Winter Seasonals

Discussion in 'New England' started by CentralPABeerDude, Nov 13, 2022.

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  1. CentralPABeerDude

    CentralPABeerDude Zealot (506) Sep 1, 2022 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Any Winter seasonals to look for in our region, specifically PA?

    Anyone have Blizzard of Hops or Max Elf yet? Thoughts?
     
  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    In have had a couple of bottles of Mad Elf. I am a fan of this beer brand so not surprising I enjoyed these beers. But you have to appreciate a strong Belgian Ale with some cherry flavoring and a bit of sweetness to it.

    Cheers!
     
  3. CentralPABeerDude

    CentralPABeerDude Zealot (506) Sep 1, 2022 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Good to know. Just noticed I said Max and not Mad lol. Usually pick this up and age a few. Seems to be better with age IMO.
     
  4. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yes, Mad Elf does indeed age well. I have a six-pack of 'old' Mad Elf in my cellar.

    I enjoy drinking this beer both ways: fresh and aged. Aging does 'mellow out' this beer.

    Cheers!
     
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  5. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I have some Mad Elf and Grand Cru stashed away; new stock and some older. I'll likely get some Blizzard of Hops, and Lancaster Winter Warmer is a must-have for me.

    I think the only seasonal I've actually drank is Celebration, which is as good as ever.

    Two that I'm not wild about are Sly Fox Christmas beer and Iron Hill Reindeer's Revenge. The former is a spiced red ale, which I can only drink one or two, and the latter has some harsh bitterness that I found unappealing.

    Victory Merry Monkey is enjoyable.
     
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  6. Jbrews

    Jbrews Pooh-Bah (2,214) Aug 6, 2013 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    I used to love Rogues Santa’s Private reserve every year. Even enjoyed the fact the beer bottle blows in the dark ha.

    I do enjoy some Prelude and even actually used to enjoy the Shipyard winter.

    Pumped to get some more Old Fezziwig but bummed they dropped holiday Porter this year.
     
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  7. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,850) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I may grab a single on your recommendation should I come across it that way, it interested me last year too but I grabbed the Naughty List, rum barrel winter warmer, beer from them. I remember enjoying it and thinking the flavors were seasonally appropriate.

    Merry Monkey seems like it may be a great beer to pair with a big Thanksgiving meal...
     
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  8. CentralPABeerDude

    CentralPABeerDude Zealot (506) Sep 1, 2022 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I might too actually. Sounds pretty good. Have seen it in stores in the past, but never really paid much attention to it. Just seemed like Victory started to do a spin off of Golden Monkey for everything.
     
  9. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I had Naughty List last year and wasn't wild about it. Seemed like the flavors were all over the place. Having said that I saved a can for this year to see how it ages. Maybe time will settle it down a bit.
     
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  10. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Haven't been overly excited by the various Monkey beers but the holiday one works for me. Like Golden Monkey but for Christmas.

    Since the topic is winter seasonals, the last few winters Victory has made a cherry oatmeal stout. Has anyone tried it? I have not, yet. Not sure how I've missed something like that a few years running.
     
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  11. Hayesbro

    Hayesbro Pundit (852) Oct 16, 2019 Pennsylvania

    +1 on the Lancaster Winter Warmer, that's not a style that seems to be very popular these days but theirs is great.
     
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  12. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

  13. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    As far as I know, yes, which makes me mildly ashamed that despite living scarcely 20 minutes from Parkesburg, I've never- for several years in a row- made the trip to try this one.
     
  14. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Always loved that one, although the cans for a few years were off somehow. Last year's were spot-on, so hoping that continues.
     
  15. Spade

    Spade Pooh-Bah (2,568) Mar 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Another good local winter beer is Yards Long Jawns, which may be a schwarzbier or dunkel lager or only the beer gods know.
     
  16. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,850) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’ve always enjoyed double nickels below zero.

    I’m not sure how this year will be though, I always thought it was great but go figure; they had to add vanilla this year.

    I plan to grab it regardless and I hope it hasn’t messed with a beer I always enjoy drinking in December.
     
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  17. Rug

    Rug Grand Pooh-Bah (3,454) Aug 20, 2018 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sometimes you just don’t wanna see what you’re blowing
     
  18. Jbrews

    Jbrews Pooh-Bah (2,214) Aug 6, 2013 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    ha well played. But I vividly remember like 20 years ago going into the dark basement storage area and being like, no shit…the bottle art actually does glow in the dark. When I was too hesitant to wait for dark
     
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