With the Holidays right around the Corner, it’s about this time I get excited about all of the holiday/winter brews that’ll be emerging. For me it’s: SN Celebration Anchor’s Christmas Ale (I have a 2017 magnum to open this year) ST’s Old Man Winter Ale (wasn’t fond of their 2xmas) Bell’s Christmas ale (can’t wait to try it) Great Divide’s Hibernation Ale Brooklyn BCS Wormtown Blizzard of 78 Can’t forget SA’s Old Fezziwig and Holiday Porter! I hope to find Great Lakes Christmas ale this year as I haven’t found it yet in my area, along with What say you, fellow BA’s?
I'm not a huge Winter Warmer drinker, but I'll probably pick up a six-pack of Anderson Valley Winter Solstice when I see it. I'm also a fan of Celebration, because fresh hop IPAs are always a "yes please" from me.
On top of your list, all add.. Saint Arnold Christmas Ale Real Ale Coffee Porter Avery Old Jubilation Deschutes Jubelale
I've already purchased many of them: SN Celebration (always awesome) Deschutes Jubelale (always awesome) Anchor Christmas (decent this year) Bell's Christmas Ale (had last night and NOT impressed) Great Lakes Christmas Ale (always awesome) Southern Tier 2XMAS (going to retry after several years, liked it then) N'ice Chouffe St Bernardus Christmas Ale Ayinger Celebrator Still want to get a few more Belgian Noels and Samiclaus
I've already purchased (and finished) a 6 pack of Summit Winter Ale, always a solid and enjoyable one for me. I have the St Bernardus Christmas Ale on my list (actually a quad, not a winter warmer, but who's counting?) and this year's Anchor Christmas Ale. That should do it for me.
I purchased and finished a sixer of Anchor's Christmas Ale. Thought it was ok but probably not something I'd get again this year. As always, I'm looking forward to picking up a few Belgian Holiday/Winter offerings.
One of the all time best beer deals ever was a couple years back when the Total Wine where I shop had the 4 packs of this great beer on closeout shortly after the holidays for ... get this ... $4.99. Needless to say I picked up a fair amount of those.
It's my understanding they tweak it a bit each year. I've only had the 2018 version, so IDK how much it changes year over year.
In my experience, it is always dark, it is always Porter-like, and it is always piney. The Christmas spices change somewhat, but never enough to make it seem like an all-new beer.
No one mentioned Thirsty Dogs 12 dogs of Christmas? I’d like to re-visit that. And fair priced if I remember correctly.
The first one that I had was maybe 15 years or so ago. There was one year, can't remember exactly which one but I want to say maybe somewhere around 2006 or so that was phenomenal. This year's was ok, but I felt perhaps a little too thin and slightly over carbonated. Just my two cents.
In my experience, there are 5 big buckets of winter / holiday beers: Winter Warmers (English tradition): these can be either spiced (sometimes called Wassail) or unspiced (basically an English Strong Ale or Old Ale) Weihnachtsbier (German tradition); any higher abv lager released for winter or the holidays. Can be Bock-like, Oktoberfest-like or anything else really Noel (Belgian tradition): typically very high abv, typically a Dark Ale (but not always), and typically spiced Imperial Stouts (American and English tradition): definitely becoming more of an American thing, as less standard Imperial Stouts and more Barrel-Aged or Pastry ones IPAs (American tradition): just because this is what Americans do
It's one of my favorites, but distributor didn't carry it in 2018. I've picked up two 6's and a 1.5L bottle Didn't have 2018, but this year's is less “piney” and the hops come through on the back of the tongue and the swallow. It's a little sweeter than previous years and there seems to be some licorice I didn't notice before. Celebration didn't really hit the spot with me and I wasn't really impressed with Mad Elf, or Bell's this year. I have Great Lakes, St. Bernardus, and N'ice in the fridge. I'll pick up a Middle Ages Wizard's Winter and plenty of others as they hit the shelves here. Almost as much fun as sampling oktoberfests
SN Celebration Brooklyn Black Chocolate Deschutes Jubelale Anchor Christmas Ale Samuel Smith's Winter Warmer That's probably the top five that I always look forward to, there's others but I'll stay at five Cheers
If I could purchase Sam Adams Old Fezziwig as a standalone product I would be looking forward to that beer. Cheers!
GD's Hibernation for sure. It's my favorite winter seasonal. At least that I can get in my area. Cans just hit last week and it's as good as ever.
Great Lake’s Blackout Stout (just dropped) Fat Head’s Pimp my Sleigh (next week) Three Floyd’s Alpha Klaus (just dropped)
Hardywood Gingerbread ! Now there's a good one. I could not find any last year for some reason. Hopefully this year. Especially their BB Gingerbread Stout
Probably Alpha Klaus, Celebration and Anderson Valley Winter Solstice. What I also love about all of these posts, is that these are all great beers you can get any day of the week in the winter. Not all great beer requires you to stand in line for 8 hrs.
I'll seek out Deschutes Jubelale, and I usually have to drive 25 miles to Kalamazoo to find it. Other than that one, I'll likely buy a series of the rich, malty Christmas ales, but not the sweet spices version.
I can say I have had few hoilday and winter beers but that was like few years back but I did like some like the clowns shoes advent calander imperial stout at 10% from few years back.
I see a lot of people are giving a shout out to Deschutes Jubelale. I have been wanting to try that one for a while & now that Deschutes is finally in my neck of the woods I hope to find it soon.
It is really good, it is basically an English Strong Ale with a big, spicy hop balance. Roasty, fruity and spicy.
Had Revolution's Fistmas last weekend. Felt too early but would rather have it fresh in November than wait. The higher abv selections I'll wait until December.
To me, "winter warmer" means BBA stouts such as BCBS and variants. Also, if they ever distribute it again, Sam Adams Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout, incredible even if you're not a gingerbread fan.
Old Fezziwig. The fact that I'll purchase a 12 pack SOLELY for 3 bottles of this shows my dedication.
