Knott’s Berry Farm has become Knott’s Beer-y Farm for craft beer lovers who can sample all 12 Beers of Christmas from a renowned Orange County brewer during the winter holiday season at the Buena Park theme park.
Every one of the beers in the 12 Days of Christmas series from the Placentia-based Bruery is being poured during Knott’s Merry Farm — from the Partridge in a Pear Tree Belgian-style quadruple ale to the 12 Drummers Drumming bourbon barrel aged blend.
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The Bruery spent 12 years brewing and releasing one beer a year from 2008 to 2019 to create the celebrated series that generated excitement in the craft beer community and long lines for each release.
I spent a recent afternoon sampling all 12 of the Bruery’s Christmas beers that are available through the end of Knott’s Merry Farm on Jan. 4.
I’m a huge craft beer fan and an even bigger fan of the Bruery. In my opinion, the Bruery is the best brewery in Orange County and I’d put it up against anything San Diego has to offer.
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I’ve tried all 12 of the Bruery’s Christmas beers before in bottles — but never on tap or in one sitting.
The high alcohol content in the Bruery’s 12 Beers of Christmas, ranging from 9% to 12% alcohol by volume (ABV), makes it impossible to drink a full pour of every beer in a single visit.
For that reason, I only tried enough of each beer to assess the appearance, aroma, flavor and mouthfeel to come up with an overall impression.
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Knott’s season passholders will want to return several times during Merry Farm to try all their favorites from the 12 Beers of Christmas. The Bruery beers are an especially good value at Knott’s — with each 16 ounce pour costing $16.49.
Join me as I drink my way through the greatest beer advent calendar ever created.
Partridge in a Pear Tree
Belgian-style Quadruple Ale, 11.3% ABV
Mrs. Murphy’s
Description: A simple yet immensely complex ale. Brewed with dark Belgian Candi sugar and Munich and Vienna malts. Dark and fruity with a rich malt backbone.
Partridge in a Pear Tree was mild, smooth and pleasant — and nowhere near as heavy as I expected for a Belgian quadruple ale.
The caramel color made Patridge one of the lightest colored beers in the series.
I could have sat and drank Patridge all day — which could be a big problem.
It paired well with the Buffalo Chicken Flatbread served at Mrs. Murphy’s.
2 Turtle Doves
Belgian-style Dark Ale, 10.6% ABV
Calico Saloon
Description: Smooth and chocolatey. Inspired by chocolate turtle candies. Brewed with orange peels, spices, cacao nibs, toasted pecans, Belgian Candi sugar and caramel malts.
The powerful, alcohol-forward Turtle Doves definitely packed a wallop.
The sticky but not sweet dark ale looked as black as a Guinness stout with a slight red tint to it.
I got a bit of a toasty flavor, but not any chocolate as advertised. Which was fine with me. I have never been a fan of chocolate or peanut butter in my beer.
3 French Hens
Oaked Belgian-style Dark Ale, 10% ABV
Santa’s Christmas Cabin
Description: Bold and spicy. Aged in French oak barrels and topped with a Belgian-style dark ale.
French Hens was the most Christmassy and best tasting beer of the bunch.
The dark amber ale was nicely balanced and smooth drinking.
The oak and warm spice flavors came through in every sip. Like most Bruery beers, it had a nice herbal Belgian finish.
4 Calling Birds
Belgian-style Dark Strong Ale, 11.1% ABV
Prop Shop Pizzeria
Description: Perfect for sipping on a cold night. A winter warmer-inspired spiced ale with notes of gingerbread, licorice, banana bread and hints of dark fruit, molasses and bitter chocolate.
Calling Birds punched a little harder than any of the other beers — as you might expect with a dark strong ale.
Birds would be nice to sip in front of a warm fire. This was definitely not a gulpable beer.
The dark red ale gave off a strong banana aroma with gingerbread spices and a definite licorice hit.
It would go perfect with a spicy slice of pizza at Prop Shop Pizzeria.
5 Golden Rings
Belgian-style Golden Ale, 11.7% ABV
Tiki Bar
Description: Brewed with pineapple for a sweet and tangy flavor. Contains notes of cinnamon, allspice and ginger
The dark auburn appearance of Golden Rings had the same shade as an autumn leaf.
The slightly cloudy ale was certainly the lightest colored of the 12 Bruery beers on tap.
