Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Christmas may be over, but that doesn't mean we have to stop sampling fine holiday brews. Tonight's offering is Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Celebration Ale. The SNBC is located in Chico, California, and they've been busy brewing a variety of craft beers since 1980. Celebration Ale is made using the first hops of growing season to create a fresh hop wintertime ale.

Celebration Ale has a clean citrus aroma with a burnt orange hue. It poured with 2 finger of foamy head that gradually settled to a thin cap that lasted for the duration of enjoyment. This ale has an immediately noticeable flavor of fresh tangerines. As advertised, It’s hoppy with some good lively carbonation, and there are bittersweet tones that enhance this ale while creating a great balance. The bright citrus flavor remains constant but doesn’t overwhelm the pallet. But thats not all, Celebration Ale also has notes of pine, caramel, and coriander. This brew ends with a long lasting bittersweet spicy finish.

Pairings/ Recommendations

I really enjoyed Celebration Ale. Great flavors, balance and carbonation. I wouldn't hesitate to buy this ale again. The alcohol is well hidden in this brew. It is mildly apparent while drinking, like most winter brews, but Celebration Ale lives up to it's name with 6.8% ABV. I would defiantly recommend pacing yourself if you plan on enjoying more than few of these. While this would be a great beer to share for a festive occasion, I wouldn't blame you if you built a secret compartment in your fridge and saved Celebration Ale all for yourself.

Cheers!!!

Side note: I'd also like to credit the price on this brew as well. It's no secret that craft brews cost more than mass produced domestic beers. Not to get into actual price tags, but I would like to point out that I paid less for a 6 pack of Celebration Ale than I did for some of the craft brewed 4 packs I've purchased to review. Cheers to that!!!

Goose Island Christmas Ale

Our tour of holiday brews continues with Goose Island’s Christmas Ale. Located in Chicago, Goose Island Brewery is named after the only island on the Chicago River in Illinois. Goose Island changes it’s recipe for it’s Christmas Ale each year. Lets see what this years bottle of Christmas cheer has to offer.

Christmas Ale pours a chocolate brown color with about one fingers of beige head. It has a deep fruity aroma with notes of orange and pumpkin, and a hint of malt. This ale has a heavy fruit flavor with notes of caramel and figs. It also has a unique woodsy element to it. It has mellow carbonation with a mild creamy body. Goose Island's Christmas Ale has a sweet ending with hints of ginger, spice, and pine, followed by a nice lingering semi-dry finish. The alcohol is very apparent in this brew. It weights in at 6.2% on the ABV scale.

There is a bit more of an alcohol taste to this ale. It's noticeable in the flavor, and not as masked as some of the other winter style brews I've had with a higher ABV. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and doesn't take away from the flavor notes of the ale itself. It really is up to the drinkers preference. If you're not a fan of strong drinks this ale may not be for you. But if you like sipping your alcohol on the rocks, this brew may be more fitted to your tastes. This Ale was stronger than most, but not to the point where I didn't enjoy it. Personally, I like strong drinks, whiskey on the rocks and such, but I don't enjoy that strong taste as much in my beer. I prefer to drink beer, not sip it. For me, this brew landed somewhere in the middle.

Pairings/ Recommendations

Had a long day? Have to do it all over again tomorrow? Then pour yourself a glass of Goose Island Christmas Ale. It would make the perfect night cap to help with what little time you have to unwind. One or two of these should have you ready for the pillow with a little less worry on the mind, and tension in the shoulders.

Cheers!!!

Samuel Adams Winter Lager

Tonights brew up for discussion is Samuel Adams Winter Lager. Samuel Adams is the signature brand of the Boston Beer Company. While Boston Lager is their staple beer, they offer an impressive 30 + styles of craft brews. Founded in 1984, Samuel Adams' continued success has help the Boston Beer Company become the largest American owned beer company in the United States. Winter Lager is advertised as a "dark wheat bock brewed with winter spices." Hey Frosty, bring me a frosty mug.

This Lager has a handsome ruby color beneath a thin off white head. The aroma is strong with scents of oranges, ginger, cinnamon, and bread dough. (Bread Dough? I know it sounds strange, but its actually a pleasant aroma) This brew has a nice carbonated element that creates a lively bite, complimenting a medium velvety body. The flavor notes of this lager are a blend of toasted malts, fruit, and a hint of caramel. The star on this Christmas tree are the festive spice flavors. There are notes of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. In fact, the majority of the holiday spice rack seems to be represented, and this adds to the celebratory nature of this lager. The orange notes are very apparent in the bright snappy finish. As mentioned, this brew is lively, but it isn't in an overwhelming nature. It really does add a nice kick to this lager. Overall I enjoyed the warming effects and festive spices of this seasonal brew.

Pairings/ Recommendations

Spent a few hours shoveling snow off the driveway? Got a chill in your feet and bones on a cold winters day? Then crack open a bottle of Samuel Adams Winter Lager and relax. I'd recommend pairing this lager with some cinnamon almonds and a pair of thermal socks.

Cheers!!!

