Holiday Beers Tasting (Dec 13 - 15)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by thebeers, Dec 6, 2024.

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  1. thebeers

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

    Deck them halls, BAs!

    We’re just about a week out from the most wonderful thread of the year: the Holiday Beers Tasting!

    The 2024 tasting will go from December 13-15.

    Any and all Christmas, Hanukkah and other festive winter beers are welcome any day of the tasting.

    For those who like recommendations on what to imbibe, once again this year we have a totally-optional “drink ‘em if you’ve got ‘em” suggestion for each day of the tasting:
    • Friday, Dec. 13: Widely-Available U.S Holiday Beers. Think: Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Bell’s Christmas Ale, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Sam Adams Fezziwig, Hardywood Parks Christmas Morning, Prairie Christmas Bomb, Revolution Fistmas or one of the many holiday offerings from The Bruery, for example.
    • Saturday, Dec. 14: International Holiday Beers. Think: Scaldis Noel, Avec Les Bon Vouex, Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale, De Nolle Stille Nacht, De Ranke Pere Noel, Ridgeway Brewery Bad Elf, St Bernardus Christmas Ale or Hofbrau Winter Spezial, among others.
    • Sunday, Dec. 15: Local Holiday Beers. Think: local holiday beers! Bonus points if you have to add them to the database.
    Prefer to drink a local on Friday or a Belgian on Sunday? Whatever! Go for it! It’s all good in the month of December.

    Want to take things to the next level? Think about the trees, menorahs, cookies, nativity scenes and one-handed beer/bottle/background pics you can incorporate into your posts. Shout outs will be offered for the most festive posts each day.

    In the meantime, tell us what you’re considering and/or post pictures of your hauls to help get us all the holiday spirit. We’ll open the tasting here on Friday the 13th.

     
    #1 thebeers, Dec 6, 2024
    champ103, Amendm, MacMalt and 34 others like this.
  2. jonphisher

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

    Thank you for hosting this one @thebeers. This one in particular always brings a lot of fun and joy; cannot wait for opening post to get us all rolling :beers:
     
    #2 jonphisher, Dec 6, 2024
    MacMalt, zac16125, Whyteboar and 11 others like this.
  3. Resistance88

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

    Kwanza here we gooo!
     
    #3 Resistance88, Dec 6, 2024
    MacMalt, Whyteboar, GreenBayBA and 9 others like this.
  4. cheeseheadinMinneapolis

    cheeseheadinMinneapolis Pooh-Bah (2,011) Sep 20, 2017 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Friday the 13th? Sounds like trouble
    I have a few low production holiday beers to drink. I'm not sure what all I have actually
     
    #4 cheeseheadinMinneapolis, Dec 6, 2024
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  5. 2beerdogs

    2beerdogs Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Jan 31, 2005 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm down!
     
    #5 2beerdogs, Dec 6, 2024
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  6. Nugganooch

    Nugganooch Grand Pooh-Bah (4,480) Jan 13, 2011 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I plan on drinking many beers for the upcoming holidays yes :beers:
     
    #6 Nugganooch, Dec 6, 2024
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  7. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,967) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    Has anybody seen the Straffe Hendrik Xmas Quad?
     
    #7 keithmurray, Dec 6, 2024
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  8. thebeers

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

    Last year, Vine Street brewed a Kwanzaa beer called Mkeka. Would love to see that or any Kwanzaa beer in the thread!
     
    #8 thebeers, Dec 6, 2024
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  9. Jaycase

    Jaycase Grand Pooh-Bah (3,858) Jan 13, 2007 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Can't speak to CT but Beer Temple in Chicago posted it last week. 4 pack of 11.2 oz bottles.
     
    #9 Jaycase, Dec 6, 2024
    MacMalt, GreenBayBA, Resistance88 and 5 others like this.
  10. BJB13

    BJB13 Pooh-Bah (2,788) Feb 18, 2017 Maryland
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I saw it a couple of weeks ago at a Total Wine in Virginia. Maybe the Connecticut stores have it as well.
     
