Winter Beers 2020

I think there are still a good number of winter beers in the area.

There's Jubelale. That's a winter favorite. Always happy to see that one appear on the shelves.

Fort George Magnanimous IPA is Christmas in a can. All that pine and spruce. I think that's Mrs. Vurt's favorite winter beer. I'm a fan too.

I've seen HUB Abominable around the past week or so, although I don't enjoy that one as much.

Widmer Brrr? That's still around. I haven't had one in quite a few seasons.

I'm usually good for a pint or two of McMenamin's Kris Kringle this time of year. Same goes for Ninkasi Sleigh'r.

This is also the time of year when I start keeping an eye out for Heater Allen's Sandy Paws. THAT is a beer to keep the cold away.

Ecliptic has changed the recipe of their winter IPA, Filament, so I'll probably give that another shot this year.

Does Laurelwood still make Vinter Varmer?

Feels like I'm forgetting a bunch, but maybe you are too?

 

Sunriver Shred Head
Crux Snow Cave
10 Barrel Pray For Snow

Each of these typically gets a release event at the respective pub here in town.

 

I too used to look forward to this time of year, as the holidays had a bunch of darker heavier spicier beers, usually but not always called winter warmers. I like this run of beers. Over time, I settled on Jubelale as my favorite, but other contenders were Bridgeport's Ebenezer, Pike's Auld Acquaintance, Anchor's Christmas Ale, and Black Raven Festivus. I was never fond of the Full Sail, and found Maritime's Jolly Roger underwhelming.

The holiday beer festival at Magnuson Park was a great place to try these sorts of beers. Naked City had Bing, a spiced cherry ale, every year. The line was always longest for Black Raven La Petite Mort.

RIP, Naked City and Bridgeport.

 

Just read that Anchor's Christmas Ale is more stout-like and takes inspiration for s'mores, so toasted marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker.

And even though not "winter" beers, Sunriver also has their Mele Kalikimaka out, which is a double IPA and soon Cousin Eddie's Leisure Suit IPA (all simcoe).

As for me, every year has to include Jubelale, and will most likely be opening up the bottle of Super Jubel I grabbed yesterday. Love that they bottled Super Jubel and Abyss in 12 oz bottles this year.

 

I do miss Bridgeport's Ebenezer. Such a well balanced winter beer.

 

Back before Elysian went under, I used to love Bifrost and going to the Bifrost Fest and getting all of the variants. Good times.

 

Who still remembers Pete's Winter Wicked Brew?

 

Yep. Brown ale with raspberries. I wasn't a fan.

Back in those days, I preferred Celebration and Winterhook and Snowcap and Anchor Xmas Ale.

 

No Christmas is complete for us without a North Coast Old Stock Ale.

Back when we lived in the midwest, Nutcracker from Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City (my home town) was a favorite.

Ft.George Magnanimous is the new kid on the block and very tasty. We celebrated last New Year's Eve at Ft. George.

 

We just added Hellbent's Winter IPA to BA and gave it a good review. While not a Winter Warmer, it has a solid malt base and a 7.5% ABV -- tasted pretty good on a rainy, windy November Saturday night.

 

I’ll add Hopworks Abominable to this list; it’s one I buy I every year. Have the bourbon version in the fridge now. Does pFriem’s Belgian Christmas count? That’s delicious.

 

I also dig this time of year and the winter beers that come with it (or much earlier) and sucks to hear about the Full Sail Wreck The Halls as that was one of my favorites to try each year and I guess I can also answer my own question as to whether they are making Wassail - though maybe I wouldn't want to try it anyways after what the new owners have done to that company. I also second pretty much all that has been said about Jubelale, Bad Santa, Ebenezer (RIP), etc. I had trouble finding it refrigerated last year but I think Pyramid's Snow Cap is solid so hope to try it again this year. I'll also add a couple that I've had over the years that I find tasty: Calapooia Kringle Krack Ale, McMenamins Pole Ax (not sure if this gets brewed across all locations but locally here in Salem, Jen usually whips out a batch yearly for one or both locations), pFriem Winter Ale, Golden Valley Tannenbomb, and Terminal Gravity Festivale. Cheers!