Today is an interesting beer- and Christmas-related day: not only is December 5 Repeal Day, the day the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was ratified thus officially ending Prohibition in the U.S., but in Austria and similar regions in Europe it is also Krampus Night (or Krampusnacht).

Krampus is a demonic contrast/counterpoint to St. Nicholas (whose day is celebrated on the 6th), responsible for the bad children, dispensing coal and sometimes stuffing the children into his bag to be spirited away for nefarious purposes.

In Italy, Birrificio Del Ducato brews an annual Krampus Christmas Ale, which seemed an appropriate selection for today’s Advent reveal. It is 9% alcohol by volume and brewed with spices. They say:

We liked the idea of dedicating our Christmas beer to a demon. The Krampus, more than at the Christmas refers to a legend of the Ladin countries. On the night of December 5th, the Krampus roam through the streets and alleys of the villages in the Alps, covered with skins of rams, with horns and goat legs, shaking their black chains to terrorize villagers. It is the prelude to the arrival of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus ancient precursor) that will bring peace and gifts in the community.

Beer of high fermentation, re-fermented in the bottle. Deep amber colour with reddish reflections, has cream-colored foam, fine-grained. Bouquet: complex aromatic notes with hints of candied fruit (citron, orange), spices (pepper, anise, nutmeg) and balsamic notes. In the mouth it is warm, full and with a perceptible sweetness.

I hope you only find a bottle of Krampus and not Krampus himself this St. Nicholas Eve!

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