Online Tasting: Holiday Beers! (Dec 16-18)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by thebeers, Dec 3, 2022.

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  1. thebeers

    thebeers Grand Pooh-Bah (5,837) Sep 10, 2014 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Seasons Greetings, BAs!

    With only two weeks left, it’s time to start gathering bottles, cans and growlers for one of the most beloved online tastings of the the year: Holiday Beers!

    The tasting goes from December 16 - 18. Any and all Christmas, Hanukkah and other festive winter beers are welcome.

    For those who prefer a guiding star, this year there’s a totally-optional “drink ‘em if you’ve got ‘em” suggestion for each day of the tasting:
    • Friday, 12/16: Samichlaus Classic — an Austrian doppelbock brewed on St Nicholas’ Day and once considered the strongest beer in the world
    • Sunday, 12/18: Anchor Our Special Ale — an American winter warmer brewed since 1975 (and reportedly the first holiday beer in the US since Prohibition)
    Three styles. Three countries. Three winter classics. What better way to get the holidays going?

    Reviewing the same beers on the same day is a chance for BAs to compare notes and toast the season together — but the choice is yours.

    Prefer to drink a different holiday brew those days? Do it! Tell us what you’re considering here and/or post pictures of your hauls.

    It’s likewise cool to drink one of the recommended beers on a different day than suggested. Or to do a one-day side-by-side. Or a multi-year flight. Or a beer-and-cookie pairing. As long as a winter holiday beer is involved, it’s all good.

    Celebration? Old Fezziwig? Delirium Noel? Mad Elf? Avec les Bon Voeux? Sleigh’r?

    Whatever your favorites, let’s get our wassail on! :beers:

     
    #1 thebeers, Dec 3, 2022
    puck1225, MacMalt, larryi86 and 38 others like this.
  2. Shanex

    Shanex Grand Pooh-Bah (4,960) Dec 10, 2015 France
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’ll chime in, Delirium Noël, French Goudale or the Belgian Leffe also have their Christmas iteration.

    Thanks for sparing us Mariah Carey “all I want for Xmas…” as a YouTube video by the way. That is too painful at this point.

    Cheers!
     
    #2 Shanex, Dec 3, 2022
    puck1225, MacMalt, GreenBayBA and 16 others like this.
  3. ATL6245

    ATL6245 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,984) Aug 16, 2018 Georgia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I'll second this!
     
    #3 ATL6245, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, Bitterbill and 7 others like this.
  4. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Have fun all, I am working again during a tasting. I have one Anchor left and might buy another pack. That could be my one and done for this tasting. I do enjoy trying these holiday beers and will see if singles are available of the other two.

    Going to watch the USA win and then off to work.

    Enjoy
     
    #4 Giantspace, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, Bluecrow and 8 others like this.
  5. beer_beer

    beer_beer Pooh-Bah (2,306) Feb 13, 2018 Finland
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Then you must have this! (sorry... :beers:)



    jk, having a bottle saved for this!
     
    #5 beer_beer, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, Limazulu, GreenBayBA and 10 others like this.
  6. Resistance88

    Resistance88 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,462) Apr 9, 2015 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]
     
    #6 Resistance88, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, jzeilinger and 18 others like this.
  7. BigIronH

    BigIronH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,762) Oct 31, 2019 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Definitely gonna knock down a New Holland “Holiday Ale” BBA spiced winter warmer. Already drank one and sent a couple out. Nothing says Christmas more than this beer. Cheers!
     
    #7 BigIronH, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, Blogjackets and 14 others like this.
  8. ChicagoJ

    ChicagoJ Grand Pooh-Bah (5,247) Feb 2, 2015 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Planned Attack of the Beer, Attack

    [​IMG]

    Friday:     Side By Side Comparison Anchor Our Special Christmas Ale 2022 vs. Sierra Nevada Celebrator

    Saturday: Full Review Anchor Our Special Christmas Ale 2022 (Cross-post with New Beer Weekend)

    Sunday:     Full Review Trader Joe's 2022 Vintage Spiced Ale (Cross-post with New Beer Sunday)

    Merry Christmas Everyone from Chicago J!
     
