cookies as well. In addition, there will be other German Christmas beers. 





  • The Monarchy Happy Christmas from Aachen - In the 15th century, copper workers from Dinant, Belgium emigrated to the German city of Aachen, bringing with them the centuries-old tradition of engraved pastries and cakes. Today, the term Aachener Printen is a Protected Designation of Origin and all manufacturers of the special Christmas delicacies are found in or near the town. Brewed in collaboration with local traditional bakeries and based on the traditional Printen cakes of Aachen, this beer is made with “Gingerbread Man” spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, cardamom, and coriander seed.
  • The Monarchy Happy Christmas from Dresden - Stollen, a moist, heavy German cake filled with fruit, was first mentioned in an official document in 1474, and the most famous Stollen is still the Dresdner Stollen. The official stollen is produced exclusively in Dresden, and usually contains a mix of nuts and spices in addition to the dried fruit. This beer replicates Stollen flavors with with candied peels of orange & lemon, and raisins. 
  • The Monarchy Happy Christmas from Nürnberg - Lebkuchen were invented by medieval monks in Franconia, Germany in the 13th century, and the earliest recorded mention of local Nürnberg Lebkuchen dates to at least 1395. Historically known as honey cake (Honigkuchen ) or pepper cake (Pfefferkuchen), Lebkuchen comes in many configurations, the most famous being the heart-shaped souvenier version found in German Christmas markets. Happy Christmas from Nürnberg is made with a plethora of spices and fruits, including cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger, cardamom, coriander seed, and candied peels of orange and lemon.  
  • Mahr's Christmas Bock - A rich yet unusually hoppy & drinkable winter bock from a classic Bamberg family brewery.
  • Kulmbacher Eisbock - The original. The story goes that a wooden barrel of bockbier was inadvertently left in the brewery yard in the middle of winter. By the time it was found, the contents were mostly frozen so the ice was chipped away, leaving behind a much richer, more concentrated, but exceptionally clean tasting brew with a deceptive 9.2% abv. 
  • Weissenohe Monk's Christkindl - A classic dark Franconian winter lager, dry-hopped and double-decoction brewed at Germany’s second-oldest Klosterbrauerei (gravity keg)  
  • The Monarchy Year of the Dragon - Happy New Year! A strong ale brewed with rice. Each year, a new version will be brewed.

Spuyten Duyvil is located at 359 Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. The beers will be on at 5pm and the cookies will arrive shortly thereafter.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Belgium2Brooklyn and Christmas Beers

There are plenty of opportunities to drink an amazing array of beers this weekend.

Saturday and Sunday, 7-8 December, starting at noon on both days is the 8th Annual Belgium2Brooklyn at Mugs Ale House in Williamsburg. This festival, featuring Belgian-brewed and Belgian-style brews will be featuring some exclusive beers from our portfolio, some of which are having their New York debut.

Each day will feature a different list of beers and here are some of the highlights:

Saturday
courtesy of Bill Coleman

  • Dieu du Ciel! Isseki Nicho - imperial dark saison from Québec
  • Het Nest Oak-Aged Klevertien - quadrupel with anise (only keg in NYC!)
Sunday
  • Ægir Julebrygg - winter warmer from Norway, judiciously spiced with juniper and ginger
  • Het Nest Dead Man's Hand - bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout (only keg in NYC!)
  • Jandrain-Jandrenouille VI Wheat - saison (only keg in NYC!)
  • Sainte-Hélène Gypsy Rose - Belgian strong ale (only keg in NYC!)
  • To Øl Snowball Saison - refreshing saison from Denmark

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Also on Saturday, Brouwerij Lane in Greenpoint will be featuring some of our Christmas beers and Jim "Bocky" Barnes will be spinning the festive tunes from 12-5pm.

  • The Monarchy Happy Christmas from Aachen - Germany's The Monarchy brewed up a series of holiday beers that are like German Christmas cakes in a keg. Each one features the Christmas flavors of a different city. This version is made with gingerbread spices like the Aachen Printen cookies
  • The Monarchy Happy Christmas from Dresden - the second in the holiday series. This version is brewed with candied orange and lemon peels and raisins liek the world-famous Dresdener Christstollen
  • Ægir Julebrygg - winter warmer from Norway, judiciously spiced with juniper and ginger