Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
We have had a Nice lager and now a Naughty Belgian Dark from Flying Dog. The tagline for the beer seems bent on earning that moniker.
“Brewed with habanero peppers and orange peel, Naughty packs heat and subtle citrus sweetness. Aunt Judy’s fruitcake will never taste the same.”
Next up is an English Brown Ale from Wormtown Brewing that commemorates a great dumping of snow back in 1978.
This “…English-style brown ale from the critically acclaimed Worcester beer maker with deep-roasted malts and Fuggles hops accented by local flavor: specially roasted coffee beans from Acoustic Java, also of Worcester.”
Next stop is for an Imperial Porter from Twisted Pine in Colorado.
“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.”
Today we head to Germany and Warsteiner for our holiday imbibing.
“A seasonal, full-bodied winter beer with a warm and rich copper-red amber color. A satisfying malty taste sensation masterfully balanced with subtle hoppy bitterness.A perfect fit for celebrating the Winter season.”
If you did not get enough of cranberries at Thanksgiving then maybe this frosty wheat ale from Tribute Brewing in Wisconsin will be the holiday treat for you.
We head to hops for our next winter warmer and that means the bi-coastal Green Flash.
“Jolly Folly is dominated by resinous, spicy hops. Its piney, floral aroma yields to a full malty flavor that is nicely balanced by multiple layers of citrus and tropical hop flavors. Working overtime, the Green Flash team, from brewers to graphic design, was able to bring Jolly Folly IPA to market in a record 15 days.”
We head to a new Trappist (in America) for our next holiday ale.
Spencer Trappist Brewery has a short line-up of beer. The Holiday Ale being a recent addition. Probably only found in the East Coast and Chicago for now.
This beer just released for the first time at the end of November on Cyber Monday. And if you are a fan of nutmeg and stout then you will want to check out this whale from Hangar 24 this Christmas season.
Lucky # 9 comes from Upper Hand (part of the Bell’s Brewing empire).
“Christmastime was brewed to share in front of the fireplace with your friends and family,” commented Larry Bell, President and Founder of Bell’s Brewery, Inc. …It just might give you the sisu you need to get through the holidays and the U.P.’s long cold winter.”
Jubelale from Deschutes is a classic winter warmer that I get a six-pack of every year. The fact that local artists design the label and that it is different each year is a grand tradition.
“Warm spiciness and tradition grace this bold winter ale. Intriguing, layered flavors unfold to reveal chicory, dried fruit and toffee notes with a hoppy kick to finish. The deep garnet color pairs perfectly with holiday celebrations.”