OK. Time to “Shift” away from big holiday ales and look into what we will be drinking next summer.
Maybe a pale lager form 16oz cans from New Belgium? Heck, in LA, I can probably drink it year round.
Where Santa might Stop – Pear Tree Inn
While in England, St. Nick might stop at Banbury for a drink at the aptly named Pear Tree Inn (no mention of partridges). It is part of Hook Norton.
“This pretty 18th century pub, which also serves as the Brewery’s tap, is ideally located for use by the many walkers who pass by or visitors to the Hook Norton Brewery Visitor Centre.
The Pear Tree has a single, beamed bar with welcoming log fire. The Pear Tree is open all day and has the full range of Hook Norton beers.
Double bed in roomThe pub has three bed and breakfast rooms, which are much in demand during the summer months.
The pub is famed for its annual beer festival which is held every July.”
The Barman’s Fund
Times are tough but it looks like the world inside the bar is still welcoming, if not more so than in the past. Breweries are as charitable as ever with time and beer and now a group of bartenders in New York are pitching in to help.
The Barman’s Fund pools the money of bartenders to be given to a charity. I think that each city with a thriving cocktail or beer or wine scene should get in on this idea. And maybe get one of the 1% to throw down some matching money too.
Holiday Beer review – Sleigh’r
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!”
Christmas Beer of the Day – Nutcracker
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.”
L.A. Craft Beer Tours
Tours of beers in L.A.? Who would have thunk that years ago? But now you can hop on a bus (after reserving and paying of course – gas ain’t free) and let LA Craft Beer Tours drive on.
They have three separate tours. The LA, the LA to Orange County and the LA to San Diego. Might be a good Christmas gift for the beer lover in your life.
Christmas Beer of the Day – Ode to a Russian Shipwright
The Brewery – Olvalde Farm and Brewing Company
The Beer – Ode to a Russian Shipwright
The Details:
from The Four Firkins newsletter, “…a stout porter brewed with spruce tips, rye and unmalted barley for texture (estate grown), is just as impressive as his first.
The spruce tips were all harvested on the farm or in the surrounding area of Rollingstone. Instead of lending a gin flavor to the beer, the spruce tips add a berry-like tone… sort of like a blueberry/raspberry hybrid. When it melds with the light chocolate flavors of the stout porter, it is absolutely brilliant.”
Christmas Beer of the Day – Out Cold Winter Ale
The Brewery – Sawtooth
The Beer – Out Cold Winter Ale
The details:
“For the long winter nights. Brewed with a hearty grain bill, molasses and using British yeast and hops; this beer will likely have you “out cold”.
American Beer Blogger
When I saw this come through the beer blogosphere, my first thought was about damn time. Blogging in general is somewhat sneered upon and beer bloggers get a share of that disdain too. But this might actually get people to see at least one of us in all three dimensions and humanize the lot of us a little. So if the video moves you, then head to Kickstarter and donate a dead president or two.
“AMERICAN BEER BLOGGER is a half hour television series dedicated to all facets of the ever growing craft beer market. From home brewing, to micro beer; viewers will experience the very best of the craft beer culture. In each episode, Lew will visit a different brewer, each of which has their own sets of quirks and ways of doing things. Lew will talk to these brewers, get to know them, will show us first hand the various methods and techniques used in creating a craft beer. From the tiniest bottler to the largest manufacturer, Lew
will get his hands dirty. Topics such as bottling, food pairing, manufacturing, distribution, history, technique (and so much more) will all be touched upon
AMERICAN BEER BLOGGER sets out to entertain the viewer as well as educate on this rapidly growing industry. Through humor and a charming, hands-on host, our show will not only be entertaining for the microbeer enthusiast, but also enjoyable for the average viewer as well.”
Christmas Beer of the Day – Winter Warmer
The Brewery – Harpoon
The Beer – Winter Warmer
The Details:
“Winter Warmer was Harpoon’s first seasonal beer. It was designed to be enjoyed during the holiday season.
When you bring a glass of this dark copper ale to your lips to take your first sip you will notice the aroma of cinnamon. There is no aromatic hop added that might overpower the distinct spice scent. The medium body of this beer is formed from caramel and pale malts. These create enough body to support the spices without making the beer excessively rich. Bittering hops are added to counter the sweetness of the malt and spice. The finish of the beer is a blend of cinnamon and nutmeg. The combination of these two spices results in a balanced, pumpkin-pie flavor.”