With the season almost over, just curious what everyone's favorite Oregon seasonal/winter beer is? Just tried Kentucky Christmas at HUB and bought a few bottles. I've had it before and didn't think much of it, but for some reason I really enjoyed it this year. My go to Winter beer though has been Brrr. Just seems to be a little lighter and not as sweet as some of the others. Also, it's usually on sale at FM or elsewhere. Haven't been a huge fan of Jubelale the last few years. DM Fa la la la la is pretty awesome too and maybe the best overall imo.
I've usually enjoyed Kentucky Christmas, and Abominable might fit that "favorite" spot for me. Cascade's Glueh Kriek is only available in-house, but served warm with an orange slice in it makes it one of my favorite things during an actual cold winter. Trying Sang Noir at the Holiday Ale Fest several years ago was one of my first "whoa" experiences with beer.
Haven't been to Cascade in a while. I'll have to try out the Glueh Kriek sometime. I wouldn't say I seek out "winter beers" either. Most of them are not my thing, but as far as true seasonals go, I'm more inclined to give them a try than summer beers. Spring has some good ones. Doesn't seem to be a lot of fall beers, at least in Oregon.
Fall is Fresh Hop season! Not too many of those get bottled, but there are several good fests. There's also usually a lot of Germans around for Oktoberfest, and the pumpkin invasion. I think the winters start to invade by mid-to-late October though.
Jubelale. It might not be the best Oregon winter beer I've had, but lots of great memories are tied to that one.
Very Ill Tempeed Gnome? BA Pray for Snow? As far as "regular" 6pk/22oz beers go, Jubelale is probably what I'd say too.
I do like fresh hop season although I've never really thought of those as "fall" beers. Pumpkin for sure, but I tend to avoid those. There is a fair amount of German/Oktoberfest style beers coming out of Oregon lately, but I've also seen some Winter beers in stores as early as the beginning of October so the season is a little mixed.
Am I the only one who's noticed a steady decline in the quality of Jubelale? It's not that it's bad, I just don't enjoy it as much as I used to. I really think Brrrr is an underrated beer. As I mentioned, Brrr is really the only one of the big one's that I always make a point to get at least one 6 pack each year.
My wife and I both have grand ideas about how good Jubelale will be every year. We grab the first six pack we see, drink about three bottles and the other three make it through most of the winter without a second thought. It definitely does not seem to be as good as I remember.
Jubelale is an annual favorite of mine. But, it was available up here in September, when it was still technically summer.So I did buy, or even have, a single one this year. Release it the early November time-frame, and I'll be right back to drinking gallons of the stuff.
Sleigher from Ninkasi is a good one. Block 15 makes some incredible winter beers. Was a fan of 10 barrels pray for snow, but now since the buy out from Anheuser-busch,I won't be buying it anymore.
I sampled Jubelale served from a cask at the Deschutes brewpub in Bend last September, and it was a revelation. The softer carbonation and creamier texture did wonders for that beer.
