Special occasions require special beer. This evening I was hosting a screening party for the final episode of Pressure Cooker, a home-cooking competition show aired on the W Network. I typically loathe cooking shows, due to the fact that I simply cannot handle watching other people prepare and then EAT delicious food that I don’t get to also enjoy. An exception was made in celebration of my dear friend Matt Hunt Gardner (who shall furthermore be referred to as Tunta), who, on this very eve, was crowned “Canada’s Best Home Cook”!

For the party, I wanted to find a unique beer I hadn’t tried before and when I saw one called, “Step Right Up! Woodworth and Edwards Travelling Revival Tour Presents Honey Bee’Lixir”, how could I resist?

I let everyone have a taste and here were the communal first impressions:

Jessie – “I want to pour this into my sausages.”

Sabrina – “Tastes like butterscotch and caramel, if they tasted like bitter death. But in a good way …?”

Tunta – “Reminds me of a dark spice cake. Or burnt sugar. It’s a beer from a Christmas story.”

Zach – “Oh! That’s really good. A great beer for social occasions.”

For my tastes, this was a winner. Firstly, the label is gorgeous and elaborate. Draws me right in and fills me with hope that what’s inside the bottle will be of an equal quality. I was not remotely disappointed. Right off the top, the aroma of honey is the most prominent – a rich, dark honey. Perhaps some toffee in there, as well. The taste has just a touch of a bitter finish, which balances out the honey-bomb that explodes in your mouth upon first sip. Honey Bee’Lixir is quite an approachable brew and I think she would be perfect for a Christmas party. Crack open a couple 750ml bottles of this for your guests and give them a great treat!