Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
Vocation Brewing brings us a Last Christmas beer for the festive season…
“Last Christmas, we gave you Whamageddon, this year it’s back! The festive favourite DDH IPA is back for the 3rd year running, and for good reason! Bursting with tropical fruit balanced with a smooth bitterness and earthy pine finish…”
On to Italy for some winter malt liquor from Birrificio Italiano, Yule.
“Yule is everyone’s favorite Christmas beer: whether you’re a holidays enthusiast or the Grinch, it will embrace you with warmth and a carol of spices; culminating in a surprisingly intense bitterness.”
Coming even closer to me is Frogtown Brewery and their Christmas is Cancelled.
It is a winter ale in a retro Palm Springs vibe label with notes of spice, caramel and nuttiness.
Let’s get back within my driving radius with holiday beers from SoCal for a couple days. First is the Winter Ale from Smog City Brewing.
“A bold blend of fall-inspired flavors awaits: juniper and pine top notes, sweet caramel and toffee aromas, and a bright, citrusy spruce finish.
Crafted with hand-crushed juniper berries, spruce tips, and a complex layer of crystal malts, this winter warmer is perfect for cozy fireside sips or pairing with your holiday feasts!”
One explanation for Santa Claus getting all those presents delivered in one night, is multiple Santas. Gigantic Brewing in Portland is on the same wavelength when it comes to their 2024 winter warmer, Santa Clones.
“This collab with Weird Portland United is a deliciously malty, rich beer layered with caramel and a hint of dark fruit that’s crafted for cozy, festive vibes.”
Time to bring Omnipollo into the Christmas chat with their Christmas Shake IPA.
“Jingle all the bells and whistles. We pulled out all the stops on this one and wish you the best Christmas yet. Hops and tangerine meld into our favorite season. Crafted at Omnipollos Church.”
Up in Seattle, Cloudburst Brewing has ventured into the gap of the missing Anchor Steam Our Special Ale with their own Distinctive Holiday Ale.
“We get that a spiced winter warmer is not an easy sell (LIKE, PLEASE BUY THIS BEER) but that version was essentially canonized. It was always rich in malt and interesting in flavor – often spiced, but never with the same combination – and packaged in an iconic bottle (or magnum) with a new label every year. If that beer was to no longer exist…well, what does that say about…um…the storied winter seasonal beer market? And thus, we put it upon ourselves to create a similar rendition, filling that glaring, singular hole on the shelf at your favorite bottle shop. A beer of malts, hops, spices, joy and cheer.”
Time to switch it up and have a winter cider, let’s head over to GABF winning cider maker 2 Towns Cider House for a Polar Party.
“Shake things up with Polar Party as you step into a winter wonderland swirling with a lively blend of elderflower, PNW blueberries, and fresh-pressed apples. This limited cider is guaranteed to break the ice at any winter bash.”
There are not to many beers nowadays that get the social media talking, but one that has bucked that trend is the Costco Vintage Ale brewed by Deschutes Brewery.
I am lucky enough to know someone with the magic card and so I got to get the boxed barrel-aged beer to try.
I am amazed to see an old school 22oz bomber bottle when I wrestle the bottle out of the packaging. In the first few sips, I am getting a woody bitterness that hides the light bourbon note underneath. The aroma has a green almost peppery note to it which is at some odds to the flavor. That and the viscosity belie the 12% abv. It is almost like a coffee cocktail.
Back to foreign shores with Siren Craft Brew and their winter IPA, Suspended in Mistletoe Hazy Pale Ale.
” Suspended’ is soft, hazy, juicy, packed full of hops and usually reserved for pints at your favourite pub. This keg features centennial hops.”