Mugshots > Radical Beer Activists > Saint Nick

Saint Nick, Patron of Brewers, & Prostitutes A Christmas Turkey in Every Brew Pot The gift-giving holiday character we call Santa Claus is based on a real person named Nicholas of Myra. In the early 4th century St. Nick was Bishop of Myra, a land that is modern day Turkey. Now Nick was a wealthy old man and he took great joy in using his riches to make others happy. According to one legend, three young men, church scholars as they were, stopped at an inn for lodging. The innkeeper was gready and evil, and slew them for their money. Furthermore, because the people of this land were experiencing great famine, he sliced and pickled the corpses and sold them for dinner.

Now Jolly old St. Nick happened to stop at this pub that same evening. Due to the famine, he was surprised when the innkeeper offered him cooked meat and beer. Suspicious about what was going on, he snuck into the kitchen and found the three boys chopped up and floating in brine. Nick wasted no time in performing his miracle and revived the lads back into whole and healthy boys again.

Thusly, St. Nicholas earned accolades as a patron of brewers, coopers and honest innkeepers. But that's not all. Nick was patron saint of more than 60 causes - from prostitutes and pawnbrokers, to shoe-shiners and sailors, as well as the lands of Russia and Greece.

The Gift-Giver of Myra
But most renown of all is his fame as children's gift-giver. St. Nicholas liked his gift giving to be done secretly, so children were instructed to go to sleep quickly or he would not come - a tradtion which has endured to this day.

One particular story of Nick's largesse has him dropping bags of gold into the stockings of three young girls whose father had no money to give them on their wedding day. Ever since, people have hung their stockings by the fire on Chirstmas Eve.

The name Santa Claus is derived from the Dutch 'Sinter Klass' pronunciation of St. Nicholas. Early Dutch immigrants settled in New Amsterdam, now called New York. Children from other countries pronounced Sinter Klass in various ways until the name eventually evolved into Santa Claus. The Turkish bishop's cloak, mitre, jewelled gloves and crozier became the modern red suit, silly hat and funny boots seen today.

During the middle ages of Europe, Nick became quite the religious figurehead, nearly as beloved as Jesus and Mary. More than 2000 chapels were dedicated in his name. 

Stockings Full of Beer
One of the lesser-known, but more important inheritances of this rich do-gooder is the cornucopia of Christmas ales on the shelves of our better beer shops.

Topping the list is the world classic Samichlaus Bier. Originally brewed in Switzerland, it is now made in Austria and has become one of the rarest and most sought-after beers in the world. It is brewed only once a year on December 6th - the day traditionally dedicated to St. Nick. It is matured for 10 months before bottling in the following October, and reaches about 14% alcohol by volume. Strangely, it is a lager rather than an ale, and at this strength can rightly claim to be one of the strongest bottom-fermented beers in the world. Samichlaus ages well in the bottle for many years. Schloss Eggenberg explains an aged bottle as becoming "more complex with a creamy warming finish," and suggests serving with "hardy robust dishes and desserts, particularly with chocolates, or as an after dinner drink by itself - as a companion for meditations at the fireplace."

Many of the world's fine small breweries offer a holiday ale these days. They are normally strong and dark, sometimes spiced, and a most cheerful end to a day of holiday celebrations with family and friends.