Holiday Beers

Over in the Hoosier Beer Geek email inbox, it should come as no surprise that we receive a lot of newsletters and press releases.  Last week, the folks at Shmaltz (HE'BREW) sent us an announcement for their Jewbelation Sweet 16 and their Holiday Gift Pack.  This particular press release provided a bit more substance than most and provided us with an interesting topic.  The holiday shopping season is ushered in with the Black Friday tradition of ridiculous bargains and continues throughout the season with huge markdowns, intended to help you purchase even more presents for your loved ones.  Beer, on the other hand, successfully bucks the trend.  Every winter, craft brewers unanimously break out the big guns.  Barleywines, strong ales, old ales and every variety of high alcohol spiced beer flood the market and are synonymous with the season.  Seeing as the hallmark of the season is high alcohol, it follows that this would also be the season which releases the most expensive beers of the year.  And yet, craft beer consumers eagerly run out and purchase all of their holiday favorites, plus a few more for good measure.  'Tis the season to share!

Rather than dwell on the phenomenon of craft beer successfully releasing their most expensive offerings while every retail store slashes their prices to draw customers in, let's focus on the beers that keep us looking forward to December all year long.  Shmaltz suggested a few of the winter seasonals they are looking forward to - Anchor Christmas Ale, Firestone Walker 16th Anniversary and Stone Vertical Epic 12-12-12. Here are ours.  Be sure to leave your favorites in the comments!

Oh, and if you haven't seen the Shmaltz Holiday Gift Pack, check it out.  It comes with instructions on how to turn it into a menorah.

Rodney

Goose Island Christmas Ale - This is a fun one, as they change the style up each year. This year's seems to have a background of candied cherries in it.

Three Floyds Alpha Klaus - I certainly wouldn't be upset if Three Floyds made more stouts, and this one has a delicious hoppy kick.

Anchor Christmas Ale - Predating Goose Island's tradition, Anchor also brews a different beer each year. Last year had a good balance of smoke and spice.

Bell's Hopslam - Not really a Christmas beer, but it does come out in the winter and I do look forward to it!

Jake

I agree completely with Alpha Klaus. It was one of the first winter seasonal releases that I tried and will always have a place in my heart.

Stone/Nogne O/Joly Pumpkin Special Holiday Ale - This one has been out the last two years and is fantastic. I buy it anytime I see it on the shelves for opening in early December.

The Bruery 12 days of Christmas series - This year is Five Golden Rings. I typically buy three bottles; two to drink and one to put back as part of the vertical.

Jim

Alpha Klaus - Definitely look forward to this one every year. It's one of my favorite Three Floyds beers, and I wish it were available year 'round.

He'Brew's Jewbelation series - You'd think that a beer brewed with as many different malt and hop varieties as the Jewbelation beers are would be a huge mess. But without fail, Jewbelation is delicious every year. Jewbelation is one of a select few big beers that is kind on the palate when it's fresh as it is with a year or so of age on it. I opened a Jewbelation 15 at Tailgate for Nothing 7 and consistently got the exclamation "That's awesome!" from everyone who tried it.

Flat 12 Glazed Ham Porter - The brewery's Pogue's Run Porter is already one of my go-to beers, but when they release the Glazed Ham Porter, I can't get enough of it. The subtle clove and cherry notes in the beer really make it shine.

Matt

The holiday season also coincides with a temperature drop. This is high alcohol beer season. Alpha Klaus is always near the top of my list. I buy an entire case every year. You can get the case price to around 6.50 a bomber when buying from FFFs. My other beer I really enjoy is Jolly Pumpkin's Noel De Calabaza. I will have to Flat 12 credit as well. I really enjoyed that Koko B. Ware last year and look forward to grabbing a growler this year.

Jason

The holidays means spending time with family. And spending time with family means drinking. Lots and lots of drinking. This time of year, I crave big beers and big flavors. Imperial stouts, barleywines, imperial IPA's, anything bourbon barrel aged, and anything spiced. I am sure with all the new breweries in town I will be selecting some new favorites, but here are some of my go-to's...

Brugge Thunder Monkey - assuming, of course, that they make it... TED!

Three Floyds Dark Lord - I usually open a current year's DL on Christmas Eve to share with the family. Alpha Klaus is awesome too.

He'Brew Jewbelation - I'm not a member of the tribe, but I do enjoy He'Brew's many offerings. And Jewbelation 16 is really good. Good enough to make me get all Black Eyed Peas and say Mazel Tov!

Mikkeller Big Worse/Big Worst - I'm not necessarily identifying Mikkeller's barleywines as the best. I'm just saying that a lot of Mikkeller's beers are great for winter drinking and they have a couple of barleywines to boot. 

 
Upland Bourbon Barrel Winter Warmer - Bourbon. Beer. Honestly, do I need to say more?

