The Brew Site
Okay, so today’s Advent beer pick is a bit of a cheat, but it’s my birthday and my tradition is to select a “birthday” beer for today, something special that I’d want to drink. For a number of years now I’ve had another tradition where my brother would give me … Continue reading
December 17 is the start of the ancient Roman midwinter festival Saturnalia, a celebration that may have influenced traditions associated with Christmas, so what better day to celebrate an original American Christmas beer that largely influenced craft beer holiday traditions: Anchor Christmas Ale. Christmas Ale is a standard here on … Continue reading
Throughout the years of doing this Beer Advent Calendar, there has only been one constant: Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale (also called Our Special Ale, and Merry Christmas & Happy New Year). It’s a nod both to the longevity of this brew as well as acknowledgement of it as an American … Continue reading
We’ve made it—Christmas Eve and the final day of the Beer Advent Calendar! Today we celebrate the holiday with a perennial favorite and a beer that shows up on the calendar every year: Christmas Ale from Anchor Brewing. This is a beer I look forward to every season, not only … Continue reading
Way back in 2005, I had the idea to start a December feature combining the idea of Advent calendars with beer, at least in a virtual sense. Starting on the 1st, each day would reveal a new holiday- or winter-themed beer until Christmas Eve. Since then, I’ve seen others do … Continue reading
Arrived yesterday: two bottles of Anchor Christmas Ale just in time for the holidays. This year is the 45th edition of this Christmas classic, and while the recipe is a secret that changes each year, there are hints in the press release about what might have gone into it: “Slightly … Continue reading
We’ve made to the final day of the beer Advent calendar! And for this Christmas Eve I’ve picked a beer that has featured every single year since I started doing thing this, the American classic, Anchor Christmas Ale. In many ways, Anchor’s Our Special Ale is the template upon which … Continue reading
It’s December 1st and that means the return of the annual Beer Advent Calendar tradition here at The Brew Site! I began this in 2005, and in the tradition of Advent calendars each day of December leading up to the 24th (Christmas Eve) I reveal a new holiday beer each … Continue reading
Today is Christmas Card Day, honoring Sir Henry Cole who introduced the world’s first commercial Christmas card in 1843. Christmas cards are perhaps a fading tradition these days, which is a shame because it’s always fun and a bit like opening a present when you receive one in the mail. … Continue reading
Today is Repeal Day here in the United States, and to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition, today’s Advent beer pick is in many ways the Ur-beer of holiday seasonals, and one that has appeared in my Beer Advent Calendar every year since I started in 2005: Anchor Christmas Ale. The … Continue reading