I'm throwing a Christmas party next weekend and most of the people enjoy sampling good beers. As one who always enjoys that too, I was wondering if people had any suggestions for good holiday brews or unique seasonal beers that might be something different than, say Sam Adams Winter Lager or whatever...
Great Lakes Brewing
Seconded
I find most Christmas specialty beers to be overspiced and gross. Great Lakes' version is good (all their stuff is awesome, actually). It can be a little hard to find in Michigan though; they don't make very much of it.
"Go sell some medicine, bitches!"
agree
with AKWolv,
spices are gross. I love that Bells Christmas Ale. More malt than hops.
spiced beer...
that's just wrong.
If the haters don't hate you then you're doing something wrong. - David Cone
Absolutely this. Probably one
Absolutely this. Probably one of the top 3 beers I've ever had, regardless of season.
Xmas Brews
Bell's Christmas Ale
Goose Island Mild Winter
Samuel Smith Winter Welcome (import from England)
These are all very good and do a great job of being sampled at a holiday party.
Sincerely,
Cpt. Ass-Hat
Oh man, it's not
Oh man, it's not holiday-themed or anything, but I've always loved having Imperial Stouts in the winter...Bell's Expedition Stout, Victory Storm King and Great Divide's Yeti are some of my favorites...all are somewhere between 15-20% alcohol, so they're sipping beers, the flavors are unreal...
old
old rasputin..
yumm..
However, I'm in Puerto Rico right now so all I drink are spring/summer beers... specially wheat beers. Stronger ales and such are too "warming" for the local weather.
Rogue
The Rogue Shakespeare Stout is another tasty one for the winter. Not quite an imperial stout, but damn is it good on a cold night (or day, if that's your thing).
In addition to the Christmas
In addition to the Christmas beers already listed (Goose Island actually makes a Christmas beer too), there's also the venerable Anchor Christmas (actually called "Our Special Ale" or something like that), and some excellent Belgian ones -- St Bernardus Christmas, Delirium Noel, etc.
Also, definitely get a bottle of Jolly Pumpkin's Noel de Calabaza
Seconded re: Delirium Noel. I
Seconded re: Delirium Noel. I start snatching those up as soon as I see 'em hit the shelves. That stuff is tasty. And powerful. And powerfully tasty.
Didn't know St B. made a Christmas ale.... definitely gotta check that out! Their ABT 12 is probably my fave Belgian.
Bell's Two Hearted
Bell's Two Hearted
Bell's Two Hearted
Bell's Two Hearted
Not a "Christmas beer," but oboy is it good.
Missing Ann Arbor
From the land of Oregon
Deschutes Brewery has Mirror Mirror, their double batched Mirror Pond Pale Ale. It's technically a barley wine, since they age some of it in oak barrels.
It is just tits.
Codeine...bourbon...
I'm enjoying a 6 pack of
I'm enjoying a 6 pack of Saint Arnold's Divine Reserve #9 - The Imperial Pumpkin Stout. Good luck getting it outside of Austin/San Antonio/Houston. They only made 1,500 6-packs and about 40 kegs. That's TINY compared to what most craft brews normally are released at.
It's quite delicious with hints of ginger and pumpkin.
Damn it
How did you get some?
I went looking but nothing.
West Coast Variety
Not sure which of these you can get in your area...
Rogue - Santa's Private Reserve
Deschutes - Jubelale
Anchor Steam - Christmas Ale
Anderson Valley - Winter Solstice
Widmer - Brrr!
Bridgeport - Ebenezer Ale
Drawing a blank on some of the others I've tried out here. Of those, the Rogue is my favorite. I hope you can find it.
"In desperation there's that shred of hope; people who are down and not desperate are resigned." - Brian Cook
Rogue's
is very tastey
Carlos Dunlap
IDK, Ask Carlos Dunlap or Kevin Grady.
"I tried to but a pencil in the light socket but it was too wide and didn't fit so I used a paperclip."-Terrelle Pryor, Future Rhodes Scholar
Homebrewer and beer lover here
Two suggestions that are amazing
Not a Christmas Beer, but a seasonal Dogfishead Chicory Stout is great
http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/seasonal-brews/chicory-st...
Deliriun Noel- Belgium style tastey
Amen
The Chicory Stout is the first thing that came to mind. Haven't found it yet this season, but I'm on the lookout.
Variety
Not sure what type of beer you prefer or your guest prefer but if you like hops then i would go with Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale (the one mentioned before 2009)or Pyramid Breweries Snow Cap. Both are full of hops, but have a nice flavor to them.
If you are like me and like malts then i would go with Atwater Block Winter Bock. It is not a true bock, IMO, but is simply amazing. Another suggestion is Goose Island Christmas Ale, which has a nice blend of hops and malts.
Only problem with these is the cost, none are that expensive but i would estimate they are between $8-$13 for a six pack (not sure on Michigan taxes on beer.
Enjoy whatever you get!
"Those who stay will be champions" -Bo
props to the homebrewers
but this off season (and winter) i think straight burbon is going to be my drink of choice. i've been favoring the boulliet lately but am looking to find something new. anyone got some new one's i can try other than the standard woodfords, beam, and makers?
Right In My Wheelhouse
For the burbon (sic) stricken amongst us, there's some good ones, but I'm going to recommend the Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon for 09. They've done a solid by us, this year having a fruity nose like a muthafucka and a body like Joan Holloway.
Old Rip Van Winkle is an old standby that hasn't disappointed.
And to you under-agers and economical men with a beach volleyball court in your front yard-- Evan Williams tastes quite similar to Jack with about $12 less per 1.75 (Colorado prices). That'll do the trick, IME.
Codeine...bourbon...
I've yet to find a Christmas
I've yet to find a Christmas beer I particularly enjoy. Bell's Christmas and Sparkling Celebration Ales are both pretty bad, to name the first couple that come to mind. After the awesomeness that is the Halloween/Thanksgiving pumpkin ale season, Christmas is just a disappointment of spicy, busy beers.
Speaking of celebration
The Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale is usually a decent holiday option. That said, like Bando above, I don't normally get excited about winter seasonals.
AKwolv is correct...
If you are near the border (and like paying insane Canadian beer prices) you might consider Upper Canada Dark Ale (a bargain here at $30 per case)...if near Toronto or a high end LCBO in Windsor look for Tankhouse Coffee Porter ($44 CAD per case)...both would be seasonally appropriate.
If the haters don't hate you then you're doing something wrong. - David Cone
Lots of great brews
Lots of great brews mentioned, including a few I still need to get my hands on and a couple I've never heard of (so thanks for the mentions!).
Another good one is Founders Breakfast Stout (Grand Rapids brewer).
SWEEEEEET THREEAD DUDDDDDE
SWEEEEEET THREEAD DUDDDDDE
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."
- The 14th Dalai Lama
If you get up to TC or
If you get up to TC or Petoskey over the Holidays, you
must try Short's Brewery in Bellaire.
http://www.shortsbrewing.com/brews.htm
They have some great brews in-house. Winter wheat is great.
As mentioned above, the Bell's Christmas and Goose Island
mild winter are very good, as well.
I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here.
Even though it's made in Ohio, their Christmas Ale is outstanding, and it's 7.5% alcohol by volume, so that's a plus.
"That broke a lot of Irish hearts. Now isn't that too bad?" - Bo