More talk of Christmas beer

Christmas seems to be the time of year that beer geeks dig out the special beers they have shown great restrain not to open throughout the year, all to celebrate the birth of Santa. So over the next week or so the main topic of discussion amongst beer bloggers will be 'what are you drinking on Christmas day?'. Not to be left out, I figured I would disclose my choices...well, my choices as I write this, they seem to change pretty much every day.

I have bought a few beers over the last couple of months specifically to drink over Christmas. Here is a list of what I have set aside in my recently created “Christmas Beers Cupboard”.

Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast
Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper 2008
Goose Island Christmas Ale 2009
Anchor Christmas Ale 2009
Yulesmith Holiday Ale
Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale
Ridgeway Insanely Bad Elf 2009
Shepherds Neame Christmas Ale 2009
Otley O-Ho-Ho
Delirium Christmas
Harvey's Imperial Extra Double Stout 2003
Old Chimney Good King Henry Vintage 2007
Samichlaus 2008
Tactical Nuclear Penguin
Flying Dog Wild Dog Schwarz
Fraoch Heather Ale 20th Anniversary Ale

Having written it all down, I've realised that there is an awful lot I'm wanting to drink and in all likelihood I won't drink everything and if I do, I damn sure won't remember doing so.

OK, so, what to have on Santa day? I'm going with Beer Geek Breakfast for, well, breakfast. Not had it before, I've had Weasel and loved it but figured as I don't intend to be too late up, breakfast was more appropriate. In the evening I will definitely be opening a bottle of Old Chimney's Good King Henry. It's a beer I have been wanting to try for a long time and having recently got my hands on a few bottles (see previous post), Christmas seems like as good a time as ever.

These are the only two I am sure about so far, mainly because I don't have to think too hard about intricate food pairings. I'm completely open to suggestions for the rest, specifically, when are you allowed to drink Samichlaus? Has to be Christmas day, right?