OT: What is your seasonal beverage of choice?
As we enter the holiday season, the football is heating up, and the weather is cooling down. So, what beverage is your favorite to imbibe while watching the Wolverines or Lions play or sitting down with family and friends for a holiday meal? I live in central Oklahoma now, and one beverage I miss is good apple cider. It's just not available without preservatives here in Oklahoma. Fresh or left out in the garage for a few weeks for hard cider, I miss both. My wife invited a few friends without family in the area over for Thanksgiving dinner today. One guy is a big fan of Sea Dog blueberry beer. It's a bit too strong on the blueberry flavor for my taste, but he really likes it. So what beverage is a favorite of yours this time of year?
November 24th, 2011 at 8:40 AM ^
Buckeye tears.
November 24th, 2011 at 8:46 AM ^
Scotch: Balvenie 12 Doublewood, great bang for your buck at about $40 a bottle, really finishes smooth and I feel it is a great mix up on the Glen's.
Craft: Backwoods Bastard from Founders is a real gem for me right now, also a huge fan of their Breakfast Stout as others have noted. I have also been on a kick this fall on Zombie Dust from 3Floyds, great Pale Ale - on tap around Chicago (also seasonally like Alpha Klaus). Lastly, I also concurr with others on the Great Lakes Christmas Ale - one of the few good things that comes out of Ohio.
November 24th, 2011 at 8:53 AM ^
Delirium noel...nothing can touch it. The huyghe brewery is nothing short of perfection. It's about 5 bucks per bottle (11.2 Oz) and 8.5 alc volume.
November 24th, 2011 at 9:06 AM ^
is my favorite. Don't drink much beer, but love a Bass Ale every now and then. Hearty reds. And (new discovery) warm milk and mollasses with my daughter when we have a fire, and/or I need to get her to sleep.
November 24th, 2011 at 9:06 AM ^
Hot cider. The way they used to serve it at the Brown Jug (but it was off the menu by the time I got to college). Don't ever bother with the packets -- the real stuff, mixed with cinnamon and heated on the stove.
Must try this Christmas Ale....
November 24th, 2011 at 9:08 AM ^
I have enjoyed Best Brown since its inception and first barrel at the Eccentric Cafe out of the hand pump. Living in GR and 20 years later, I conume BB from Halloween until the Spring Solstice. Adds about 5 pounds of winter insulation along the way. I will crack the first of today at 12 noon. I can taste it already.....
Go Blue! Beat Ohio!
November 24th, 2011 at 9:13 AM ^
Eggnog with a little brandy in it! (I know, I know, it's Thanksgiving, but he said HOLIDAY season)
November 24th, 2011 at 9:15 AM ^
warm milk
November 24th, 2011 at 9:23 AM ^
Today, a lot of Tuborg's Christmas Ale - I'm in Denmark nonetheless. Countdown to Lions in 3 hours from now. Giddy!
November 24th, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
most likely a 2007 Sea Smoke Ten I received as a gift last year. Should pair pretty nicely with some of the sides and shouldn't be too strong as to overpower the turkey.
Any holiday that celebrates eating giant winged fowl and mass quantites of delicious side dishes is okay in my book!
November 24th, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
Buckeye tears. Supplies have been scant in recent years.
November 24th, 2011 at 9:38 AM ^
Captain's and Apple Cider.
November 24th, 2011 at 9:48 AM ^
RIght now it's Founders' Backwoods Bastard, but that's only on tap/on sale for another week. I think after that I'd go with Bells' Hopslam.
November 24th, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
November 24th, 2011 at 9:49 AM ^
Since I'm back in da UP, good ol busch light! Eh!
November 24th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^
November 24th, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
Sault set Marie, back for the weekend hanging with the fam!
November 24th, 2011 at 9:56 AM ^
Sam Adams' Old Fezziwig, which unfortunately you can only get in the sampler pack. (Not that the other stuff is bad.)
November 24th, 2011 at 10:01 AM ^
When the weather turns cold, I turn to super hoppy IPAs. So 3Floyds Dreadnaught and Bell's Hopslam (when I can get my hands on it) are two favorites. I recently discovered Firestone Walker's Union Jack, which is also quite good.
In the September/October timeframe, I enjoy Oktoberfest's and Pumpkin beers, but I think once you cross into November it's time to put those down.
