Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
You kinda expect New Realm Brewing to have a winter IPA since brewmaster Mitch Steele wrote the book on IPA while at Stone Brewing.
“ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN, NOTABLE HOP-LOVER & FIEND FOR COLD DOUBLE IPAS! A UNIQUE MASHUP OF STYLES, COLD IPAS DELIVER THE CLEAN, CRISP FINISH OF AN AMERICAN LAGER WITH THE FULL HOP CHARACTER OF A DIPA. WE PACKED A CHILLING AMOUNT OF CASHMERE AND AMARILLO HOPS INTO THIS FRIGID BEAST TO PROVIDE NOTES OF MELON & CITRUS WITH HINTS OF COCONUT & PEACH.”
We all got a dose of what Jack Torrance got in the Shining in the last few years but time to turn the tables on sheltering in place with the traditional winter ale Cabin Fever from Boundary Bay Brewery.
“Rich and malty with a balanced hop character, our Winter Warmer is, by nature, deceptively strong. And with an extended conditioning period, Cabin Fever is blissfully smooth.”
Beer can’t have all the winter seasonal fun, so let’s crack open a fruited cider from Two Towns Cider House…
“Tart & complex, Crimson Bliss is full of berry charm. Bright cranberries and black currants make this the perfect compliment for gathering around the fire this season, so take some time to kick back and enjoy a moment of bliss.”
We head out to McMinnville, my college town, for one of the best named Christmas beers out there, Tannen Bomb from Golden Valley Brewery.
“Massie complex beer brewed especially to bring warmth and cheer to the cold wet winter months of the great Northwest.”
Do we need to consider where a holiday ale is from? Does a city without snow build a snowman or does the snow country do it better? Ponder that while you read the description for New Holland’s Holiday Ale.
“This winter warmer is inspired by the festive taste of eggnog and is brewed with milk sugar and enough nutmeg to fill Santa’s sleigh! Post-fermentation, the beer is aged in bourbon barrels for over 3 months for an added kick of bourbon, vanilla and oak. It is sure to warm your spirits and fill you with good cheer!”
Heading out of California to the east to heritage brewery Victory who have a discerning monkey on their Christmas beer…
“This Belgian-Style holiday ale combines the beloved flavor profile of golden monkey with notes of cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg to deliver a delightfully smooth finish, perfect for merry gatherings with family and friends.”
Good to see that gingerbread beers are hanging in their amongst all the winter IPAs, and their is a new local version from Los Angeles Ale Works that stretches their Scrappalicious brewery cat branding into the holiday season.
I like a beer that has the one of these things is not like the other ingredient. In the case of Winter Stout from Institution Ales, you have vanilla, cocao and …. pecan wood.
There is a subculture that likes to mash up the horror of Halloween with Christmas, if that is your jam, then Three Floyds has the Santa for you…
“Alpha King’s festive cousin. A big American Xmas Porter brewed with English chocolate malt, Mexican sugar and, of course, tons of strange American hops.”
There is quite the extensive line-up of Yeti’s in the Great Divide Brewing multiverse. There is the year-round just the Imperial Stout Yeti, Mexican Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice, Peanut Butter, Horchata and today’s holiday seasonal Gingerbread, to round out the clan.
“When Yeti is not busy brewing big, bold imperial stouts, he can often be found in the kitchen baking up a batch of his preferred seasonal treat…gingerbread cookies. Recently, Yeti had an aha moment—why not combine the two!? With an expertly blended mix of spices, honey and vanilla, the end result is smooth and aromatic and sure to have you nostalgic for gingerbread houses and cookie characters with icing features.“