Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
We head to Maine for a weather update in the form of a Snow Report from Allagash Brewing. One of the few saisons for winter.
“The forecast is calling for an accumulation of festive beers in your fridge. Snow Report is our celebratory saison brewed with local wildflower honey. In it, you’ll find balanced notes of melon, green apple, and a touch of honey.”
More Oregon beer but this time with a Kveik yeast, the brewery is Little Beast Brewing and dark ales are great this time of year.
Secret Santa is often a recipe for Christmas disaster. But it would be so much better if the secret was holiday craft beers like this one from Ethereal Brewing…
Back to my neck of the SoCal woods with a new cold IPA from Absolution Brewing.
“Light bodied and crisp. Mosaic, Strata and Nelson Sauvin. Notes of blueberry patch, juicy berry, white wine and a touch of dank on the end. Refreshing and super yummy!”
Not the correct weather here in Los Angeles to ice skate but a good substitute would be a Trillium Brewing beer, Rink IPA.
“Glowing orange in color, with a soft, moderate haze, we’re immediately offered a synthesis of tropical notes. Upfront aromas of bright pineapple and ripe papaya transition to candied peach rings and dried apricot as the beer makes its way across the palate. The mouthfeel is what you’ve come to expect from a Trillium IPA, medium-bodied, plush, and well-rounded. Finishing dry with a gentle piney bitterness, we’re excited to share a rink-side pour with you while it lasts.”
One of my favorite new breweries in Portland is Fracture Brewing and I would love to fly back and try their winter ale, Little Log Cabins…
“Bold Ruby Red Grapefruit and PNW pine aromatics come off the glass from the initial pour. Honeydew candy and juicy grapefruit dominate the palate with notes of sweet pine sap. Our updated rendition of this classic style is brewed in collaboration with our friends at Stormbreaker Brewing.”
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.”