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.
Holiday Cheers – Day 14 – Winter Stout from Institution Ales
Holiday Cheers – Day 11 – Polite Conversations from Three Weavers
Not all holiday celebrations go swimmingly, if you feel like you are turning sour, remember Polite Conversations. The cranberry sour from Inglewood’s Three Weavers. It may not help a conversation into fun but it will pair with both food and walking away.
A sour ale “overflowing with cranberries and buzzing with the perfect hint of pomegranate.”
Holiday Cheers – Day 9 – Winter Lambiek from Oud Beersel
The U.S. does not have a monopoly on Christmas beers and today we have a sparkling beer with a twist on the Lambic spelling from Belgium’s Oud Beersel.
“Winterlambiek Oud Beersel” is infused with pine buds. The incredible aroma takes you to the evergreen trees of the pine forest. The earthy pine buds give a spicy flavor to the smooth and complex Lambic, which offers a mild, slightly dry finish that will have you looking for the next sip as soon as possible!
“Winterlambiek Oud Beersel” is also very unique because it does not follow the traditional path of a winter beer. lt drinks like a light beer, has a refreshing carbonation and focuses more on the complexity of Lambic to drive the flavour forward instead of the sweetness that typically prevails in a winter beer.”
Holiday Cheers – Day 1 – Jubelale from Deschutes
It is tough to pick the beer to start the season with but sentimentality for my home state of Oregon and the fact that I love the rotating artwork each year means that Jubelale from Deschutes Brewing gets the nod.
“Cozy up fireside with this festive winter ale full of spice notes and a robust malt character of toffee and dusted cocoa.”
Santa’s Pint Glass – Day 7
Time to fill a non-frosted glass with something seasonally appropriate, perhaps a Cold IPA?
Start a new ritual with this Cold IPA from Hopworks Urban Brewery.
Distance Christmas Beer # 28 – Holiday Reserve Coffee Stout from 2SP Brewing
We end our socially distant month of holiday seasonal beers with the festively bright green and red and festively spiced coffee stout from 2SP Brewing Company. Something to give you a nice jolt for any last minute gift wrapping.
Distance Christmas Beer # 25 – Pass Stout from Goodlife Brewing
We stay in Oregon for a stout from Goodlife Brewing in Bend, Oregon. Now I drove over the “pass” from Salem to Bend in November and there were moments where my hands were glued to the wheel for sure. A stout beer at the end of the journey would have been welcome indeed.
Distance Christmas Beer # 23 – Winterskol from Fremont Brewing
Next up in our holiday seasonal parade of beers is a brewery only release from Fremont Brewing in Seattle who are bringing the chocolate to the season.
Distance Christmas Beer # 22 – Scrampus and Van Yuletide from Los Angeles Ale Works
I don’t know if it is the lack of snow but there are not too many Christmas beers coming from SoCal. Los Angeles Ale Works is changing that with a double holiday release with one hoppy and one Belgian. Available at their Hawthorne brewery to-go.
Distance Christmas Beer # 17 – Three Ryes Men from Reubens Brews
Next up on our winter brew sleigh ride is another Three beer. Three Ryes Men from Reuben’s Brews in Washington State. Described as “a liquified rolo. Three Ryes Men is a barleywine brewed with multiple types of rye and aged in whiskey barrels, featuring a full body with malt driven caramel and chocolate notes, and layers of warming complexity. Three Ryes Men won the bronze medal for barleywine at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival.”