winter seasonal

New Beer Blog 21st Amendment Brewery Fireside Chat Winter Spiced Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from 21st Amendment Brewery. It is their Fireside Chat Winter Spiced Ale. If you have read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know 21st Amendment Brewery. Let us get into this winter ale.

It has a clear amber color with a tan constant head. The smell has a sweet malty to alcohol notes. The taste has a sweet malty, alcohol with other spices notes. The aftertaste has a nice warm alcohol finish. It is a nice sipping beer with cigar and fireplace.

Here is a description from their website (www.21st-amendment.com):

Like FDR’s Depression-era radio addresses, which were like a kick in the butt and a hug at the same time, our Fireside Chat is a subtle twist on the traditional seasonal brew. We begin with a rich, dark, English-style ale and then we improvise with spices until we know we have a beer worth sharing with the nation.

Fireside Chat is our early winter seasonal brew available from October through December in six-pack cans and on draft. Brewed like a classic, warming Strong Ale but with a subtle blend of hand-selected spices for just the right festive flair.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter: @21stAmendment

Closing, I enjoyed a lot of beers from 21st Amendment Brewery. I was pretty excited when I made a road trip down to Ohio for a family event. I stopped by the local craft beer store and I was pretty excited to see their beers on shelf. It was a no brainer to pick up a few six and four packs of their brews. I saw this one and I was pretty excited because I never had it. I have been wanting to try it for a while now. I love the story behind this beer. This beer holds up its end of the bargain. I really enjoyed this brew. I love the balance in this brew. It does warm you up on coldest days in the winter. I love how the Cocoa Nibs goes well with all the other spices notes. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog New Belgium Frambozen Ale (2014)

In this special beer blog, we are going to get into their holiday beer from New Belgium Brewery. It is their Frambozen Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this mountain area craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know New Belgium Brewery. Let us get into this American Brown ale.

It has a clear ruby-red color when held up to the light. The smell has a heavy sweet raspberry notes. The taste has a sweet malty with raspberry wine notes. The brown ale calms wine notes. The aftertaste has a sweet raspberry finish. It is a nice sipping but kind of drinkable beer for the holiday season.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Flemish for “raspberry,” Frambozen is our big, luscious celebration of the ruby-red fruit. We discovered the perfect marriage between the fruity complexity of northwestern raspberries and the rich chocolate, roasted maltiness of a Brown Ale. Frambozen pours a warming, deep red of seasonal festivity.

Here is a description from their website (www.newbelgium.com):

Frambozen begins with the aroma of fresh red raspberries, followed by the ripe seductiveness of a fruity brown ale with depth and delicate malt notes. It is deep ruby in color, with flavors just as rich. Every year, New Belgium sends a delegate to the Pacific Northwest to oversee the process of turning freshly picked berries into a pure juice to be added in fermentation. The coming of Thanksgiving at New Belgium is ushered in with the first sighting of our cellar operators scuttling about, covered head to tow in a festive crimson berry wash.

Here is their website and twitter:

Website: www.newbelgium.com

Twitter: @newbelgium

In the end, I have been wanting to try this so many seasons. I miss it season after season. I saw it on the shelf this winter season. I knew I had to pick it up right away. I knew the raspberries would go over pretty well with the brown ale. This is before trying this brew. I love the nice color. It has that Flemish Brown color but it is not a sour. I love it. There is a nice balance from the raspberries and the brown ale. It kind of has a little wine like notes which is a little unique. This is by far the best winter seasonal on the market this season. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog 21st Amendment Marooned On Hog Island Stout

In this blog, we are going to get into another brew from 21st Amendment Brewery. It is their Marooned On Hog Island Stout. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know 21st Amendment Brewery. Let us get into this special stout.

It has a jet black color without a head but the head that was there is a tan color. The aroma has a chocolate to coffee notes. The taste has a slime chocolate with a burned malt to coffee notes for the aftertaste. It is a nice sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer can:

Exhausted by the tedious work and rancid beer, deck swabs O’Sulivan and Freccia abandoned Sir Francis Drake’s Galleon. Days later, they washed up on a tiny island in Tomales Bay, where they encountered local oyster Farmers John and Terry. Soon, these beer mutineers and oyster mercenaries were feasting on roast pig, fresh oysters and goblets of the Captain’s finest ale. They could think of worse fates than being…

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.21st-amendment.com

Twitter: @21stAmendment

In the end, I have always love stouts. I am pretty much in love with stouts made with oysters. My first ever stout with oysters was from Flying Dog. These stouts are really unique and it takes stout and oyster fans to love this unique beer style. The oysters make this stout a little slime like notes with some nice chocolate to coffee notes. I love it. There is a nice balance in this brew. I cannot wait to see this brew next season or everyday. There is no information on their website. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Shipyard Brewing Prelude Special Ale (2014)

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another seasonal from Shipyard Brewery. It is their Prelude Special Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers. you know the history of this east coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Shipyard Brewery. Let us get into this winter warmer.