But don’t let the lighter color fool you. Golden Rings was a beast of a beer at 11.7% and tasted like it.
It was delicious, but the alcohol definitely came through.
The mild, sweet taste and fruity pineapple aroma would go great with the pulled pork at the nearby Boardwalk BBQ.
6 Geese-A-Laying
Belgian-style Dark Ale, 11.7% ABV
Coasters Diner
Description: A dark, malty and toasty winter ale brewed with gooseberries. Displays notes of plums, dark cherry and bright citrus flavors.
The full bodied Geese-A-Laying was the heaviest beer of the bunch.
It was also the reddest thanks to the cherries and plums that gave the dark ale a fruity flavor.
The earthy and malty taste gave Geese a heavy mouthfeel.
7 Swans-A-Swimming
Belgian-style Quadruple Ale, 9.1% ABV
Mrs. Murphy’s
Description: A rich and complex winter brew. Contains notes of raisin bread, dried apricots, burnt caramel and roasted pecans.
Just past the halfway point, the Bruery offered up its version of a light beer.
Swans-A-Swimming was the only beer among the dozen not in the double digits — checking in at a mere 9.1%. That’s a pretty low ABV for a Belgian quad.
Swans was the sweetest of the Christmas brews thanks to the raisins, but the sweetness was not overbearing.
The Belgian ale was a little cloudy with a burnt caramel color.
8 Maids-A-Milking
Belgian-style Imperial Milk Stout, 11.3% ABV
Calico Saloon
Description: Brewed with milk sugar for a creamy sweetness. Belgian yeast adds milk chocolate flavors and spice accents.
Guinness fans will want to give the Bruery’s milk stout a try. But be careful: The “imperial” nature of Maids-A-Milking comes with an 11.3% ABV — about twice the 5.6% of a Guinness.
Maids was midnight dark and opaque with all the chocolate and coffee flavors you’d expect in a stout.
It would go great with a funnel cake — and fortunately Sutter’s Funnel Cake is nearby in Calico Ghost Town.
The Snow and Glow experience returns to Ghost Town during Knott’s Merry Farm. (Courtesy of Knott’s)
9 Ladies Dancing
Belgian-style Ale, 11% ABV
Santa’s Christmas Cabin
Description: A rich ale inspired by flavors of tiramisu. Includes ladyfingers and notes of vanilla, chocolate and coffee.
Ladies Dancing was by far the sweetest beer of the bunch.
Sweet beers are definitely not my thing, but Ladies was very balanced and tasty.
The crystal clear deep red ale delivered on its promise: It tasted like a dessert cookie with a big vanilla aroma and taste.
10 Lords-A-Leaping
Dark Imperial Wit Ale, 10.8% ABV
Boardwalk BBQ
Description: The traditional winter warmer draws inspiration from spiced Belgian dark ales. Brewed with dried apples and spices. Specialty malts add a rich fruited character.
Lords-A-Leaping was a beautiful beer — dark and clear with a nice amount of lacing on the cup from the foam.
The sweetness of the rich fruit combined with an almost smoky flavor.
I would want this with something spicy and fortunately Lords-A-Leaping is served in just the right place — Boardwalk BBQ.
11 Pipers Piping
Scotch-style Ale, 11% ABV
Baja Taqueria
Description: Extra smooth and malty with notes of toffee and dried fruit accented by the spicy herbal aroma. Brewed with Belgian Candi sugar and coriander.
The black-as-night ale definitely had a toffee taste to it with a spicy aroma.
Baja Taqueria seemed like an odd place to serve a Scotch-style ale. Pipers Piping was not a taco kind of beer.
I wanted something heavier to go with it. Like a turkey leg from Fireman’s Brigade BBQ on the other side of the park.
12 Drummers Drumming
Belgian-style Quadruple Ale, 12% ABV
Cantina Del Sur
Description: Blended with a 12-year-old ale aged in oak bourbon barrels with notes of toffee, dark fruit and caramel.
Drummers Drumming was the biggest beer of them all at 12% ABV. It definitely provided an exclamation point at the end of the journey.
The clear, dark red quad had a deep, rich flavor with a caramel aroma.
Drummers would go great with al pastor tacos — and fortunately Baja Taqueria is nearby.
After a dozen beers, my taste buds largely didn’t work anymore. And some tacos sounded like the perfect encore to the 12 Beers of Christmas.