We still believe!

The craft beer market is flooded with seasonal themed beer. How do you know what to guzzle? We’re working hard to taste all we can and pass the details on to you! (Its hard work, no doubt, but think of it as our gift to you….)

Great Lakes Brewing’s CHRISTMAS ALE.

All the taste of the holiday without the annoying relatives. It gives off a malty, cinnamon smell with an inviting copper color. The blend of honey, ginger and cinnamon provides a wonderful taste that reminds you of Christmas cookies.

So sip this one by the fire, or by the tree. You’ll get all the Christmas feels, and you won’t regret it!

Wishing you a Hoponius Holiday!

For our second beer of the holiday season I am drinking JACK ABBY’S HOPONIUS ON HOLIDAY TROPICAL IPL.

It pours golden with a slightly hazy look to it. I taste notes of pineapple, mango and citrus. It has a nice foamy head and a slightly sweet taste. It finishes with grassy/happy notes.

This would pair nicely with a Christmas ham, and has enough brightness it would cut through rich side dishes like mac n cheese or potatoes au gratin.

The best compliment I can give to this beer is I quickly opened a second one.

Short release time. Get one for your holiday pleasure soon!

Chanukah Hanukkah, PASS THE BEER!

What do you want to drink this holiday season? Something lite? Something dark? Something with Christmas spice? Over the next few weeks I will be showcasing beers for your holiday delight.

This week it’s Chanukah! I am drinking Schmaltz Brewery’s CHANUKAH HANUKKAH PASS THE BEER. It packs a punch with 8% alc/vol. It’s made with 8 malts, and 8 hops. Talk about your crazy 8 nights!

It pours dark brown, almost black, with a milk chocolate head. Has a bit of lace. The aroma is malt and chocolate. There is also a big chocolate punch when first sipped, which turns malty immediately. There is some sweetness but not overly so. It leaves a silky mouth feel with some bitterness from the hops at the end.

Overall this is a rich tasting beer to enjoy on a cold winter’s night whether you’re lighting the menorah, spinning a dreidel, or downing Grandma’s rugelach!

Chag urim sameach!

Strong and Black

My late friend, Scott, introduced me to his love of Stouts. He was a big Guinness fan, having visited the brewery several times in Ireland. I dedicate this review to him.

I finally have decided to jump on the coffee/stout combination. LAKEFRONT BREWERY out of Milwaukee makes FUEL CAFE.

It pours with a smaller milk chocolate head than expected, with no lace. This does not take away from what’s about to come, however. It has a strong aroma of chocolate and coffee- no surprise. Black in the glass like hearty coffee and a flavorful stout, it looks exactly like a nitro cold brew coffee.

The taste is malty and slightly bitter but in a good way. It has a rewarding silky mouth feel.

This would make a great beer to pair with a dessert course, especially anything chocolate. Or serve it at brunch instead of a mimosa- think of a powerful shot of nitro and a big stack of pancakes.

This beer will keep you warm during these early winter storms, and energize you enough to clean your whole damn house while you watch the snowfall.

Turkey and beer

The leaves have fallen and there have been some flakes in the air. And for those of us in the northeast- about a foot of those flakes. Thanksgiving is less than a week away. I have been looking at different ciders and beers to have with turkey and stuffing.

DOWNEAST PUMPKIN CIDER combines apples, pumpkins and chai spices. This is a great starter to hand out when guests are arriving on Thursday. Its not too sweet and not overpowering in spice. It preps the tastebuds for the meal to come. It’s the flavors of apple and pumpkin pie combined.

Next is 1911 CRANBERRY HARD CIDER. It has a blush color that could easily be poured into a wine glass to enjoy with your holiday dinner, but I think it would go best with an appetizer course. It is not overly sweet and the flavor pairs nicely with a cheese or relish platter.

For the main course I choose TRADER JOE’S SOUR CRANBERRY ALE. It does have a brightness that will help balance the richness of stuffing and gravy. The cranberry flavor is front and center. An enjoyable, easily drinkable beer.

Something different for you Gose lovers- LONG TRAIL’S CRANBERRY GOSE. I tend to think of Gose as a summer beer, but it can certainly be enjoyed in other seasons. This beer is available all year long. It is not as cranberry-forward as the other brews in this review. There is an aroma of cranberry that tickles your nose, which seems fun. You get the salt and tartness of a Gose- which makes it an excellent beer to drink with food. If you want to be a bit more adventurous go for this one!

Try one or all of these holiday pairings. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!