Here are the details from the first holiday beer tasting at The Trappist, 460 8th St., in downtown Oakland. The sessions will be from 6 p.m. - 12 a.m., both Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and Dec. 6.

• The Trappist 2008 Kerstbier fest:,  $25, five 4 oz. tastes with Commemorative glass (while they last) additional tastes may be purchased for $4 each. $20 when we run out of commemorative glasses. (Note from me, William Brand; They ran out of Chimay glasses at that tasting last week in two hours.

Here’s the beer list:

• Main Bar,  Draft:, St Bernardus Christmas Ale; Gulden Carolus Noel, St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel, , Nice Chouffe, De Glazen Toren Winter Scotch Ale, Val Dieu Grand Cru, ** Gift of the magi*** don’t know if this will show up
• Bottles: Fantome d’hiver,  Mikkeller Santa’s Little Helper, Kerstmutske Christmas Nightcap, Bink Winter King
• Santa’s Little hell hole (back room, yes way in the back) Draft: Brouwerij De Smedt Affligem Noel, Brouwerij Huyghe Delirium Noel, De Struise Brouwers Tsjeeses
• Bottles: Fantome Noel, Smisje Kerst, St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel 2007

Recommendations: My all-time fave this year is anything from De Glazen Toren. Val Dieu and Gulden Carolus Noel should be spectacular. Fantome is always wildly interesting. Haven’t tasted Kerstmutske, which is brewed by De Proef, but it was chosen the number two imported beer in a blind tasting of 60 Christmas beers last week in Baltimore.  Rob Casper of the Baltimore Sun says: “This is a dark, rich brew with licorice flavor. It is a good brew to sip by the fire.”

Moving on…De Struisse Bouwers were proclaimed the best brewers in the world by Ratebeer (which incidentally is back on line after being badly hacked.) It’s true that Affligem is owned by giant Heineken, but Affligem Noel is consistently excellent.

As you’ll see in the comment below, there are no reservations. Just pay at the door.