It has a clear dark ruby-red color with constant small bubbles feeding a constant white head. The smell has a sweet burned malty to light rum liquor notes. There is some alcohol notes in the aroma. The taste has a sweet burned malty with a burn alcohol aftertaste. This beer will warm you up in the winter. It is a sipping winter ale.

Here is a description from their website (www.shipyard.com):

Prelude Special Ale

“This seasonal specialty is the perfect winter warmer.”

Prelude is a rich, nutty, full-bodied English ale with an inviting amber hue and hoppy finish.

First Brewed: December 1993

Available: November – December

Malt Style: 2-Row British Pale Ale, Crystal, Chocolate, Wheat

Yeast: Top-Fermenting English

Hops: Cascade, Tettnang, Fuggles

Color: Deep Amber

IBUs: 47

OG: 1.070

ABV: 6.7%

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.shipyard.com

Twitter: @shipyardbrewing

Closing, I have seen this brew a few times on the shelf. The question that I had every time is should I pick up this time? I do not know whyI kept on walking away from it. Is it the packaging? Or is it lack of information on the packaging? Either way, I finally picked up this beer and I am glad I did. I have been wanting to try it. I kind of like this brew. This is a hidden gem for us in the Midwest. It is kind of unknown brew here. There is some nice balance but yet a nice complex notes. I love the alcohol notes. This is a nice beer to keep you warm in the winter months. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Harpoon Gingerland UFO (2014)

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Harpoon Brewery and it is their Gingerland UFO. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this northeast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Harpoon Brewery. Let us get into this German style Hefeweizen style.

It has a cloudy slight golden color with a white constant head. The aroma has a ginger to slight yeast notes. The taste has a refreshing ginger to corridor notes. The aftertaste has a ginger to lemon notes. It does not last long. It is kind of drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.harpoonbrewery.com):

It took a while for us to come up with a UFO beer that could withstand the darkest days of the year, but the warmth of ginger combined with the seasonal spice of cinnamon and clove form a perfect companion for a visit to Gingerland. Brewed, not Baked. Poured, not sliced. Inspired by a classic tale. Deliciously spiced. Welcome to Gingerland.

Description

Cinnamon, clove and ginger combine with an unfiltered wheat beer in this deliciously spiced, gingerbread-inspired beer.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: slightly hazy, deep orange

Aroma: ginger snap

Mouth feel: medium bodied and rounded

Taste: malty sweetness from the blend of cinnamon and Munich malt

Finish: sweet with a clean crisp finish of ginger

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter: @harpoon_brewery

In closing, it makes a ton of senses for Harpoon Brewery to take their UFO to the next level. They do have their ever popular Pumpkin UFO along with their Raspberry UFO Ale. It makes sense for them to do a nice brew for the Christmas and winter season. I am not a huge fan of it and this is not my kind of beer style. I can see this being pretty popular brew for the winter season. This brew will start a new trend in the craft beer world. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Anchor Brewing Our Special Ale (2014)

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into one of the first and original christmas beer of the modern era. It is from Anchor Brewing and it is their Our Special Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Anchor Brewery. Let us get into this Christmas Ale.

It has a dark brown color with non constant light brown color head. The smell has roasted malt to toffee and nutty notes. The taste has a roasted to burn malt notes with a burn malt aftertaste. It is a kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This is the fortieth annual “Our Special Ale” from the brewers at Anchor. It is sold only from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year, as is the tree on the label, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same; joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew.

Here is a description from their website (www.anchorbrewing.com):

This is the fortieth annual Christmas Ale from the Anchor brewers. It is sold only from early November to mid–January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year, as is the tree on the label, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Our tree for 2014 is the Giant Sequoia. It was hand-drawn by James Stitt—who has been creating Christmas Ale labels for us since 1975—to look as a “Big Tree” planted in 1975 might look today.

