Winter Beer Sightings (2022)

There was so much Mad Elf around last year and a good amount sat for a bit that I wonder how much shows up this year. I bought a Troegs mix holiday pack a few years back just to retry this beer. Had one and was not a fan. I was told to age it, will try my 3? Year old one this winter.


Enjoy

 

Any Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout around. I've been looking but have not seen it.

 

I was at Wegmans yesterday. They had: St. Bernardus Christmas in cans and bottles, Mad Elf, Anchor Christmas!

 

I picked up a six pack last week. I think they are doing a retro package. The one on the right is from 2021

 

Where in Jersey are you?

Was in my local Bottle King (Glen Ridge, NJ) during my lunch hour and they had a bunch of this, as well as a sh*t-load of other Winter beers, already. . .

 

I just spotted some this past weekend and If I didn't pay a lil more attention, I wouldn't have thought it was Brookln's black chocolate stout! Different packaging design, still not sure if I like it more than the old one. I do miss that they didn't put the year on it for 2022.

 

One of my must-drinks around this time. I learned from @steveh that this is their unfiltered Dunkel. Really good beer!

Prost!

 

Where in Finland do you live? It's going to be 80 F here today. The big butternut and shagbark hickory leaves are curing out like tobacco leaves. I was just mowing my leaves into a pulverized leafy poultice. Now I'm sneezing and hot.

 

I wish we could get that one over here, but I'm anxiously awaiting the HB Winter Spezial -- AKA Delicator Doppelbock In Germany.

 

70° here on Thursday in the great Midwest... 38° and snow predicted for Saturday. If I get my binoculars out and aim west, I can probably see Winter on the horizon.

 

I live in the southernmost part of the land, in the city of Helsinki itself. Was a bit early with the with the winter coat, been warm and comfy though!

 

Like you I miss having the year on the Black Chocolate Stout label, which made it easy to spot old bottles in my friend's beer cellar. We split one of the 2022 versions last week and it tasted fantastic - the label change did not affect the beer.

 

Imho not winter until we get the big influx of Bell's down here. See a bunch of Amber Ale and the stouts, especially Special Double Cream. Usually doesn't happen until after Thanksgiving, oh well.

 

It was in the store today. I purchased my yearly case. Picked up Celebration too. I have been waiting for both.

 

You might remember our talk about Spaten Dunkel and Optimator recently.

There's no beer like this (Winter Spezial / Delicator) on the German market. These beers seem to be "export only"

https://www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de/bier

Prost!

 

Interesting, I thought it would be available for the holiday season -- maybe draft only?

I knew that about Spaten Dunkel -- a sad turn. And it's no longer available here, either.

And no Optimator -- even in Munich proper? Possibly during Starkbierzeit?

 

Hibernation is starting to show up locally. It's my favorite winter seasonal (even vs. Celebration), and it tastes as good as ever. I'm willing to give Great Divide a lot of passes, but if they ever mess with Hibernation I'm out.

 

It’s the MOST wonderful TIME of the YEAR!

Love me some santa monks!

 

Are you able to find Optimator in your area?
Similar to the Oktoberfest, I cannot find any Optimator in my area this year.