Dutch brewers, Uiltje have given their festive stout such a brilliant name I just had to grab a bottle from the fabulous online beer shop, BeerWulf. F*ck The Christmas Tree Is On Fire is an orange and coffee oatmeal stout with a stonking 10% ABV. Just as well it's only in a 330ml bottle or I'd have been Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.
It's a stout so it's no surprise that it's a very dark brown, almost black coloured ale but the head is so disappointing. There's almost no head at all, just a tiny bit of froth around the circumference of the beer.
The aroma is exactly what it says on the label: coffee and orange but there's also a hint of spice and a sprinkling of chocolate. The orange smell is beautiful, it's more like freshly squeezed sweet orange juice than zesty bitter orange peel.
It's a lovely flavoured stout, predominantly coffee and chocolate but the added orange gives a hint of sweetness that balances the bitterness perfectly. The bitterness comes full circle with a slightly bitter chocolate/coffee finish. There is also no mistaking the 10% ABV with a hint of raw alcohol in the aftertaste.
With no head from the start, it's has a surprisingly fizzy mouthfeel and it gave my tongue a good tingling. It has a medium to full body and the oatmeal gives it a creaminess that makes it a little too easy to drink (remember that high ABV!).
It's a very unusual stout; I loved the addition of orange which takes a lot of the bitterness off the coffee and the oatmeal smoothly blends the different flavours. It's a shame there was no head as the appearance is quite off-putting and although I wouldn't have one again, I'd definitely give it a try if you're a stout lover.
Brewed by Uiltje Brewing Co, Haarlem, the Netherlands
10% ABVMy rating:
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