Krampus hiding behind the taps
You've been good. Right?
Then you have nothing to fear from the Krampus!
Traditionally, Krampusnacht was the evening that the legendary Krampus came to punish naughty children for misbehaving. Sometimes they were beaten with a stick, but if they were really bad, they were taken to the Underworld for their punishment.
Krampusnacht at the Phoenix isn’t nearly as scary. It originally began as a way for the Phoenix to release the Krampus Kandy White Stout, a customer favorite. Krampus Kandy is a white stout, which is a golden ale infused with coffee. It uses Highlander Grog to create roasty notes and hints of butterscotch and caramel, and is also infused with chocolate and vanilla. Since its first release, it has become increasingly popular leading to increased production and availability throughout the year.
“The release of the Krampus used to coincide with the traditional Krampusnacht celebration around the world.” creative and marketing Chair, Carmone Macfarlane. “but with increased production and health and safety concerns over the last few years, we held back on our celebration. But this year, our Krampusknacht is returning with new traditions including a canned food drive, beer pairing with cookies and candy, and my favorite part, a kegmas tree.“
Starting December 3rd through December 18th, the Phoenix will be accepting donations of canned goods to help fill local pantry shelves for families in need. Donations should not be expired or out of date. Guests are encouraged to consider items canned items like vegetables, dry goods like pasta, and items in glass jars like spaghetti sauce. For every donation, guests can enter their name in a raffle to win a holiday basket from the Phoenix that will be drawn on December 19th.
The Phoenix will offer a Candy, Cookie, and Beer pairing during the Krampusknacht weekend. Their creative experts have paired seasonal favorites together for unexpected flavor combinations. Holiday treats like snickerdoodle Stroopwaffels, chocolate biscuits, peppermint bark, and hazelnut chocolates will be paired with seasonal beers. The pairings will be available starting Saturday at Noon through Sunday, but only while supplies last. Their holiday menu will also be revealed including seasonal cocktails made from Ohio distilled spirits.
Macfarlane says, “I think I am most excited about the kegmas tree this year. We always have a small tree in the taproom, but a kegmas tree is a new tradition for us.” A kegmas tree is a large tree made from stacked kegs. The Phoenix kegmas tree will be located on their brick patio and the official lighting of the tree will will be at 6:30 pm. “The first time we saw a kegmas tree was in 2015 at Royal Docks Brewing Company. It’s a great way to combine some the brewing industry with the holiday season. And we will still have our little tree inside.”
Guests don’t have to dress in holiday attire but it is highly encouraged! Ugly or tacky sweaters, Krampus costumes, ELF wear, Heatmiser, Crazy hats, hair or decorated beards. Closing out the celebration will be live music by Jai Merina starting at 7:30 pm.