Day 6 of the 4th Annual Advent-ure Calendar
Day 6: Fat Head’s Brewery Pimp My Sleigh
The first of two Fat Head’s beers on the list! They’re basically a Cleveland institution at this point so they deserve as many spots as possible. We don’t remember if we’ve ever had a “bad” beer from them so we kind of know what we’re getting into here. Per Fat Head’s this “rich, complex Belgian-Style holiday brew has intricate aromas and flavors of sweet dark malt, dark fruit, raisins, figs, anise and spicy phenols. A thick, creamy head always tops it off.”
Reflections
Beard & Broad
Beard: This beer is like a comfy blanket I want to wrap myself in all winter. It’s exactly what I look for in a beer this time of year: robust, boozy, full of flavor. Dried fruit up front and a rich, toffee-like finish make this the perfect dark Belgian and the perfect beer for cold weather. It’s also the type of beer I could drink well after Christmas and into May when it finally stops being winter in Ohio.
Broad: This beer is pure magic, pure Christmas magic. I imagine sugar plum fairies delivering me this beer while I’m all bundled up on the couch. It’s light, malty, a tad sweet and not too spicy at all. It’s 10.5% but does not taste that strong at all, which could potentially be dangerous because I want to drink many of these. I feel like this would be a good beer for people just getting into Belgian beers or strong holiday beers or for people who like good f-ing beer.
Adam & Alex
Adam: Heck yes pimp my sleigh. This is how you make a holiday dark beer. I get all of the notes of figs and dark brown sugar they mention as well as dates and a hint of cherry (he said QUITE PRETENTIOUSLY). Everything in this beer is flawless to me. The maltiness, the warmth, the color and all those dark good boi rich fruits. I could drink this all night…aka until I pass out at 9 bc it’s…squints at bottle…holy crap 10.5% abv. Mmmm warning.
Alex: I love pimp my sleigh so much. Aside from it’s amazing name, I always forget how good it is, and each year it’s like a new discovery. It’s a delicious Belgian beer that is the perfect amount of sweet. This is my version of a sugar plum, and I will have visions of Pimp My Sleigh dancing in my head tonight.
Scott & Christa
Scott: Upon first sip, I really didn’t think I liked this. It was a weird, sweet bite that was not what I expected. A few sips later and suddenly I’m looking for tickets on the Ho Train (yes that’s a WWF reference to The Godfather since he was a pimp and I missed my opportunity with 3 Hos). I don’t know if my palette is changing, but I can really taste raisins and candied fruits and I’m digging it. I’d love to try this on draft so we certainly have a trip to North Olmsted in our future.
Christa: Strangely enough, I’ve never tried this beer! This is shocking me because a) it has pimp in the title and that’s hilarious and b) it’s a Belgian style ale and I love Belgians (beers and the people). Upon first sip, it’s a kick in the face of sweet cinnamon and nutmeg, maybe some vanilla too. It’s really good. It’s smooth going down and warm in the belly. Here’s the thing, past versions of me would love this beer. I don’t know if my tastes have changed or I simply have found beers I love more but I can’t drink too much of this. It’s like a Moscato to me, great for a second, and then way too sweet for me by sip 3 or 4.
Tony & Megan
Tony: Never had this one before and its pretty interesting. Described as having sweet dark malt with raisins and figs it definitely puts an original spin on a Christmas beer. It is on the sweeter side, maybe a little too sweet, but I enjoyed it. I like Belgian style ales and this has a really unique flavor. If you’re looking for something different this holiday season I would recommend giving this one a try.
Megan: Dark, malty, sweet and thick. It’s interesting. Probably a little too sweet to keep drinking but I like the flavors that create this Christmasy blend.