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This is one of the prettiest labels of this holiday season.
And it is about time that someone did a Mexican styled brew for the season so kudos to Brewery X for To All a Good Night Winter Bock.
Christmas and horror are a bit intertwined. Not as much as Halloween, of course, but there is precedent. So time to go back to Derry, Maine where life is scary because it has been 27 years since It last stalked the town.
The podcast is It: Welcome to Derry and it follows up each episode of the HBO series.
It is hosted by Marc Bernardin and Princess Weekes and features behind-the-scenes discussions with the show’s cast and crew, including executive producers Andy Muschietti.
Now you can skip over the recap section though it does hold the occasional explainer or fun fact and just listen to the guest of the week. Be it actors or creators, it is an interesting way to get more of the series.
Since Christmas holds a few red IPA’s, I would like to match the color of the iconic balloon that is the sign for everyone to hightail it from wherever they are at. Cause nothing in Derry should be slowly walked towards.
Our next Christmas beer stop is in Ireland at the Galway Bay Brewery for their Winter Dark Lager, Vinternatt made with Bådin Bryggeri.
“As the air gets crisper and the nights grow cosier, Vinternatt is our take on a yule ale. Brewed in collaboration with our friends at Bådin straight from the Arctic Circle.
With a grist inspired by a Scotch ale and nine different malts creating layers of flavour and complexity, think dates, toffee, caramel and a touch of chocolate. We’ve added orange peel and cinnamon to make this the perfect Christmas winter warmer.
Best enjoyed with loved ones by a roaring fire.”
One of my favorite beers to see on shelves this time of year is the annual Christmas Bock from Enegren Brewing. They are a beacon for lager lovers in L.A. So let’s dive into their winter bock…
Pours a lovely garnet color. Nice glace fruit aroma to it. There is a little upfront sweetness but a toasty malt soon takes over making a Christmas cookie effect. Getting a hint of spice as well that ties it all together.
Back to San Diego and the venerable AleSmith Brewing for a Double Red IPA for the red frocked Kringle…
YuleSmith is “In celebration of our 30th Anniversary, we’re excited to bring back YuleSmith! This Double Red IPA balances caramel and toasted malts with big citrus and pine hop notes. A winter warmer that’s perfect for the season.”
Getting a big, heavy beast of a beer is a bit rare these days but I found one that looks real good from the Lough Gill Brewery in Ireland, it is the High King barleywine.
20% is what you are seeing and per the brewery, “This “beer” smells like an “Imperial Stout”, looks like a “whiskey” and tastes like a “sherry”.”
I am digging the black lager trend, especially when they are the stand-in for a breweries winter seasonal so I knew thatI wanted to highlight Volition from Threes Brewing.
Described as “Cocoa Krispies, Brown Bread Crust, Sarsaparilla, Dried Flowers, Cozy.”
Santa Claus is making a stop in Manchester, England for our first brewery tour of December at Blackjack Brew Co.
Here are some options for Mr. Claus that might be better than milk….
Irk Street Pale Ale – “Quenching citrus hop flavour balanced against a simple malt bill.”
Jack in the Box Blonde Ale – “Pithy, earthy citrus notes with a slight caramel malt backbone.”
Dancing Saloon Hazy Pale Ale – “Big juicy flavours, in particular Sunny D orange, give way to a sweet malt body.”
Irwell Depths Nitro Stout – “Bitter malt flavours, suggesting bitter chocolate and coffee.”
Back in the L.A. Craft Beer heyday, the restaurant Simmzy’s did some brewing of their own but this years Yule Shoot Your Eye Out Holiday Ale is contracted from Smog City Brewing.
I got to sample it weeks before release and it is perfect for those rare cold days in SoCal and it has a nice touch of spice to it as well. Plus I like the old timey tiki-ish label design.
I am a Chelsea fan but I would not hesitate to visit this Tottenham Hotspur area pub due to the filmmaking team Katie Greenhalf (This Film) and Rachel Auty along with CAMRA that have made a great short documentary on the community owned pub The Antwerp Arms. “The film takes you through the dramatic story of how the pub was saved, how important the pub’s volunteers are and so much more.”
Follow the link HERE to watch.