Meg

Spaten Optimator - Probably not what many consider a holiday beer. It's my Dad's favorite, and when I venture home for the holidays we share a few pints. He only serves it at room temperature, he doesn't mess around.

Bell's Hopslam - Technically it's released AFTER the holidays (in January), but I look forward to this one with great anticipation. I buy enough to last throughout the year, but it's usually gone by March.

Sun King's Johan the Barleywine - I was lucky enough stock up on this when it was released, this is my favorite cold weather/holiday/sit in front of the fireplace beer. At 10% ABV, it warms ya right up.

Kristin

I love the Gingerbread Brown from Triton. The name definitely does the beer justice - the spices are fantastic.

I also dig Three Floyds Alpha Klaus to get my holiday spirit going. I'm not usually a porter fan, but this one is laced with some great chocolate and coffee flavors, and I love the hoppy kick at the end.

Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome is also a favorite of mine, and to hit a family note, my mom absolutely loves this beer. 

 
Finally, I'll go with Brugge's Black. It's easy drinking and warms me right up!

Hoosier Beer Geek's Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide (Part 5)

If you're anything like me, you'd rather just avoid this whole gift business altogether. But somewhere along the way we've all got to behave like adults - and there's nothing more adult than turning your holiday shopping into an excuse to drink.

You're not going to find beer at the mall, are you?

Your first stop should be at Upland's new tasting room, where you can try a beer or two and pick up an Upland T-shirt (prices range from $12 to $17), a pint glass ($5), or keychain bottle opener ($1) for someone else. Of course you'll want to pick up a bomber for yourself while you're in there ($12 new, $8 refills for most beers).

Perhaps you've now realized that it's winter out there, and that a t-shirt is a nice start, but a sweatshirt might be a better idea. Luckily, Sun King Brewing has both - Sun King's vast selection of T-shirts run from $15 to $20, and sweatshirts are $30. They've even got a selection of hats - both summer baseball style and winter sledding style ($15). Keep in mind that these clothing items aren't just great holiday gifts - they also double as "I'm Sun King Brewer and Vice President Clay Robinson" Halloween costumes. All you'll need is one of those strap-on beards.

Of course there's more than just clothing at Sun King's tasting room - there's also beer. Gift the gift of a 64 oz. Growler filled with one of their house beers for $10.50, or just $9.00 on Fridays. Or check out one of their newer 32 oz. growlers for just $9.00 or 8.50 on Friday (special release prices may vary). And don't forget a pint glass ($5) or four ($17.50) while you're in there - it makes for a nice little gift set. Combine with a Sun King poster - ask for the hand numbered and artist autographed HBG3 poster, which is quite lovely (not sure what they're charging, but at any price it's a steal) - for the ultimate gift for the Sun King superfan in your life.

Oh, and don't forget to sample a few while you're in there.

After all that hard work, you're probably going to be hungry. Stop in at Scotty's Brewhouse downtown for a bit to eat, and to pick up a gift card for that special someone. Scotty has gift cards available in denominations of $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100 - and if you spend $100, you'll get another $25 free.

And don't forget to have a beer for me while you're in there.

Phew! All that shopping was hard work. You'll probably want your driver to bring you home now so you can revel in the knowledge that you've completed another successful holiday shopping trip. Did you forget anyone? If you've enjoyed yourself (and chances are you have) you probably did. Luckily you've still got the internet.

First off, you can pick up an Upland (Bloomington location) Gift Card, where you'll get $20 in food and beer for the low price of $17. You might just pick that up for yourself - it's just a good deal.

And while you're on the Upland kick, Upland bike jerseys at also available online in a variety of styles ($60 each or two for $100) - Blue Upland logo, Bad Elmer, Helios, and Dragon Fly IPA. Everybody likes bike jerseys, just visit a beer festival sometime. There's also a few folks wearing the Arrogant Bastard jersey. In fact, by clicking on that link you'll find quite a few more bike beer jerseys, all available for quick shipping (I'm assuming) or pick up locally at Circle City Bicycles on the south side of Indianapolis.

Of course if you're gonna make that trip, wait until you've sobered up. Nobody likes a drunk Santa.

Hoosier Beer Geek's Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide (Part 4)

If you are still looking for that perfect gift for the beer lover in your life, you're in luck! We've got a few more gift ideas that should please anyone's palate.

Growlers/Glasswear - A great gift for a holiday party host would be a growler with a pair of glasses. You get to share the beer and your host gets a nice gift.


Magazine Subscriptions/Memberships - There are some great magazines about beer out there! Some have been around for 30 years and some are brand new. There are magazines for all levels of beer enthusiasts. Here are a few:

All About Beer
Beer Connoisseur
Draft
Imbibe
Beer

If the recipient of your gift is thinking about brewing their own beer or has already done so, perhaps a membership to the American Homebrewers Association would be appropriate. The AHA offers a variety of membership levels as well as some cool merchandise.