    #10 BJB13, Dec 7, 2024
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  11. thebeers

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

    Just picked up a local holiday beer for next weekend — what I’m told is an homage to Celebration. Anyone else have any local holiday beers in mind?
     
    #11 thebeers, Dec 7, 2024
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  12. beergoot

    beergoot Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,310) Oct 11, 2010 Colorado
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    ...okay, I may go find an international holiday beer...got the local and widely-available US beer angles covered...
     
    #12 beergoot, Dec 7, 2024
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  13. beergoot

    beergoot Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,310) Oct 11, 2010 Colorado
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    ...I usually pickup some Pikes Peak Brewery 'AdAmAn' Holiday Ale every year...named in honor of an annual New Year's Eve event where the AdAmAn Club hikes up Pikes Peak and shoots off fireworks for the local region to view to celebrate the new year...

    ...the beer itself is pretty tasty...
     
    #13 beergoot, Dec 7, 2024
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  14. jonphisher

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

    I tried to find Cape Mays homage to celebration which was really really good. I grabbed a single for a past NBW, no luck on my two store six pack hunt tonight unfortunately.

    I may be all widely available ones, but I still got tomorrow and next week :slight_smile:
     
    #14 jonphisher, Dec 7, 2024
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  15. jonphisher

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

    Just visited with family and my brother in law says “oh I have some beer if you want some..” I got my local night covered…

    [​IMG]

    Gonna wait a few more days to post my “hope to get through” final line up. @TongoRad turned me on to this one, I think in a few years back holiday tasting.
     
    #15 jonphisher, Dec 7, 2024
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  16. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for hosting this, @thebeers ! I will hopefully get to contribute one beer but will be out of town. Cheers!
     
    #16 Beersnake, Dec 7, 2024
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  17. thebeers

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

    A spiced brown ale sounds delicious this time of year :beers:
     
    #17 thebeers, Dec 8, 2024
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  18. TongoRad

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

    Nice! I haven't seen it yet but hopefully it shows up soon.
     
    #18 TongoRad, Dec 8, 2024
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  19. ChicagoJ

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

    I enjoy these tastings as well. I couldn’t respond in time to your New Beer Sunday post regarding Revolution Fistmas. Glad you enjoyed.

    Here is a picture and a few related links to prior Holiday themed posts.

    November 3, 2020 truckload of Fistmas cans outside the brewery.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    2022 Holiday Thread - Fistmas, also at their brewery.

    2023 Holiday Thread I linked this WBAYDN Cask version, FistXMas (Cask Fistmas with extra ginger, orange, and whole cone Citra hops) in the planning thread, since the cask was unfortunately on one week before the actual tasting.

    So yes, Fistmas is a beer I enjoy. Spiteful Brewing’s Jingle Balls, also celebrated in the 2023 Holiday Tasting thread, is also a good local option.

    My 2024 plan is:

    Friday: I have Celebration & Christmas Bomb in my refrigerator to choose.

    Saturday: I need to pick up my Annual 2024 Trader Joe’s Vintage Spice Ale for the International Selection (also NBW).

    Sunday: I have a 12% ABV Malt Liquor / Winter Warmer selection with a holiday theme, which perhaps I’ll get 1/2 bonus points for adding the photo. Off Color Brewing’s Beer For Dealing With Your Family (also NBS).

    If the weather and my body cooperates, I’ll attempt an outing for perhaps a couple more. Currently, Saturday may be the best bet.

    Thanks @thebeers for hosting this great annual event, and looking forward to Friday!
     
    #19 ChicagoJ, Dec 9, 2024
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  20. jonphisher

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

    Little quieter on BA on Monday’s so does anyone want to post their line ups?

    Here's what I have to choose from...

    [​IMG]

    Friday (national): Great Lakes Christmas Ale
    Saturday (international): Mudhen Hero Boy (closest to international by style, Belgian Strong Ale)
    Sunday (local): Cape May Merry & Brite

    Not sure when, or if I'll fit in the Schlafly or Bonesaw; perhaps for the following weekend, or I'll double up one of the nights.
     
    #20 jonphisher, Dec 9, 2024
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2024
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