Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
Staying on the West Coast for a bit longer but climbing to a High Camp…
“Named for the ski lodge atop our local White Pass Ski Resort, this apres-ski sipper warms from the inside out with aromas of caramel, coffee, citrus, pine, and spice. Taking Bale Breaker’s signature hop-forward style to the dark side with the addition of chocolate and rye malts, this balanced IPA is dry-hopped with Mosaic®, Simcoe®, and experimental hop HBC 630 hops.”
Right back to Portland and Wayfinder because I heard a whisper of a winter warmer…
“This pale lager will warm your dreary winter night with notes of slightly sweet malt, fruit & warm spices. Conditioned to have light notes of Garyana ( Oregon White Oak) from Westward Whiskey.”
It’s been a minute since I spoke of Ballast Point, most of it business related but lets get back to the beer and their seasonal …
Next up is a winter warmer with umlauts aplenty, Jägerhütte from Further Beer in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland.
“A deliciously malty winter warmer with perfectly balanced spices. Grains of paradise, orange peel, and cinnamon.”
We head to the Midwest and Boulevard Brewing for their holiday Brewhouse One offering….
“Barrel-aged for 11 months in Tomcat Gin barrels, then rested on fresh juniper berries for 3 months, this quintessential holiday ale features crisp holiday spices with clean spruce essence. In addition to the pine and juniper, the wintry spice character is abundant, with hints of allspice, clove, and stonefruit esters, with light berry notes on the finish. All in all, at 9% ABV, it’s the perfect beer to bring to a party!”
Good to see one of my favorite breweries both bringing holiday cheer and bringing back in a new form, the infamous Wookey Jack.
“Wookey wonderland? We’re sippin’ in it! The Wookey has come in from the cold, and it’s fully reimagined for the season. Arctic Wookey is our classic black rye IPA reimagined with abominable amounts of flavor courtesy of a dank and resinous hop profile takes it to frigid new heights. It’s as black and cold as your blessed heart.”
Even Los Angeles gets a bit cold in the winter. Usually don’t need jackets but we do want some warmth. And something comfortable. Enter Backwoods Brewing.
“The warm notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla in this winter ale will keep you Comfy Womfy allseason long”
An Irish-American spin on a holiday ale comes to us from the Guinness Open Gate in Baltimore.
“This seasonal brown ale is brewed with whole nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and hand-scraped vanilla beans. The malty base brings out the caramel notes, and hints of baking spice give it a robust but balanced finish.”
To Eugene, Oregon for a barrel-aged peppermint stout from Oakshire Brewing.
“Imperial Stout aged in Kentucky Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, and Port Barrels. Conditioned on Peppermint Bark Candy, Peppermint Stick, and Cocoa Nibs. Selected from the same barrels as Hellshire X, the base matured for 22 months in Blanton’s Bourbon, Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, and American Port barrels. We blended the barrels onto Peruvian cocoa nibs and peppermint sticks. We finished it with peppermint bark candy from Eugene’s Euphoria Chocolate Company.”
Out to the farm we go. To the California heartland and Farmers Brewing for the Winter Migration.
“Winter Migration is a Baltic porter in partnership with the California Waterfowl Association. We are really proud to brew this beer with grains from our fields that provide habitat and food for the many types of waterfowl that arrive every year.”