Festival Tickets - Close to home, the 2010 Brewers of Indiana Guild Winterfest is happening on January 30. Tickets for your favorite beer fan would surely win you some brownie points!

If you are looking for a festival further away, the next one will be the World Beer Cup in Columbia, South Carolina. This takes place on January 16,2010.

Beer MBA class - Ron Smith has been offering a Masters of Beer Appreciation (MBA) class for some time now. The next group of classes will be held after the beginning of the year. This would be a great gift for anyone looking to expand their beer knowledge.

Have a great holiday!

Hoosier Beer Geek's Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide (Part 3)

I know a thing or two about gift giving. I share a lot in common with a famous gift giver...cheeks like roses...round belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly...and covered in fur. So I'm going to share with you a couple of tips when giving beer as a gift.

Give bombers, not six packs. Six packs are great to take as a gift to summertime cookouts, but it lacks a certain amount of class for yuletide festivities. How do you wrap a six pack? With bombers, you can use a wine gift bag and you're all set. Also, bombers are best when shared. And unless you are a drunk like me, are rarely consumed all by your lonesome. They say it is better to give than receive. I say it is better to give, and then receive! Bombers are good for the recipient and good for the giver!

Go big or stay home. It's winter, which means winter beers. Look for beers that are seasonal or will age well (which honestly, winter beers tend to age better, don't they?). So choose a high ABV beer, like an imperial, a barley wine, or a big Belgian. While you are at it, take several and open them at your holiday party. I bring big beers to my family gatherings. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a toasted family!

Keeping those tips in my, I would suggest you consider beers from Mikkeller. We reviewed a large lineup of Mikkeller beers last year, and they have several beers that would work well as gifts...Black, Big Worse, and (not surprising) Santa's Little Helper. Those and others meet my beer gift criteria.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. And I have one more suggestion with beer gift giving that doesn't follow the rules I set forth. Whether you holidays find you traveling or staying at home with friends and family, giving beer from your favorite local brewery is always a good idea. It is a way of showing pride in your hometown and homestate and to spread the word that Indiana is producing great craft beer. Follow my advice and everybody will be saying "Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!"

Hoosier Beer Geek's Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide Extravaganza (Part 2)

When I told Mike I would contribute some ideas for Chanukah gifts to our holiday beer gift guide, he wondered whether anybody made a menorah-shaped beer flight holder. A quick search failed to turn up anyone who makes such a wonderful piece of tableware (though for what it's worth, we did find this).

Because Chanukah is an eight-night celebration, I thought the best thing I could do was to suggest to you eight kosher beers for eight crazy nights. These beers really are certified kosher, and they are all available in Indiana. The list is heavy on Shmaltz Brewing Company beers, but what do you expect if you're looking for good-quality kosher beer? I also listed more than one option for several nights just in case you like more variety.

So, as we light more candles and stuff ourselves to the gills with latkes and sufganiyot, we progress from sessionable beers to big beers:

Night 1: Brooklyn Lager or Coney Island Lager (take your pick)
Night 2: Coopers Sparkling Ale or New Belgium Mothership Wit (take your pick)
Night 3: New Belgium 1554 Enlightened Black Ale
Night 4: He'Brew Genesis Ale or Coney Island Sword Swallower (take your pick)
Night 5: Samuel Adams Cream Stout or Coopers Best Extra Stout (take your pick)
Night 6: He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.
Night 7: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Night 8: He'Brew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah (13)

Chanukah sameach, and l'chaim!

Hoosier Beer Geek's Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide Extravaganza

Well, the jolly fat man will soon be upon us, so how about some beer centric Christmas presents under the tree? If your family is anything like mine you will need a few of those beers before the day is over.

I've asked for beers for about the last five years in a row. I normally ask for beers that I usually don't pull the trigger on because of price. My favorites are usually the more expensive Belgian-style beers, or the English barleywines that are not very easy on the wallet. It isn't really all that expensive; I'm just cheap.

This month's issue of All About Beer has a good article on beer gift packs that usually include several beers and a nice piece of glassware to go with them. I am glad to see more things like that coming to the market since I've seen it for years in the spirits market. I particularly like the Samuel Smith's gift box that has one of their harder to find 18.7 oz glass included in them as well.

I've also really enjoyed my Sierra Nevada pint glasses that I got for Christmas last year. They have some great stuff at really good prices on their website.

If you have a homebrewer to buy for this year, I know that Great Fermentations offers gift cards that are great gifts to buy for a hard hobby to buy for unless they tell you specifically what they want.

Over the next week we'll be highlighting some of our recommendations for gifts for our fellow beer drinkers - some which you can find and buy on the internet (if you act fast), and some you can buy locally (and last minute). Stay tuned.