Is this the official beer thread, because it seems like just holiday brews...

As the original poster of the thread, I intended it for Great Lakes Christmas Ale but how about we make it for holiday brews? :drunk:

In that case, the great beer thread is here:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17695.0.html

 

Holiday brew discussion, continue. :)

just had one and a half GL xmas ale. I think it is great, much better than the last couple years. not as good as 2005 though. I think 2005 was the dream year....this is somewhat lighter than past years, and fewer cloves which is good. I will be back soon so I can reoprt in further detail.

Regardless it is best on draft. I have  not tried this years batch in a bottle, but last years was not good at all.

You guys are making me very homesick with all the talk of the GL Xmas brew (especially since I finished all my GL Octoberfest).  Still cant find GL anywhere near here, so will be back soon to stock up.

 

Also, I noticed at the little store on the corner, Crooked River Holiday Brew...?  I first noticed it over the summer so it may be from years ago, since Im pretty sure they havent brewed it in some time (and that CR no longer exists) .  A collectors item maybe... 

I really liked the two I had at Touch yesterday - they had the lip of the pint & the head dipped in cinammon too, like a margarita - very nice touch.

I intend on having a X-mas Ale as soon as I get home tonight, pre Browns taligaiting :)

 

Christmas Ale and Palm Beer (Belgium, recently became available in the US in NYC and San Diego) are my two favorite beers.

I'm heading to GLBC this evening with some coworkers to try the Christmas Ale

 

I really liked the two I had at Touch yesterday - they had the lip of the pint & the head dipped in cinammon too, like a margarita - very nice touch.

 

Might have to try that...

I really liked the two I had at Touch yesterday - they had the lip of the pint & the head dipped in cinammon too, like a margarita - very nice touch.

 

That *does* sound nice... I'm wondering if GLBC will be making another special batch of Edmund Fitzgerald like they have in previous years. Last year they added a pinch of cinnamon to the mix, so my galpal and I got the idea to make "black and tans" but with Christmas Ale and the cinnamon-tinged Edmund Fitzgerald - oh.my.god.was.that.goooood.

^mmmm the black Christmas!

Peabody, how do you have one and a half glasses?  Please don't tell me you wasted the greatness. 

Peabody, how do you have one and a half glasses? Please don't tell me you wasted the greatness.

heavens no. The spouse swiped it.

Had my inaugural draft of Christmas Ale at Southside - as others have said, it's much better than last year.

Had my inaugural draft of Christmas Ale at Southside - as others have said, it's much better than last year.

 

Cracked open my first bottle of the Yule Tide Yumminess myself and have to agree.

it is confirmed. This years Christmas Ale is really, really, good. A bustling fall night in OC in the asement at GLBC, Christmas Ale, and then topped off by chili dogs at Steve's Lunch, heart of the neighborhood.

 

 

aww man. now you really got me homesick!

Some friends of mine just opened a "meadery" in Columbus.  Is there anything like that around Cleveland?

Not that I know of, and I've looked.  Where is the meadery located exactly?  I have been making a little mead with one of my friends and want to check out as many commercial meaderies' products as possible.  I may be down in Columbus tomorrow.

There is actually a place in Valley City (Medina County) called Jilbert's Winery.  They also make their own Mead on site.  I've always wanted to go, since I grew up in Brunswick, but I have never been.  Apparently the mead there is really good, but alas I don't have an opinion as I've never tried it. 

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner X, I still don't know where their meadery is and I'm short on contact info to find out.  A mutual friend told me its somewhere along High to the far north, like towards Delaware.

That's OK, I didn't go to Columbus anyway.

Has anyone else had Sam Adams Winter Ale?  I tried some last weekend and found it to be quite tasty.

I just got my email news from Buckeye beer engine. By dec 12th, there will be 21 different Chistmas and winter ales on tap.

Giddy Up!

 

Thirsty Dog '12 Dogs of Christmas Ale'

Delirium 'Noel'       

Buckeye 'Ho Ho Ho Magic Dubbel'

Breckenridge 'Christmas Ale'

Great Divide 'Hibernation'

Bell's 'Christmas Ale'

Heavy Seas 'Winter Storm'

Rogue 'Santa's Private Reserve'

Corsendonk 'Christmas Ale'

Scaldis 'Noel'Southern Tier 'Krampus'

St. Feuillien 'Cuvee De Noel'

Stoudt's 'Winter Ale'

Brooklyn 'Winter Ale'

St. Bernardus 'Christmas Ale'

Affligem 'Noel'

Avery 'Old Jubilation Ale'

Left Hand 'Snowbound Winter Ale'

Southern Tier "Oldman Winter Ale'

Troegs 'Mad Elf Ale'

Penn 'St. Nik'

Dupont 'Avec les Bons Voeux.'

