Worthy Brewing Powder Keg / Oregon
“Powder Keg is a red hued festive IPA with loads of hop flavor and aroma. Piney and citrusy hop character is balanced by a generous dose of crystal malts making this an aggressive yet balanced beer.”
Holiday Beer # 13 – Santa’s Secret from Carolina Brewery
Carolina Brewery Santa’s Secret / North Carolina
“Our winter holiday brew boasts a combination of six different malts working together to produce a rich beer with a soft creamy mouthfeel. Without revealing all of Santa’s secrets, we can say that this tasty ale contains a careful blend of coriander, cinnamon, orange and allspice. We think you’ll agree – it’s the closest thing to Christmas in a glass.”
Holiday Beer # 12 – Fantome de Noel from Brasserie Fantome
Brassierie Fantome de Noel / Belgium
“A very dark and entirely unique holiday seasonal beer, at a whopping 10% alc. by volume. Reportedly spiced with honey, caramel, coriander, black pepper, and other secret ingredients. The alcohol content probably goes a long way toward explaining that very warm and satisfied feeling one finds on the very first sip. A rich, dark-flavored beer with lots of deep-roasted chocolate malt, but still fairly dry, with a hint of sourness at the core. It is very spicy, with some winter spruce flavor in the bargain. The wild yeast sourness also adds to its welcoming character.”
Holiday Beer # 11 – Winter Hook from Red Hook
Red Hook Winter Hook/ Washington
“Winterhook is the perfect beer to keep warm during cold months after shoveling snow, shredding some powder, or playing hooky to can catch the game. Since it was first brewed, Redhook’s Winterhook has changed slightly each year to celebrate the season and keep everyone on their toes. After all, no one likes getting the same gift twice. The 29th version of Winterhook brewed for this year offers a rich caramel body that balances a big malt backbone with the aggressively dry hopped brew, making this year’s winter ale slightly naughty and very nice.”
Holiday Beer # 10 – Abominably Jolly from Drakes
Drakes Abominably Jolly / California
“Abominably Jolly will be the snowman to Jolly Rodger’s Dread Pirate- an Imperial White IPA. This Jolly juxtaposition will utilize an intense amount of wheat in the grist for a cloudy appearance, slight graininess, and light citric character that will pair well with the intense dosing of tropical New Zealand and American hops in the kettle and dry hop.”
Food GPS Teaser – Holiday Ales
Food GPS has been running my choices of Top 10 California beer styles. I have covered IPA’s and stouts and now it is time to do a round-up of Holiday beers!
A quick glance at my blog shows my love for the style(s) that encompass the gamut of beer creativity. And one of the best, in my opinion is the Anchor Christmas label and their website has added a cool feature that showcases all the labels in the series…
Check out the range right HERE
in the Tap Lines for December 2013
December brings the “official” start to the Beer Search Party holiday ale season. One of my favorite times of the beer year. Maybe because it will be slightly cooler here in LA. Almost like fall. So there will be holiday ale posts, holiday ale reviews and as a bonus a report and photos from a Thanksgiving trip to Northern California breweries.
~ e-visits to three breweries from who do great holiday beers
~ video reviews samples two holiday beers
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 82 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, maybe thought provoking or maybe just fun
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries
Here are two events to get your November started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) December 1 – Green Flash Brewing invades all the Congregation Ale House chapters
2) December 5th – Library Ale House hosts a Firestone Walker Anniversary bash
Holiday Beer # 5 – Fistmas from Revolution Brewing
Revolution Fistmas Holiday Ale / Illinois
“Red ale brewed for the holiday season with specialty malts to achieve a beautiful deep red hue and the aromas of fresh baked bread, caramel, and stone fruits. Steeped with ginger root and orange peel.”
Holiday Beer # 4 – Festeroo from Hop Valley
Hop Valley Festeroo / Oregon
“Baby, when it’s cold outside, wrap yourself up in this seasonal English-style Old Ale brewed with a slightly spicy combination of malts and leafy hops.”
Holiday Beer # 3 – Winter Cheers from Victory
Victory Brewing Winter Cheers / Pennsylvania
“Winter weather may drive us indoors but cannot dampen our spirits when hearth, home and hops meet in jubilation. Hoisted high in its golden glory, Winter Cheers lives up to its name, fueling festive times and chasing winter’s chill. Glowing and glimmering, frothy and shimmering, our celebratory wheat ale features luscious fruity and spicy notes, making it a perfect brew to brighten spirits even on the deepest of nights.”