I've been thinking a lot about routines today. I used to get really annoyed when some know it all ex-girlfriend would tell me I needed to establish positive routines to encourage self-improvement. To be totally honest with you, I feel like a lot of that self-improvement shit is just a scam that achieves two things: one, making people feel shitty about basically being tired at the end of a working day and wanting to sit in their pyjamas and eat snacks while getting blitzed on wine, and two, making some less overly preened halfwit with a sociopath's lack of shame insanely wealthy.
But, there is something to having routines. For example, for the last thirteen days, it has been my routine to drink my Beer52 advent calendar beer, and report back to you. That's nourishment for the intellect and the soul, talk about self-actualisation.
Hamer and Sikkel
Style - Porter
Brewer - Brouwerij de Molen
Hops - Chinook, Saaz
ABV - 5.2%
The beer
It's currently minus three degrees outside, so thank god it's a porter I pulled out of the box today. I have had a few things by De Molen before, but my memory is foggy, so I'm basically going in with no preconceptions. That being said, they're from the Netherlands, so I am expecting good things (I'm not sure why, but I feel confident in the hands of a Dutchman, but that's another story).
Here's a shocking revelation, I would like Hamer & Sikkel to be a little thicker on the pour. Yep, it's a porter so I wasn't expecting a massive ooze-fest, but it's cold outside and I want something thick (this is not necessarily a reflection on the beer). On the plus side, H&S is rich on the nose, a hint of spice and a tingle of burnt sugar, which is all very seasonal and incredibly inviting.
On the tongue there is actually more than enough body - thanks in no small part to the inclusion of oats in the brew. In terms of out and out flavours, there isn't much to say beyond what I've already mentioned, a festive spiciness and a touch of burnt sugar. There is an initial hit of hop bitterness which is then replaced in quick succession by a surge of malt sweetness which dissipates into more lingering bitterness.
As the drink disappears, I grow fonder of H&S - this is almost universally true of beers, but in particular this is very pleasant, very pleasant indeed. If you do manage to find H&S at your local bottle shop or wherever you buy your beers, it would be a good one for getting things rolling on Christmas morning. And, as porters go exceptionally well with oysters, it might even work well alongside the obligatory smoked salmon - perhaps I'll give that a go.
Score - 4.75/5
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