The Brew Site
There were more dances, and there were forfeits, and more dances, and there was cake, and there was negus, and there was a great piece of Cold Roast, and there was a great piece of Cold Boiled, and there were mince-pies, and plenty of beer. On this day in 1843, Charles Dickens’ A … Continue reading
Today’s Advent beer pick comes from Puyallup in the Seattle-Tacoma area of the state of Washington, Puyallup River Brewing Company and their Imperial Christmas Cream Ale. Cream Ale is not something you normally associate with either “imperial” or Christmas, but Puyallup River has taken their standard Cream Ale and amped it … Continue reading
For the first time ever on the Beer Advent Calendar I am selecting a cider! Corvallis, Oregon-based 2 Towns Ciderhouse has been crafting their Nice & Naughty Spiced Imperial Hard Apple Cider for the holidays for several years now. This is a 10.5% alcohol by volume cider that is made with fresh-pressed … Continue reading
Today’s Advent beer pick is steeped in whimsy, coming from Hoppin’ Frog Brewery out of Akron, Ohio: their Frosted Frog Christmas Ale, which I selected as much for the name and label as for the holiday theme. This is a strong, malty ale brewed with spices to 8.6% alcohol by … Continue reading
Today’s Advent calendar beer pick comes from Dexter, Michigan and one of the highest-esteemed sour, wild, and Belgian-style breweries in the country, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. Each year for Christmas they brew a strong dark Belgian-style ale that is 9% alcohol by volume: Noel de Calabaza. Of this Special Ale they … Continue reading
“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… Jack frost nipping at your nose…” Today is Roast Chestnuts Day and that opening lyric to “The Christmas Song” is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of chestnuts. Of course it’s Jack Frost that comes next, the chill winter air nipping at your … Continue reading
It’s a Midwest Christmas kind of day for the Advent calendar as we travel to Oklahoma to visit Prairie Artisan Ales, a brewery that in a scant four years has become one of the most coveted in the country. One of their year-round house beers is Bomb!, an “imperial stout … Continue reading
Today’s Advent calendar pick comes from Hopworks Urban Brewery in Portland, Oregon, known for their organic beers and their commitment to environmentally-sound, green practices. Each year they release Abominable Winter Ale, a hoppy imperial red, and the last several years they have taken to aging Abominable in bourbon barrels to … Continue reading
Today’s Advent beer pick comes from Missoula, Montana, and Big Sky Brewing which celebrated its 21st anniversary this year: Biere De Noël. Perhaps when you think of Big Sky the beer that comes to mind is their flagship Moose Drool (an amazingly solid brown ale, of which there are not … Continue reading
December 10 is National Lager Day in the U.S., so to celebrate I selected the best and best-known Christmas lager in the world for today’s Advent calendar pick: Samichlaus Classic from Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg in Austria. Brewed only once a year on the 6th of December, this strong beer is probably … Continue reading