The Potable Curmudgeon: UPDATED: Note the changes: Saturnalia lineup and update.

Updated Thursday, December 7

Saturnalia, which recalls the pagan roots of our contemporary Christmas holiday season, begins on Friday, December 15. In beer terms, it is NABC's annual showcase for holiday and winter seasonal styles, with more than a few fun beers thrown in for good measure as stocking stuffers.

Veterans observers of the process involved with procurement will recall that none of my festival draft lists are the same from beginning to end. The large number of trap doors waiting to be sprung, carpets ready to be pulled out from under and curves queuing to be thrown guarantees that 100% success is absolutely impossible. This year's Saturnalia is no exception, but somehow it's been more galling than in the past, primarily because spanners have been tossed into the works from directions that previously weren't considered problematic.

However, as always, there'll be quite a few worthy beers and a celebratory atmosphere.

This is as final a rendering as I'm capable of offering. The starting lineup will be announced next week.

* never before on draft

BELGIUM