^ wow, now thats an impressive holiday brew ha ha list! i'd go right for the belgians.

 

i had the southern tier krampus just yesterday afternoon in me own craft beer bar. not bad. they generally make good stuff.

 

i had one other that i disliked, anchor holiday. it changes every year & its too floral this year. dont be sucked in by anchor's craft brew 'cred' like i was.

 

funny, but even two is really pushing my limit in this heavy duty high alcohol holiday craft beer season!

 

I hate when beers go floral. I think with heavy alcohol ones, I prefer russian imperiall stout, then belgians

agreed. in fact i figured next time i'm going for the captain lawrence imperial & probably follow up with young's chocolate stout.

 

cl is no great lakes, but a decent brewery. they do a lot of interesting oak-aged stuff:

 

http://www.captainlawrencebrewing.com/beer_list.html

 

as for other seasonals, i'm holding off on trying a barley wine or 2 until its realllly cold, those will bury you immediately! plus, i'm not exactly very victorian like that anyway, heh.

 

* for fun - here's my beloved blind tiger's current draft list:

 

http://blindtigeralehouse.com/page/o9a9/Draught_List.html

 

 

 

Slightly funny (WARNING: there are expletives in the song)

 

http://www.youtube.com/christmasale

mrnyc...My girlfriend lives in New York and we were just at the Blind Tiger!  What a great place.  New York beer bars are generally more fun than Cleveland ones because of their ability to have beers with more than 12% abv.  Those Dogfish Head World Wide Stouts at Hop Devil really did me in. 

i sometimes enjoy floral beers...in fact on of my favorite pours of all time is a Jasmine IPA from Elysian brewery in seattle.  if you've ever added dried chrysanthemum flowers to hot tea, you MAY understand this explanation, otherwise next time I see you in seattle (or smuggle a case back home), i'll buy you one!  the jasmine flavor comes on the front of the flavor and contrasts/mutes the hoppyness a bit with a flavor similar to honey without the sweetness.  quite divine.

interesting.  I can handle VERY mild floral teas but nothing in my booze-this disdain even goes so far to generally not care for *gin b/c of the juniper (which is an herb I guess?) It does not take much to make me feel like i am drinking potpourri.

 

*although the Velvet Tango Room has slipped me some Gin from time to time...and I kind of liked it.  :wink:

Elysian Brewery rocks.  I seem to remember them having a very good barley wine.

mrnyc...My girlfriend lives in New York and we were just at the Blind Tiger! What a great place. New York beer bars are generally more fun than Cleveland ones because of their ability to have beers with more than 12% abv. Those Dogfish Head World Wide Stouts at Hop Devil really did me in.

 

ah i forgot about the 12% limit in oh. that hardly matters to me much tho because i can only drink two of any of the strong brews anyway.

 

tell your girl iim an old timer there, ive been going since day one when they opened in the old space on hudson. also, if you like the 'ol tig, next time try dba in the east village (massive selection) and spuyten duyvil (belgians) and barcade (varied + tons of old video games) in w'burg, bk.

 

i sometimes enjoy floral beers...in fact on of my favorite pours of all time is a Jasmine IPA from Elysian brewery in seattle. if you've ever added dried chrysanthemum flowers to hot tea, you MAY understand this explanation, otherwise next time I see you in seattle (or smuggle a case back home), i'll buy you one! the jasmine flavor comes on the front of the flavor and contrasts/mutes the hoppyness a bit with a flavor similar to honey without the sweetness. quite divine.

 

i've had that one. agreed its unusual but good!

 

she can chime in but i think peabody would agree too that we meant when seasonal beers unexpectedly take a floral turn the next year. anchor holiday looks and feels like a inky dark stout so it surprized me with that taste. however, to be fair anchor does change that one up every year so i shouldnt have been all that surprized, but thats just not what i wanted on a cold day at the time, especially when i can only handle two anyway. this is what i love and hate about craft beer bars, they can be a crapshoot.

