The masses of Northville and the Michigan craft beer scene gave North Center Brewing Company an early Christmas gift by selling out the Flight Before Christmas last weekend! Fortunately, I was able to secure a flight to review and see how North Center Brewing Company kicked off the Christmas celebration.

As mentioned in the preview post, North Center Brewing Company adapted to the times to offer the Flight Before Christmas in a to-go format due to the global pandemic and the current MDHHS orders in the state of Michigan. The 6-pack had each of the beers in an 8 oz can that provided more than what a usual flight pour would be but a worthwhile taste of each beer.

I always enjoy ordering flights at breweries because it gives me a little bit of everything to try. North Center Brewing Company’s the Flight Before Christmas had exactly that along with Christmas cheer. Overall, I found the flight to be a lot of fun with the various beer styles and flavors.

For this review, I’ve included a summary of the brewer’s notes from Kevin DeGrood, North Center’s owner, and Kodi Amritt-Wall, North Center’s lead brewer, along with my own notes:

Grinch Ginger Apple Sour

Sour – Other | 4.5%

Kevin & Kodi: The Grinch Ginger Apple Sour is a newcomer for the flight and is also the first sour to ever be included. The kettle sour captures the Grinch’s appearance with a green hue. Macintosh apples were used along with fresh ginger, cinnamon, and brown sugar.

Ed: The sour poured a Grinch-like green and was tart and full of ginger on the front end. The back end was sweetened up with the cinnamon and brown sugar. I found it to be balanced between the two sides of the Grinch.

Imperial Yamber Ale

Red Ale – American Amber/Red | 7%

Kevin & Kodi: This big beer comes in around 8% and is a bold and earthy ale. It has been in every flight since 2017. Kevin suggested that people enjoying the flight at home should toast marshmallows on top of the beer poured into a glass as this is what has been done in-house in the past.

Ed: I did not have any marshmallows to toast and garnish on top of my Imperial Yamber Ale, but I did enjoy the earthy and roasty ale. I found it to be more spiced with the yams in the background.

White Russian Imperial Stout

Stout – Russian Imperial | 9%

Kevin & Kodi: Another new beer for 2020, this lactose-based beer is a dark and bold imperial stout. Cocoa nibs give it a lighter chocolate profile while the malt used provides a roasty touch. This beer should be around 9%.

Ed: The White Russian Imperial Stout was sweet, roasty, and big. Kevin and Kodi were not joking when they said this one was going to be bold! Wow!

Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout

Stout – Other | 5.5%

Kevin & Kodi: The Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout always warms everyone up! The 5.5% chocolate stout is brewed with chili peppers and a touch of habanero this year. Kevin said the mouthfeel is of a stout while the back end brings the heat.

Ed: I think I lost track of where this one was in the flight and took a big sip of it. I was quickly reminded that it was the Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout when it rushed down my gullet and gave me all sorts of tingly heat. It had a solid sweetness on the front end and that heat was there but not overpowering.

NCB Christmas Ale

Lager – Pale | 8.2%

Kevin & Kodi: The Christmas Ale has been the staple of the Flight Before Christmas. It is a thick bodied amber ale with honey, cloves, and cinnamon. It is one of Kevin’s original recipes and he said it is very similar to the Christmas Ale from Great Lakes.

Ed: Kevin humble bragged that his Christmas Ale was good if not better than Great Lakes Brewing Co’s Christmas Ale and I think he’s right. I wanted more of this one as it was sweet and spiced.

Fruitcake Belgian Quad

Belgian Quadrupel | 12%

Kevin & Kodi: This beer first showed up in the flight last year and is the biggest at 12% ABV. Belgian Quads are known to have a dark hue and fruity notes, but North Center wanted even more fruit so they added blueberries, strawberries, cherries, and orange and lemon zests.

Ed: The Fruitcake Quad was dangerously smooth. I say dangerously because it drinks like a 6% beer but is double that in ABV. I loved all the fruit notes from both the beer style along and all of the added fruit.

Each can had the same label with the gift tag filled out with which beer it was. | Photo courtesy of North Center Brewing Company

My favorite beer of the Flight Before Chrismas was the Christmas Ale. It was “true-to-style” as a “Christmas Ale” and had a good balance between the sweet and spiced notes. The runner up beers that I have to mention and give kudos to were the Grinch Ginger Apple Sour and the Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout. Both beers exceeded my expectations and were what made the Flight Before Christmas a lot of fun to drink and get into the Christmas spirit!

Cheers!

Disclaimer: North Center Brewing Company is a sponsor of Better on Draft Media. Thank you to Kevin DeGrood for the Flight Before Christmas to review!