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Holiday Beer Cheer 2007
CHOW rates this year’s winter warmers
By Kurt Wolff
Beer-lovers look forward to winter, for the one-of-a-kind seasonal beers that appear in liquor stores across the country. These ales and lagers are an opportunity for brewmasters to take risks and let it all hang out. The seasonals are only around until January—and while some will reappear next year, others may never be seen again. ¶ Though holiday beers tend to be heavier and darker—and also higher in alcohol (they’re not called winter warmers for nothing)—there is no standard style, per se. ¶ To investigate the 2007 crop, CHOW staff tasted 10 holiday ales from the United States and Europe. We conducted the survey blind (tasters didn’t see the bottles), and rated the beers on appearance, aroma, taste, and aftertaste, with extra credit for “seasonal” and “festive” qualities.
Anchor Christmas Ale
Topping our survey is Anchor’s annual Christmas Ale, a dark, fragrant, and unabashedly spicy brew that also had the most “holiday” appeal. The aroma burst with pumpkin-pie-type spices, and the flavor mixed a dark, roasty character and hints of sweetness (“cola,” “licorice,” “gingerbread,” said tasters). A few detractors, though, found it “medicinal,” and even fans noted they’d likely “only have one.”
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Widmer Snowplow Milk Stout |
Samuel Adams Winter Lager |
Samuel Smith Winter |
I tried the Snow Plow—its become oneof my favorites. I wish this was available all year-round!
I haven't tried snowcap in a couple years, but it used to be a really delicious Bock style beer. This review surprised me, I'll have to try it again.
Last year's Anchor Christmas was horrible out of the bottle and a completely different brew on tap. I haven't had this year's, but I'm usually in the "gingerbread" group of tasters every year.
Picked up the Sam Adams for the weekend and found it better than past years -- less maltiness, good balance.
As a hophead, I'm very excited for this year's Sierra. Has it stood up to your test?
We did review it, mplsmike. You gotta click thru the rest of the story. It was pretty good!
I like the Anchor a lot - but my favorite seasonal is Great Lakes' Christmas Ale - It's pretty hard to find outside of Ohio, but it definitely fosters fine memories of my time in Cleveland. Pretty much the only fond memories.
http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/beer...
If you can get it, Santa’s Private Reserve from Rogue is good.
While not available all over, my favorite 'winter warmer' is Avery's Old Jubilation: http://www.averybrewing.com/BigBeers/...
Highly recommend getting some to cellar and for a vertical tasting next year.
This year guests will be offered:
Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale
Avery's Old Jubilation
Pizza Port's Santa's Little Helper
Lost Abbey's Judgement Day, Gift of the Maji and Angel's Share.
Just tried Yulesmith from Alesmith -- an excellent, hearty, carmelly ale for a cold winter night. It's available at Silver Lake Wine Shop in Los Angeles.
Just tried Yulesmith from Alesmith -- an excellent, hearty, carmelly ale for a cold winter night. It's available at Silver Lake Wine Shop in Los Angeles.
Hello? Abita, Christmas Ale.
Try some.
By far my favorite winter seasonal is Samiclaus. I buy a quantity and lay some down every year. This year I opened a 1987 and, wow, did it hold up. No sign of oxidation and quite a smooth drink.
Ramstein Winter Wheat @ 9.5% Alchohol. Tastes great AND is less filling since you'll only need a couple.
Tried a humongous amount of this stuff at the Winter beer tasting at Delilah's last year. My favorite then was a Belgian beer in a little "ripply" shaped bottle that I can't remember the name of (must have been at the end of the tasting LOL.) Since then, I've tried and loved the HeBrew folks' "Jewlebration" and it was intense. Not for no reason do they put "turn it up to 11" on the label! Kind of ironic that would be my favorite Christmas beer.