Bell's Christmas Ale

Tonight's seasonal craft brew is Bell's Christmas Ale. Bells Brewery is located in Comstock, Michigan, and has been in business for 26 years. Staying true to their roots, Christmas Ale is made with 100% Michigan grown two-row barley malt, and a blend of Michigan and Northwest Pacific Hops. Queue up Carol of the Bells!

Bell’s Christmas Ale has a nice copper color and produces an impressive foamy beige head. It has a unique malty aroma with notes of grapefruit. The flavor is heavy with orange notes, and has hints of pineapple, malt and caramel. This ale has a smooth body with a nice tangy bitterness. It is very easy drinking (one may have to fight an urge to chug this one down) and has a refreshing quality to it, which isn't typical with holiday brews. It has a long pleasant finish with orange and ginger notes. Christmas Ale also kept a thin head that flared up after every sip - thanks partially to those michigan grown hops.

I really enjoyed this ale. It's not your typical festively spiced brew that takes up the majority of craft beer shelves during the holidays. Oranges are also a holiday tradition in many cultures, and why should we discriminate against the fine varieties of our multi-cultured world. Some of us enjoy spices, while others enjoy fruit. Regardless of what flavors you enjoy, if you want to bottle them up in a festive brew and offer them up for the holidays then I say - " God bless us, everyone."

Pairing/ Recommendations

If your next holiday gathering gets a little overwhelming, Bell's Christmas Ale would make the perfect excuse to sneak out to the cooler you left on the back porch. Because lets face it, you don't want to risk storing this ale in the fridge and having your wife's Uncle Joe "accidentally" drinking all your beer again like last year. Plan ahead this holiday and bring your jacket, gloves, and a bottle opener.

Cheers!!!

Lump Of Coal Dark Holiday Stout

Today’s brew comes from Ridgeway Brewing in the United Kingdom. Ridgeway Brewing produces several rather comically named holiday brews. Today I’m trying Lump of Coal - Dark Holiday Stout. As advertised on it’s front label, it’s “much more than you deserve for Xmas this year...”

Lump of Coal is very dark with a thick tan head that leaves foamy lacing on the inside of the glass as it recedes. The aroma is malty with a hint of fruit. This stout has notes of mocha, yeast, and rich fruits. It has a syrupy sweet body, as well as a hint of vanilla and nuts. It's medium carbonation has a slight kick, resulting in a warming effect - most likely due to the alcohol content of this stout which has a whopping 8% ABV! The chocolate finish has a smokey bitterness to it and is dry.

All in all, i would rate Lump of Coal as a pretty decent brew. I enjoyed the novelty of this festively named beer, but would argue if it should really be a labeled a stout. The body seemed much too thin, and it lacked the thick creaminess most stouts are known for. While I was disappointed in the beginning, after finishing this pint, I got caught up in the holiday spirit of forgiveness.

Pairing/ Recommendations

Lump of Coal would make a great crutch for those tiresome holiday get togethers. In fact, the back label recommends it’s consumption “to take the edge off of that grim family gathering, that cheerless annual festival of alienation.” Also, I think this brew would make a great party starter. Served with appetizers, Lump Of Coal would be a great conversation piece for the more naughty guests at your party. Also, it's 8% ABV is sure to turn any Scrooge into a National Lampoon's cousin Eddie in no time.

Cheers!!!

Anchor Brewing's Christmas Ale

My inaugural brew for this blog is Anchor Brewing’s Christmas Ale. Anchor Brewing has been producing this festive ale since 1975, and it's available from early November thru mid January. Whats unique about this ale is that the recipe changes from year to year, as does the tree on the label. To top it all off, the recipe is a secret, you will find no individual descriptors other than that this is a spiced ale. Sounds like a mystery I wouldn’t mind solving. Hey Scooby!!!!

This ale pours with an impressive frothy head. The froth's color is a rich tan that is reminiscent of a fresh baked sugar cookie. The head presence is slow to settle leaving bits on lacing on the glass. During this time it gives off a strong scent of ginger and nutmeg. The lager itself is very dark, and when held to the light gives of very deep red hue. Taking my first sip I can tell the ale has fruity notes than lean towards raisins and figs. There is also hints of pumpkin and sassafras. Christmas Ale has a nice mild bitterness and a medium body. Given the darkness of this ale and the thick foamy head I was expecting something a little more heavier, but that doesn't mean this brew is unenjoyable. It has a warm finish that ends with sweet plum and spicy notes. All in all it is an enjoyable brew that does a nice job at capturing the festive flavors of the holidays.

Pairing/ Recommendation

Christmas Ale is very drinkable, and could easily be enjoyed during any course of a holiday gathering. I’d lean towards appetizers or desert, since it isn’t too heavy and won’t make you feel too full before or after dinner.

Thanks for reading my first brew review. More festive beverages are on tap. Literally.

Cheers!!!

Anchor Brewing is an American Brewery based out of San Francisco, California

http://www.anchorbrewing.com/

Cheers

Stay tuned for personal reviews of brews, booze, cocktail recipes, shenanigans, and more. Currently taste testing a lovely assortment of holiday ales.

Till then enjoy this pic of an anti prohibition rally from 1933