Said to be the strongest beer in the world, Santa Claus beer hails from the Castle Brewery Eggenberg, Austria.


Samichlaus was first brewed in Zurich at Hürlimann brewery in 1980 and then every year until 1996, when the brewing stopped.

In 2001 brewmasters from Eggenberger and Hürlimann secretly got together and brewed the beer for release. They released the following press statement:

"We, family Stöhr, as one of the oldest Austrian brewers are proud to annouce that the famous Samichlaus Beer will be re-launched by Eggenberger. We are committed to upholding the quality of Samichlaus by not making changes or altering the classic recipe, down to the ingredients and yeast. Samichlaus beer will be brewed exactly as it was brewed. As be substantially widened with this unique brand. "

The brew is delivered in a tall neck brown bottle sealed with a crown cap. “Schloss Eggenberg” is embossed into the glass. The contents are 330ml and it is brewed to 14% ABV.

Samichlaus Bier is brewed only once a year on December 6th. It is aged for ten months before bottling. This beer is perhaps the rarest in the world. It may be aged for many years top come. Older vintages become more complex with a creamy warming finish. Serve with hardy robust dishes and desserts, particularly with chocolates or as an after dinner drink by itself.

It pours with a gentle sparkle and creates a modest head. It is crystal clear and has no sediment. It has a distinctly raisin, vinous nose. It is a rich brown colour – the colour of a good Oloroso sherry (despite being described as a lager) . The first taste is distinctly dry, rounded and very, very smooth. There is a hint of both bitterness and sweetness (slightly cloying) on the palate. Again the overall experience is one of taking a generous sip of a full bodied medium sherry.

There is a pronounced warming sensation on swallowing (look at the alcohol content). Again the lingering feeling on the palate is of having drunk a good quality sherry or fortified wine.

Sainsbury's usually stock it. It has got a VERY strong taste and looks a bit darker than in that photo (back lighting?). I'm not that keen on it. As you sip it, it doesn't seem like a beer to me, more like a wine! The review is very accurate though. Nice one Toom.
Young's Christmas Pudding Ale is widely available (mentoned by aliceb) as is Red Nose Rudolph (although I can't remember who brews it).

yeah , I find it to have a rather bitter aftertaste , but the danger with this one was that I couldn t feel the strength of it ...

To be enjoyed...

I've got a bottle for after Christmas dinner tomorrow.....

I'll get one as soon as I'll be back to Bierland. Need to bring them some empty bottles anyway

Given that I had consumed the best part of a bottle of Sancerre before I had the Samichlaus I just made some notes when I'd finished it, here they are:

'Raisins, plums, cherries, burnt sugar, marmite, sherry, cigar smoke. Easy to sip, wine like, a beer liqueur. Soft on the palate, full tasting and smoothe (sic). Lemons? Malt is just aroma not taste. Cinder toffee. More a trans dimensional portal than a journey into space. Beer poetry in a glass.'

I followed this up by opening a bottle of Rioja. the rest is a blur.

After 2 months on the wagon I had my first alcoholic beverages yesterday in the Long Bar, Bristol. Thatcher's Dry of course, my favourite real cider -

bright amber colour, clear and refreshing. Not much head retention, slight aroma of apples. Slips down with ease, tart, slight hint of apple pips. Not really pleasant, but it hits the spot - very quickly. You can always tell the scrumpy drinkers. They're the ones smiling inanly, talking gibberish. I was one of them, my west country accent getting stronger after each cider.