Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
An Irish-American spin on a holiday ale comes to us from the Guinness Open Gate in Baltimore.
“This seasonal brown ale is brewed with whole nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and hand-scraped vanilla beans. The malty base brings out the caramel notes, and hints of baking spice give it a robust but balanced finish.”
To Eugene, Oregon for a barrel-aged peppermint stout from Oakshire Brewing.
“Imperial Stout aged in Kentucky Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, and Port Barrels. Conditioned on Peppermint Bark Candy, Peppermint Stick, and Cocoa Nibs. Selected from the same barrels as Hellshire X, the base matured for 22 months in Blanton’s Bourbon, Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, and American Port barrels. We blended the barrels onto Peruvian cocoa nibs and peppermint sticks. We finished it with peppermint bark candy from Eugene’s Euphoria Chocolate Company.”
Out to the farm we go. To the California heartland and Farmers Brewing for the Winter Migration.
“Winter Migration is a Baltic porter in partnership with the California Waterfowl Association. We are really proud to brew this beer with grains from our fields that provide habitat and food for the many types of waterfowl that arrive every year.”
Even in winter their is the sun, Sun King Brewing that is and their winter offering, Electric Reindeer.
“Electric Reindeer is a Brown Ale brewed with ginger and molasses for Newfields’ Winterlights.”
The holidays contain a bit of stress in the run-up to a day of fun on the 25th and El Segundo Brewing knows that you might need a break. To put your feet up.
As the beers of winter get warmer, one sometimes needs a break and the appropriately named Clausthaler fits that N/A bill.
“Santa Clausthaler features a crisp and well-balanced taste of Clausthaler Original premium non-alcoholic beer blended with flavors of cranberry and cinnamon.”
Loved spending time in Hood River this year during orchard season with their Fruit Loop, but I also like winter there because of pFriem Family Brewers.
“Cozy up to the fire with a pint of pFriem’s Winter Ale and gift your taste-buds with hints of spice, orange zest, caramel and a touch of spruce tree. You may even sense the subtle notes of fruitcake, which might encourage you to share this Winter Ale with your family and friends. Unlike fruitcake, this is a beer that will not be re-gifted.”
It is the end of the road for 2023. 31 more days until 2024 starts smacking us around. It has been a doozy. Strikes. Indictments. Wars. Inflation. And we are probably gonna run it back again. But, before you say we are doomed, we still have great craft beer and Christmas beers!
~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Craft Beer & Brewing’s Best of 2023
~ special featured reviews of beers if I find room amongst the seasonal beers.
~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Going Infinite by Michael Lewis
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to NPR’s Book of the Day
~ Sports & A Beer returns with Where are all the Good QB’s?
~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.
I had my first Northern Monk beers at this year’s Firestone Walker Invitational. Loved both and now I am longing for their winter seasonal, Festive Star.
“Our annual festive release, Festive Star, returns for 2023. Our Northern Star with a party hat. A silky porter with chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon to get you into the festive spirit. “
My wife breaks out the earmuffs when it dips below 75 degrees. I would prefer the 4 Hands Brewing version myself.
“Earmuffs is an enchanting hazy winter IPA that embraces the season’s serene chill through the use of CRYO hops, a hop product created by freezing raw hop cones to sub-zero temperatures with liquid nitrogen before shattering them, sifting the lupulin and pressing that green goodness into pellets that provide accentuated aromas and flavors. Expect intense notes of lime, melon, bright berries, pink grapefruit, dried roses and pine resin contributed by a blend of CRYO Cashmere and Talus hops.”