“The Big Tree is Nature’s forest masterpiece, and…keeps its youth far longer than any of its neighbors. Most silver firs are old in their second or third century, pines in their fourth or fifth, while the Big Tree growing beside them is still in the bloom of its youth, juvenile in every feature at the age of old pines, and cannot be said to attain anything like prime size and beauty before its fifteen hundredth year, or under favorable circumstances become old before its three thousandth.”–John Muir

We chose the Giant Sequoia for our fortieth Christmas Ale in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Act. Signed into law by President Lincoln during the Civil War, it granted the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the State of California “for public use, resort, and recreation.” The first such land grant in American history, it marked the beginning of the California State Parks.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.anchorbrewing.com

Twitter: @anchorbrewing

Ending, winter and fall seasonal beers are my favorite of all the seasons. I love the spring and summer for motorcycle riding. I am finding out that the winter seasonals this year are so much better than last years. It was the same case for the fall seasonal brews. I had a hard time liking this beer every year but at end of season, it always ends in my top five. I love burn from the roasted malts. This is a great beer. It is a nice sipping brew to get you through the winter cold days. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Tiwtter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Alaskan Winter Ale (2014)

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample another brew from Alaskan Brewery. It is their Winter Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this northwest craft brewery. Let us get into this winter ale.

It has a clear copper color with a white to off white constant head. The aroma has hints of spruce tips notes. The taste has a sweet malty with a heavy focus spruce tips notes. The aftertaste has a crisp aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.alaskanbeer.com):

Style:

English Olde Ale. Traditionally malty with the warming sensation of alcohol, Olde Ales are brewed in the fall as winter warmers.

Flavor Profile:

Brewed in the style of an English Olde Ale, this ale balances the sweet heady aroma of spruce tips with the clean crisp finish of noble hops. Its malty richness is complemented by the warming sensation of alcohol.

History:
From the seafaring adventurers of the 1700s to the homebrewers of today, adding spruce tips to beer has a rich history in Southeast Alaska. Alaskan Winter Ale was first released by the Brewery in 2000.

Ingredients:
Alaskan Winter is made from glacier-fed water, Sitka spruce tips and a generous blend of the finest quality European and Pacific Northwest hop varieties and specialty malts. Our water originates in the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Ice Field and from the more than 90 inches of rainfall we receive each year.

Recommendation:
Perfect winter warmer by the fireside or an accompaniment to holiday fare. Serve with roast goose, turkey, ham or lamb. A nice complement to holiday breads, pound cake, or apple pie.

The Story Behind The Label:
Throughout Southeast Alaska, bald eagles can be spotted landing atop the towering old growth forests of Sitka spruce trees. As many as 3,000 bald eagles congregate among these evergreen trees on the shores of the Chilkat River for the last large run of salmon before winter. Sitka spruce trees carry a significance of their own to local Alaskans. The tender new growth of the spruce tips lends a delicious, yet subtly sweet floral aroma to teas, jelly and now our Alaskan Winter Ale.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.alaskanbeer.com

Twitter: @alaskanbeer

In the end, I have been wanting to this beer for a long time. I was pretty excited to them enter the State of Michigan. I was pretty stun that they skip the City of Chicago. Chicago is a pretty big market for craft beer. Most craft breweries did not want to enter that market because of the laws. On the other side, most craft breweries did not want to enter the Michigan Market because the huge push for Michigan craft beers. Beers that are outside of state get pushed away and do not get a fair shake. I did not know if they will be pushing out their seasonal beers right away. I was pretty happy to see this beer on the shelf. I had to pick up a bottle and try it. I was interested to see how Spruce would work in this beer. There is a Michigan craft brewery that used spruce tips and failed on their beer. The beer was terrible. I knew experienced craft brewery would know how to work it correctly in this beer. They did a great job and it is pretty good. There is a nice balance in this beer. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Lagunitas Brown Shugga’ (2014)

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Lagunitas Brewery. It is their Brown Shugga’. This is their 2014 edition. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this west coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Lagunitas Brewery. Let us get into this beer.

It has a nice copper to bronze color with a small white bubble head color. The smell has a sweet malty to alcohol notes. The taste has a sweet malty to slight but faded alcohol notes. The aftertaste has a dry hoppy bitter finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.lagunitas.com):

Originally a failed attempt at our 1997 batch of Olde GnarlyWine Ale resulting in an all-new-beer-style we like to call…Irresponsible.

AVAILABLE: NOVEMBER 2014 thru JANUARY 2015 (whoa!)
ABV: 9.99%
Sold as: 6-packs & Kegs
Net contents: Ounces and ounces of Malt, Hops, Yeast and water.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.lagunitas.com

Twitter: @lagunitasbeer

Closing, this is a pretty unique beer. It has a nice color and appearance. The packaging is a nice just like all the rest of their beers. It is pretty hard to explain this beer. I know that I love it. I look forward to every year it is released. There is some nice malty notes along with some alcohol notes. It is pretty drinkable for the ABV. I highly recommend this beer. This is one of their best beers. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams White Christmas (2014)

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Samuel Adams Brewery. It is their White Christmas. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this east coast craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know Boston Beer Company. Let us get into this White Ale.