November 24th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
I couldn't agree more with the Union Jack. If you get the chance, you have to try Firestone's Double Jack, a 9.5% Imperial IPA. It's unreal...took silver at this years GABF.
November 24th, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^
and Jager later on
November 24th, 2011 at 10:08 AM ^
Founders Breakfast Stout and Backwoods Bastard. They are always available around this time of year and I always find myself drinking them on Thanksgiving.
Just last night Ashley's in Ann Arbor had an awesome Founders party. The above were on tap including Centenial, Nemesis, Kentucky Breakfast Stout and Canadian Breakfast Stout. All just amazing.
I like the dark brews. Jolly Pumpkin has some great seasonal releases too around this time of year.
November 24th, 2011 at 10:14 AM ^
KBS and CBS are only sold through the brewery right? I tried KBS at Dark Lord Day - pretty wicked stuff. I don't know if I could drink more than 6 ounces at a time though. Stuff pours like motor oil.
Edit: I reread your post and realized that you were saying that KBS and CBS are on tap at Ashley's. That's awesome. I'll need to make a stop there on Saturday.
November 24th, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
They release KBS every March. It's tough to find but it is out there in 4 packs. Just recently did they release CBS in bottles. 750ml at that. Unfortunately they sold out so fast in stores I didn't even get a bottle.
Also, while there are probably still good Founders beers on tap at Ashley's, the KBS and CBS sold out within 15-20 minutes. It was insane.
November 24th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
I work at whole foods in the specialty dept (Beer, wine, cheese and coffee) so I get the first dibs on all the good stuff. The CBS was really good this year though. Just as an FYI in the future, Whole Foods typically gets the largest alotment of the limited releases in Washtenaw County.
November 24th, 2011 at 11:35 AM ^
Release party at the brew pub last year. As much KBS as you can drink. I'll be back in 2012
November 24th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
Same and same.
Have you been to Founders Fest in June? It's awesome.
November 24th, 2011 at 7:13 PM ^
Noel de Calabaza is amazing yet very untradtional compared to the rest of the beers listed in this thread.
If you are in town saturday for the game the restaurant on Main has it on tap as of Wednesday FYI
November 24th, 2011 at 10:13 AM ^
Winter Seasonal
November 24th, 2011 at 10:23 AM ^
and Knob Creek.
This is my first time hosting and cooking the whole turkey dinner at my place in Ann Arbor.... I think I'll need it.
November 24th, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^
today is Knob and Bushmill's, interspersed with choice of Sam Adam's Winter Lager, Point Ale, Leinie's original red, Sierra Torpedo, and a battalion of Pinot Noirs, Cabs and Malbecs.
November 24th, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
Beck's Dark BEAT OHIO
November 24th, 2011 at 10:28 AM ^
November 24th, 2011 at 10:30 AM ^
Single Barrel on the rocks
November 24th, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^
New Belgium Snow Day is the present beer of choice at the WalMart Wolverine fortified compound, with a bottle of Laphroaig for when heavier ammo is required.
November 24th, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
N'ice Chouffe is my favorite Christmas beer, though I can't find it in chicago anymore (they apparently switched distributors in Illinois). I found a clone recipe and am in the process of fermenting. If you can find it though, N'ice chouffe is highly recommended (la chouffe is really good too).
<br>You guys make me really want to try the founders breakfast stout(s). I was drinking bells Christmas ale last night and I think I'm gonna have to run to the store now and buy some founders...
November 24th, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
For some reason the holidays put me in the mood for it!
November 24th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
November 24th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
I will be drinking Harpoon Winter Warmer.
November 24th, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
Guinness. Duh.
November 24th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
The minute I saw this thread on the board I almost threw up. PLEASE don't mention any form of alcohol right now!!! =(
November 24th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
Hendrick's, lime and soda water.
November 24th, 2011 at 11:54 AM ^
November 24th, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^
warmed, with a Cinnamon stick.
November 24th, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
After seeing it mentioned on this thread, I was pleasantly surprised when my uncle showed up today with twelve of 'em to share for Thanksgiving. It's my first time drinking it... and it is treating me splendidly.
November 24th, 2011 at 1:24 PM ^
Egg nog with rum
November 24th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
Old Bordeaux
November 24th, 2011 at 3:17 PM ^
Egg nog with egg nog
November 24th, 2011 at 3:33 PM ^
November 24th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^