Holiday Cheers – Day 6 – Fireside Chat from 21st Amendment

I gotta say that I much preferred the old label for 21st Amendment’s Fireside Chat. Roosevelt and a fire just seemed right for the season, now reindeer are drinking with their hooves. The bow label on cans and some of the packaging is just boring as well.

“We begin with a rich, deep, toffee-colored winter warmer ale and then we hand-select spices and cocoa nibs until we know we have a beer worth sharing.”

Santa’s Pint Glass – Day 12

Off to Cincinnati and their local brewery, Rhinegeist who go the White Ale route (get it? snow) that many breweries take to avoid the Winter IPA or Stouts that dominate US winter warmers.

“Fresh additions of grapefruit peel and zesty ginger make for a bright and balanced White Ale with a refreshing nip.”

Christmas Beer 2019 # 10 – pFriem Winter Ale

Off to Hood River and the wonderful beers of Josh pFriem and his pFriem Family Brewers. Here is how their website describes the seasonal, “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.”

2018 Holiday Beer # 11 – Winter Ale from pFriem


Back to Oregon where they have a better chance at snow than we do here in SoCal. This next beer is from Hood River’s pFriem Family Brewers. Winter Ale has “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.”

Holiday Review – Santa’s Private Reserve from Rogue


I saw the re-branded Private Reserve and decided to give it a whirl for the first time in a long time.

This Rogue Brewing beer tastes a little thin for a Belgian dark. Little sour tang and very fruit forward which I wasn’t expecting despite the label clearly stating it. I guess my brain was expecting more barrel notes. The holiday ale pours a near black color with red streaks. Raspberry first then yeasty esters.