It has a cloudy golden color with a white head color. It disappears over time. The aroma has a yeasty, corridor, to a lemon notes. The taste has a wheat to corridor notes. The aftertaste has a dry cinnamon, nutmeg, and hints of orange to lemon notes finish. It is pretty drinkable winter beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

As crisp as the first snowfall of the year, this unfiltered white ale is blended with holiday spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange peel. The familiar citrus and wheat characters of the ale are complemented by the warmth of the spices for a festive brew that’s perfect for the season.

Here is a description from their website (www.samueladams.com):

A special time of year calls for a special brew. For us, this brew combines the crispness of a white ale with the warmth of familiar holiday spices.

HOP VARIETIES

Spalt Spalter Noble hops

MALT VARIETIES

Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, wheat, IdaPils malt

YEAST STRAIN

Samuel Adams ale yeast

COLOR

SRM: 6

SPECIAL INGREDIENTS

Cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel

ALC. BY VOL/WT

5.8% ABV – 4.4% ABW

IBUs

8

CAL PER SERVING

190

AVAILABILITY

12oz: 6pk, Winter Classics

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.samueladams.com

Twitter: @samueladamsbeer

Closing, I am not a fan of Samuel Adams or the Boston Beer Company. I give them a ton of credit to be one of the pioneers of the craft beer world. Now days, they are looked as one of the big beer companies. They are now known as one of the big three. Jim Koch does not like to hear this but he is in that group. Most of his beers are starting to be viewed like that too. The kids today are looking at his beers like their Dad or Grandfather’s beer. They are still pushing the limits but not as much as they did back in the 1980’s. This brew is something a little special that they have been putting out in the last few years. I am not a fan of but I can see people liking it. There is a ton of spices going on this brew. There is a nice light body but yet some complex notes. I am not a fan of this beer style and beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Atwater Winterbock (2014)

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Atwater Brewery. I really do not know why I picked up their Winterbock. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Detroit craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this Michigan craft brewery. Let us get into this brew.

It has a clear dark copper color with an off white color head. The smell has a sweet malty notes. The taste is a sweet malty notes. The aftertaste is a sweet dry malty finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This malty, sweet, caramel colored German bock beer is brewed with imported malt and hops. It’s uncommon smoothness and impeccable taste make it the perfect companion on a cold night.

Here is a description from their website (www.atwaterbeer.com):

Atwater
Winter Bock (High Gravity Lager)

ABV 7.5% IBU 30
Color: Dark Caramel

This malty,sweet, caramel colored German bock beer is brewed with imported malt and hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.atwaterbeer.com

Twitter: @atwaterbeer

Closing, I pretty much done with this brewery. I do not know why I keep coming back to this craft brewery. I always find myself buying or ordering one of their beers. I am officially done. This beer is full of alcohol. It is a poor and bad version of a German bock. They did a really bad job on this brew. I just feel their is no balance. It is like they dumped a ton of sugar to jack up the alcohol. This beer is missing creative thought and passion towards this beer style and brewing beer. I am not really a fan. I do not recommend you trying this beer. Do NOT go there! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser16@gmail.com

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

DJ Weiser

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winter seasonal

New Beer Blog 21st Amendment Brewery Fireside Chat Winter Spiced Ale

New Beer Blog New Belgium Frambozen Ale (2014)

New Beer Blog 21st Amendment Marooned On Hog Island Stout

New Beer Blog Shipyard Brewing Prelude Special Ale (2014)

Prelude Special Ale

New Beer Blog Harpoon Gingerland UFO (2014)

Description

Tasting Notes

New Beer Blog Anchor Brewing Our Special Ale (2014)

New Beer Blog Alaskan Winter Ale (2014)

New Beer Blog Lagunitas Brown Shugga’ (2014)

New Beer Blog Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams White Christmas (2014)

MALT VARIETIES

YEAST STRAIN

COLOR

SPECIAL INGREDIENTS

ALC. BY VOL/WT

IBUs

CAL PER SERVING

AVAILABILITY

New Beer Blog Atwater Winterbock (2014)

Atwater
Winter Bock (High Gravity Lager)

ABV 7.5% IBU 30
Color: Dark Caramel

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Prelude Special Ale

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Description

Tasting Notes

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MALT VARIETIES

YEAST STRAIN

COLOR

SPECIAL INGREDIENTS

ALC. BY VOL/WT

IBUs

CAL PER SERVING

AVAILABILITY

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Atwater Winter Bock (High Gravity Lager)

ABV 7.5% IBU 30 Color: Dark Caramel

Share this:

Atwater
Winter Bock (High Gravity Lager)

ABV 7.5% IBU 30
Color: Dark Caramel