 

 

Cinci holiday beer tasting at Market Wines in Findlay Market tonight:

What's Happening This Thursday at Market Wines -

 

Findlay Market

***** Thursday, December 11th, 6 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. - Beer Tasting Tasting! ******

 

Thursday Dec. 11th beer tasting.  The ever popular Beer Gregg will make an evening return to showcase some of his holiday and winter seasonal beers.  Cost for this event will be $10.00.  Light Appetizers provided by Krause's & Kroeger & Sons will be served. 

 

The beers will be:

 

1. Bell's Winter White Ale 6-pack $8.99

 

2. Gulden Draak Vintage Ale 2008 750ml $12.99

 

3. Avery's Old Jubilation 6-pack $9.99

 

4. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale 750ml $10.99

 

5. Southern "Choklat" Imperial Chocolate Stout 22oz $8.99

 

Please RSVP.

 

Be warned: A few curse words but a nice tribute to a Cleveland favorite.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IpIHYW8q9s&hl=en&fs=1

alright, hit the tiger after work on friday and batted .500

 

they were out of captain lawrence, so i had two brothers imperial stout.

its was just ok, nothing special.

 

http://www.twobrosbrew.com/

 

then somebody bought a round for the whole bar (which was packed!$$!$$!$$!) so i also had an avery 15th anniversary ale.

now that one was a fantastic light, yet complex & cider-y like beer:

 

Avery 15 Anniversary Ale (7.68 ABV)

Description

 

Brewed by Avery Brewing Company

 

15 years of brewing! You know what’s been the best part lately? Tons of experimentation! For the last couple of years, we’ve been working with several strains of brettanomyces (wild yeast). We found one and deemed it the best for it’s tart flavor and funky, fruity aroma. Adding black mission figs for a subtle jammy aspect, hibiscus flowers for an herbal bouquet and hazy sunset hue, and white pepper for a bit of spicy twang, we’ve created FIFTEEN – a unique drinking experience inspired by the wild farmhouse ales of Belgium. Though immensely complex today, more flavor will emerge with time, so throw a few bottles in your cellar for future celebrations. Thanks to all of you who have made our 15-year ride possible! Peace to all and follow your dreams! Brewed with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, malted wheat, hops, black mission figs, hibiscus flowers, white pepper, and a very unique strain of brettanomyces yeast.

 

http://www.averybrewing.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone know if the Barrelhouse is still brewing and bottling beer?  I know their bar on 14th closed up a couple years ago, and someone reminded me that they used to bottle their stuff and sell it in various stores around town.  Anyone know where I can find it?

Hit the Beer Engine on tuesday ....

 

I tell you what ....multiple varities of X-mas is fun while you're doing it, but makes for painful morning after :)

Just a heads up, the non-holiday beer thread is here:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17695.0.html

So, I'm drinking my second Indigo Imp Winter Solstice Ale and I have to say...this beer is great!  It tastes like a cross between a spiced holiday ale (not too dissimilar from GL Christmas Ale, or Southhampton's French Country Christmas Ale) and a Flemmish sour.  Really nice notes of tart cherries, and the orange peel really comes through in the aftertaste.  If anyone has had Jolly Pumpkin's La Roja, picture that with a Christmas Ale added in for good measure.  I highly recommend anyone who enjoys beer (and beer from Cleveland) to try it out as soon as possible.

^ La Roja is great. My favorite Jolly Pumpkin is Biere de Mars, you can pick up a bottle at the beer engine.

So, I'm drinking my second Indigo Imp Winter Solstice Ale and I have to say...this beer is great!  It tastes like a cross between a spiced holiday ale (not too dissimilar from GL Christmas Ale, or Southhampton's French Country Christmas Ale) and a Flemmish sour.  Really nice notes of tart cherries, and the orange peel really comes through in the aftertaste.  If anyone has had Jolly Pumpkin's La Roja, picture that with a Christmas Ale added in for good measure.  I highly recommend anyone who enjoys beer (and beer from Cleveland) to try it out as soon as possible.

 

Agreed...the Blond Bombshell isn't bad either.  And FIY, all Heinen's are now carrying Indigo Imp...though if you go to the River Heinen's, it isn't in the beer section, it has a big display by the registers.

^ how are the indigo beers btw?

I just got my first 6-pack of Indigo Imp Blonde Bombshell and I really enjoyed it.  Reminds me a little of a Sam Adams Summer Ale. 

^I just got my first 6-pack of the Winter Solstice Ale from Lilly's this past weekend.  I really enjoyed it, I'm looking forward to trying the Blonde Bombshell.  Has anyone actually visited the brewery yet?

I've tried em both, IMO the Winter Solstice is their best beer so far