With four young kids, Christmas day is going to be hectic to say the least. I would go as far as saying that lunch will be a quick affair so as the screamers can get back to their new Lego, Transformers, bikes, games and other various bits of entertainment. Christmas is for the kids I suppose!

On the beer front I have asked a good friend in Brisbane to firstly become a member of the German Club, then buy a mixed case of the finest and hopefully freshest of the German wheat beers. This is what’s on my Christmas beer list ….. I’ve even asked the guys behind the bar to tell me how they are drinking at the moment.

• Franziskaner Dunkel
• Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
• Hofbrau Oktoberfest beer
• Schneider Aventinus

As far as food matching, we’ll be having a huge, locally-killed chook (from a mates farm), with all the usual roasted treasures. But then the house stops for Kristina’s Christmas pud – which is going to be just sensational with the Aventinus. (I hope we find all the threepence this year.)

There will of course be a Stone & Wood Pacific Ale or two thrown in with the neighbours during the later part of the day / night ….and then there’s New Year’s Eve, complete with local grown ham, to be cooked in my wood fired pizza oven. But that’s another story …..

For more Christmas beer matches, check out Australian Brews News’ rough guide.