    #8 ChicagoJ, Dec 3, 2022
    puck1225, MacMalt, larryi86 and 23 others like this.
  9. thebeers

    thebeers Grand Pooh-Bah (5,837) Sep 10, 2014 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Can’t wait to find out which one will have more spices this year :beers:
     
    #9 thebeers, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, beergoot and 10 others like this.
  10. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I have a can of Santa's Black Blood by Abomination and a can of Christmas Eve At A New York City Hotel Room: Royal Suite Edition by Evil Twin. :sunglasses:
     
    #10 BMBCLT, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, beergoot and 11 others like this.
  11. ATL6245

    ATL6245 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,984) Aug 16, 2018 Georgia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    :flushed::grimacing: Nooooooooooo!!!! Son of....:joy:
     
    #11 ATL6245, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, beergoot and 5 others like this.
  12. ATL6245

    ATL6245 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,984) Aug 16, 2018 Georgia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Shoot me now.:joy:
     
    #12 ATL6245, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, beergoot and 4 others like this.
  13. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,786) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Im excited for this tasting and to watch the variety of beers that roll throught th thread

    Gonna have to do a little shopping to what I can dig up!

    Thanks for coordinating @thebeers !!
     
    #13 sulldaddy, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, larryi86, GreenBayBA and 14 others like this.
  14. richOutsidePhilly

    richOutsidePhilly Pundit (785) Jan 27, 2021 Pennsylvania

    I'm in. Already have 2 of the 3 "suggestions ". About 6 or 7 years ago I picked up a Samiclaus and an EKU 28. Drank the Sami, the EKU has been gathering dust in the cellar; maybe break it out for this trip.
    But wait, there's more, lots more. Corsendonk Christmas, Chouffe N'ice, Gouden Carolus Christmas, and hoping to have some Scaldis Noel by then (still hard to find). The list goes on...
    And that's not to mention all the Winter Warmers (do they count ?).
    Definitely the best drinking season of the year, altho gotta admit this Fall/Octo was outstanding.
     
    #14 richOutsidePhilly, Dec 3, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, BitteNochEinWeissbier and 13 others like this.
  15. GoldenWort

    GoldenWort Devotee (310) Apr 17, 2009 Pennsylvania

    I'm sorry... I'll try to catch up to be relevant, but I'm already halfway through my 4th case of Celebration Ale, and almost into my second case case of Anchor's Christmas Special Ale... running out of both time and money... but I'll try...
     
    #15 GoldenWort, Dec 4, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, beergoot and 8 others like this.
  16. Rug

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

    Well now I'm thrilled that I splurged on the magnum of this years!
     
    #16 Rug, Dec 4, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, AlcahueteJ and 9 others like this.
  17. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,786) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Id definitely include winter warmers as part of the holiday beer party!!
     
    #17 sulldaddy, Dec 4, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, Rug and 9 others like this.
  18. BeerVikingSailor

    BeerVikingSailor Grand Pooh-Bah (3,667) Nov 19, 2009 Ohio
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Count me in on this tasting for sure.....have lots of holidays beers on hand, and have a 2022 (and 2021 as well) Anchor Our Special Ale holiday glass out for delivery today....I collect these lovely glasses and have them going back to 2014....
    NE Ohio has no shortage of holiday beers, with Great Lakes celebrating their 30th year of the Christmas Ale; also Fatheads Holly Jolly, and Pimp my Sleigh, Thirsty Dog's 12 Dog of Christmas, Hoppin' Frog's Frosted Frog, Masthead's Sleigh All Day, etc etc
    Happy / Hoppy Holidays!!
     
    #18 BeerVikingSailor, Dec 5, 2022
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, BitteNochEinWeissbier and 12 others like this.
  19. thebeers

    thebeers Grand Pooh-Bah (5,837) Sep 10, 2014 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The artwork on the Our Special Ale bottles is among the best in beer overall, and certainly among Christmas beers. I’m glad the 2022 Our Special Ale design didn’t change with the Anchor Steam label redesign.
     
    #19 thebeers, Dec 5, 2022
    MikefromDormont, MacMalt, bcm119 and 16 others like this.
  20. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    So far I've got the St. B on hand, so I guess that means that I'm now officially buying holiday beers. :wink: Hopefully I'll get a few classics and some other locals that catch my eye. See you then! :beer:
     
    #20 TongoRad, Dec 7, 2022
    puck1225, MacMalt, GreenBayBA and 15 others like this.
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