Another year almost over... another holiday beer review. We hope you had a great Christmas season with friends and family. Here is what we drank this Christmas!
Winter Staycation - Seasonal Stout
BrewDog (Columbus, OH)
7.5% ABV
The Can: This can is an absolute classic and just exemplifies Christmas spirit. With the red background, the green BrewDog emblem and the eye popping white ribbon across the front, it gives the can the vibe of a present sitting under the tree on Christmas morning. While its festive, it is also classy. The glossiness of the can helps it stand out as top notch. And while not pictured, the added "No travel required" is a fantastic touch.
The Taste: This seasonal stout is one of toffee and pecan. With that comes a very bold and powerful flavor. This is the darkest beer I have ever tried, and it is one that lasted in the tastebuds for quite some time after. While the toffee comes out very strong in the beginning of the sip, the subtle pecan flavor begins to nestle in late in the sip and towards the back of the tongue. The flavors combine to give the stout a flavor similar to that of chocolate or coffee.
The Situation: This beer was a very slow drink for me. Because of this, the Winter Staycation would be a perfect beer for snuggling up next to the fire as Bing Crosby's "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" rings our from the record player and snow quietly falls outside.
Fun Fact: "Silent Night" is the most recorded Christmas song in history having more than 730 versions released since 1978.
Dad - Holiday Ale
Rhinegeist Brewery (Cincinnati, OH)
6.0% ABV
The Can: Another classic can that emulates the Christmas spirit. Keeping with its traditional solid, dark blue top half of the can, the flannel imagery gives the vision of a dad full of Christmas spirit. Whether its a flannel top or some pajama bottoms, dads can always be recognized by their outfit. There is nothing super bold about this can, but with its name matching its imagery, it gives us a wholesome vibe and a smile on our face.
The Taste: This beer is very bold in its malt flavor. However, it is a very warm and comforting beer. The taste is lighter than many holiday ales with very little lingering on the tongue by the end of the sip. The malt flavor sits at the back of the tongue throughout the sip but lessens as you continue to drink. This is a very smooth and easy drink for the holiday season.
The Situation: This is one beer that has a situation that almost matches its can. Whether you are waking up to watch the kids open their gifts from Santa on Christmas morning or gathering with family on Christmas Eve, throw on a flannel, grab the trash bags and open a can of Dad to sip on.
Fun Fact: Recent estimates are that roughly 14,700 people visit the hospital each year due to injuries while decorating for Christmas.
Tree Lot - Holiday Ale
Land Grant Brewing (Columbus, OH)
7.0% ABV
The Can: This is a simple, yet pretty and effective can design. The opposing black night sky and the white snow covered in Christmas trees really helps this can pop. The differing colors on the trees are a great accent to the can and I am a big fan of the muted colors, rather than super bright and distracting colors for the trees. Keeping it simple gives each of the details their own opportunity to make a statement.
The Taste: The hops in this beer are very mild. This is a beer made with ginger, cinnamon, and orange, but even with those bold flavors this is a very mild tasting holiday ale. The front of the sip is well equipped with the taste of ginger and the cinnamon adds a nice balance at the back of the sip, tying it all together. The orange is very little to nonexistent in the mixture. The sip has a hint of orange but not enough to stand out on its own.
The Situation: You spent the afternoon finding that perfect tree, you finally got it cut down, it's decorated and now you are wondering what you should celebrate with... this is the beer for you. It is light enough to have a couple, but strong enough to make you cozy. This is a great beer for spending the night putting up the Christmas tree and relaxing under its lights.
Fun Fact: In the hit classic "Christmas Vacation," actor Chevy Chase broke his finger in the infamous scene of trying to get his Christmas lights to work!
Have a safe and Merry Christmas and we will see you in the new year!
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An instant holiday classic of a review!