Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
The Brewery – Kuhnhenn
The Beer – Winter Wonder Lager
The Details
“Deep amber color lager, strong malt aroma, sweeter malt flavor, high bitterness to balance alcohol and sweetness. Made each May for winter solstice. This special yeast gives a unique flavor to this ultra strong lager.”
The Brewery – Cisco
The Beer – Winter Shredder Ale
The Details:
This beer is so new that I could not find a description of it. But their website does appear to have a store where you can buy their beer!
While flying over Michigan, Kris Kringle may pause at Red Jacket which is inside the Michigan House Cafe.
They brew a 1/2 barrel at a time and produce a coffee oatmeal stout with the same type of ingredients that breweries used before prohibition. It has 13 shots of espresso that should keep Santa going well into the night.
The Brewery – Hair of the Dog
The Beer – Doggie Claws 2011
The Details:
“Doggie Claws is a Barley Wine made in the West Coast style. Big malt and hops make this copper colored ale one of our most popular products. Produced in September and October and released in November, this Beer will improve for years to come.”
The Brewery – Port City
The Beer – Tidings Ale
The Details
“Crafted by Head Brewer Jonathan Reeves, this strong Belgian style blond ale is made with local Maryland wildflower honey and Virginia wheat, and is gently spiced with coriander, cardamom, fresh ginger and grains of paradise.”
The Brewery– Twisted Pine
The Beer – Northstar Imperial Porter
The Details
“Northstar, which carries a 98 on ratebeer.com, is black as a moonless night and gives off an aroma of toffee and dark fruit laced with licorice. Once the porter hits the palate, the tongue dances to notes of chocolate-covered raisins which harmonize well with subtle traces of roasted nuts and molasses. The beer is dry enough to punctuate the flavors with a crisp finish, while just silky enough to leave a stamp of the epic experience behind for a while. An ABV of 9.1% provides a slight warming glow that grows up the chest as the ale drops in the glass. Northstar was awarded a gold medal at the 2010 Colorado State Fair, a silver in the 2006 World Beer Cup, and a bronze in 2008’s State Fair.”
The Brewery – Howe Sound
The Beer – Father John’s Winter Ale
The Details
“A rich, malty seasonal ale brewed every fall for the winter months, this ale is made with four different malts, Nugget & Hallertau hops, and a complex blend of spices. It is named for John Mitchell, Howe Sound’s original brewer.”
The Brewery – Hoppin’ Frog
The Beer – Frosted Frog (Barrel aged)
The Details
“Barrel-Aged Frosted Frog Christmas Ale has a familiar and satisfying combination of carefully blended Christmas spices in a flavorful nut-brown ale, its like a Christmas cookie in a glass! The extended barrel aging in oak Bourbon casks adds a vanilla-like flavor, creating a smooth character that perfectly compliments the cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, unlike any other Christmas beer.”
The first Holiday beer to be reviewed this month is from Eugene, Oregon and Ninkasi.
from the label: “A delicious northwest seasonal brewed with winter in mind. A dark double alt, malty, nourishing and delicious, it’s sure to keep the winter at bay, and yes, Sleigh’r does rock!”
The Brewery – Boulevard
The Beer – Nutcracker Winter Ale
The Details:
“Nutcracker Ale is Boulevard’s holiday gift for real beer lovers. This hearty, warming brew is a classic winter ale, deep amber in color, with hints of molasses balanced by the “spiciness” of freshly harvested Chinook hops.”