Christmas comes early in Chicago

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by billywan, Nov 7, 2012.

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  1. billywan

    billywan Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2009 Illinois

    The Christmas beers seem to have mostly arrived in Chicago. Alpha Klaus, Great Lakes Xmas Ale, Goose Island etc all in stores today, if anyone's looking. Goose Island Xmas Ale has a pretty cool new design for the 4 pack, too.
     
    #1 billywan, Nov 7, 2012
  2. Grohnke

    Grohnke Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2009 Illinois

    What style is the GI this year?
     
    #2 Grohnke, Nov 7, 2012
  3. billywan

    billywan Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2009 Illinois

    Said it was a Brown Ale again. Didn't see an ABV.
     
    #3 billywan, Nov 7, 2012
  4. tjfilippo

    tjfilippo Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2008 Illinois
    Trader

    7.3% this year...
     
    #4 tjfilippo, Nov 7, 2012
  5. WassailWilly

    WassailWilly Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2007 New York

    Had a 4 pack last year too
    I prefer the bomber truthfully
     
    #5 WassailWilly, Nov 7, 2012
  6. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yike. Was it this high last year? I have 2 bottles left at home, but I don't remember checking the alcohol when I drank the others.
     
    #6 steveh, Nov 7, 2012
  7. billywan

    billywan Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2009 Illinois

    Yeah, it was high last year, too. I think last year was the first year it was so high. They changed it to more of a "will age for 5 years" Christmas Ale.
     
    #7 billywan, Nov 7, 2012
  8. danimalarkey

    danimalarkey Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2008 Illinois

    Regarding the Goose Island Christmas Ale, I was sad to see that it's back to 4-packs (and/or at the same price point as last year). That beer hardly flew off the shelves last year. For me, I guess it was that it used to be a 6-pack and then... it wasn't. Not that I want to encourage any more of the nickel-&-diming that goes on around here (particularly with FFF releases), and that I know I've blabbed about before (particularly with Half Acre's growler/otter (their in-house term, by the way, for 32oz. growlers) pricing structure), but if I'm going to spend $12 on a 4-pack, I'm going to reach for many, many other beers before the Goose Island Christmas Ale.
     
    #8 danimalarkey, Nov 7, 2012
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  9. osubuckeye99

    osubuckeye99 Devotee (363) Nov 7, 2009 Illinois

    I really liked last year's GI Christmas Ale. Surprisingly slightly more than the Great Lakes Christmas Ale, which is an annual favorite of mine.
     
    #9 osubuckeye99, Nov 7, 2012
  10. Vav

    Vav Savant (1,049) Jul 27, 2008 Illinois

    Actually, they fixed the mess that was their Christmas Ale pricing this year. Last year, the 4pks sold for $11.99 This year they are $8.99
     
    #10 Vav, Nov 7, 2012
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  11. danimalarkey

    danimalarkey Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2008 Illinois

    Well then! Glad to hear that. I will now remove my curmudgeon hat. For now.
     
    #11 danimalarkey, Nov 7, 2012
  12. Zaphog

    Zaphog Grand Pooh-Bah (4,676) Sep 23, 2011 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wasn't last year's only 6.2%?
     
    #12 Zaphog, Nov 7, 2012
  13. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    That's what it says here at BA. I'll check my bottles this evening when I get home.
     
    #13 steveh, Nov 7, 2012
  14. billywan

    billywan Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2009 Illinois

    You could very well be right. I guess I think of 2010's as the more "drinkable" whereas last year's tasted pretty strong to me. So I thought of it more as a 1 beer night kind of beer.
     
    #14 billywan, Nov 7, 2012
  15. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Just checked my stash, yep. 6.2% ABV. Looking at my review from last year, it wasn't terribly favorable -- with the cost per 4 pack being a big factor (I paid $14, not the $12 others have mentioned).

    Based on the price, and what looks like a new formulation, this year's might be interesting. Saw Great Lakes Christmas 6 packs for $13 today, makes me hesitate big.
     
    #15 steveh, Nov 7, 2012
  16. MidwestBA

    MidwestBA Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2009 Illinois

    I always enjoy Trader Joe's Vintage Ale that come out at this time too. It's about $5 for 750ml & 9% alc/vol. Merry X-mas!
     
    #16 MidwestBA, Nov 8, 2012
  17. vande

    vande Initiate (0) Jan 26, 2007 Illinois

    still got a bottle in the fridge from its last bottling... :0
     
    #17 vande, Nov 8, 2012
  18. MidwestBA

    MidwestBA Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2009 Illinois

    Me too, in the basement.
     
    #18 MidwestBA, Nov 8, 2012
  19. beelzebubbles

    beelzebubbles Crusader (405) Mar 1, 2006 Illinois

    TJ Vintage is a great deal for a beer made by Unibroue. (It's not my favorite Unibroue beer, but for $5, you can't go wrong.)
     
    #19 beelzebubbles, Nov 8, 2012
  20. MidwestBA

    MidwestBA Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2009 Illinois

    I always buy extra for the new years too. Got to love the bargin.
     
    #20 MidwestBA, Nov 8, 2012
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