Swiss beer making dates to the ninth century, as evidenced by the monastic brewery ruins found in the German-speaking part of the country. Though its beers have not been terribly distinctive throughout history, Switzerland does have a few notable exceptions. The most outstanding example is Samichlaus (which means "Santa Claus"), which is one of the strongest lagers in the world. Brewed only once a year, on December 6, it is stored for exactly one year. This beer is produced by Hürlimann of Zürich, which brews more conventional beers as well as Samichlaus.
