We head north of Los Angeles to http://braverybrewing.com/ for their savior-tastic winter DIPA…
“Introducing HOP JESUS! This flavor savior is all about the hops. This Double IPA receives a triple dry-hopping of Amarillo, Cascade, Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops giving it bright notes of grapefruit, passion fruit, and tangerines.”
2018 Holiday Beer # 27 – Holiday Spiced Ale from Narragansett Brewing
Narragansett Brewing is our next stop on Santa’s route for their Holiday Spiced Ale. “a festive ale with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and orange peel to toast the season.”
2018 Holiday Beer # 26 – Sandy Claws from Avery Brewing
We head back to Colorado for a beer with some scratch to it. Sandy Claws from Avery Brewing. And at 14.5% this is a big one, “Imperial Stout infused with fresh peppermint and cacao nibs. Aged in fresh Bourbon barrels.”
2018 Holiday Beer # 25 – Mallow Dramatic from Arrow Lodge
Next up in the holiday beer parade is Arrow Lodge and their first ever 22oz Bottled Stout. “Mallow Dramatic is an Imperial Stout with Cocoa Nibs, Toasted Marshmallow and Vanilla coming in at 10.5% ABV.”
Holiday Beer Review – 5 Golden Rings from The Bruery
On to the 2nd half of my The Bruery 12 Days of Christmas.
Five Golden Rings. Yup. Pineapple juice and lots of it in this one. The spices that the label portends are not there or way hidden in the background and boy would they have helped flesh out this beer. I feel this beer could use a rum or tequila barrel to add a cocktail twist or a little heat to warm up the fruit. Right now it is just one note. A note that has held up really well by the way. But I could not finish my glass of this one. Too much tropical sweet for me.
2018 Holiday Beer # 24 – Shadow Cave from Crux
Eastern Oregon is where the next holiday ale hails from…
This Wintertime Ale from Crux Fermentation Project has “an alluring spice character from Belgian yeast and suggestions of seasonal dark fruit, Snow Cave is a nuanced sipper you can cozy up with around the fire pit.”
2018 Holiday Beer # 23 – Liquid Mistletoe from Pizza Port
We get some mistletoe for our glass and not above the door from Pizza Port this year…
This 16oz can is “a traditional Belgian style Tripel Ale. Complex flavors of sweet bread, cracker, and spice make this beer perfect for your holiday season.”
2018 Holiday Beer # 22 – Kitten Mitten from Kulshan
Next up for the holiday ales, we head to Bellingham, Washington and Kulshan Brewing for their winter ale, Kitten Mittens.
A classic warmer, “The perfect beer for those cold months; this rich, medium bodied beer elicits nuances of chocolate, dates, and figs. Balanced bitterness and playful hop aroma fit like a mitten.”
Holiday Beer Review – Four Calling Birds from The Bruery
Next in the four year aged run of 12 Days of Christmas beers are the loud calling birds. Well I imagine they are loud. The Bruery.
The brewery describes this ale on their website as a “traditional winter warmer for our fourth verse, integrating gingerbread spices into a robust dark ale. Notes of licorice & banana bread mingle with dark fruit, molasses and bitter chocolate…”
Here is what I found upon opening….
Number 4 is deceptively strong. A cheek warmer for sure after just half a glass. Near to being a PSL type of beer due to the primary drive of spices. Clove-centric to me. A bit of oaken wood note as well. Add estery to the mix at the back end to make this what I would call a more Thanksgiving-y beer. After two years of beers, I would choose this over 3.
2018 Holiday Beer # 21 – Frogichlaus from Hoppin’ Frog
We head to Ohio for today’s holiday ale from Hoppin’ Frog who is always good for a good beer name. The beer is described as a “Creamy Swiss-style holiday lager with a malty taste and aroma, low bitterness, and a reddish-brown color. Frogichlaus is mellow and soothing, the perfect beer to settle down for a cold winter’s nap.”