Tag Archives: Winter Warmer
Asheville, North Carolina is a bright star on the craft beer scene that’s been growing brighter in recent years, so much so that Charlie Papazian’s annual “Beer City USA” poll routinely sees Asheville ranked among the best beer cities in the country, not to mention the fact that both Sierra Nevada and New Belgium Brewing are planning major expansions there. So it’s only fitting that at least one Asheville beer is selected for the Advent … Continue reading →
One of the long-lasting Yuletide traditions hearkening back to England is the practice of wassailing, more modernly known as caroling: going door-to-door singing Christmas carols and the hopes of receiving figgy pudding and “good cheer” which actually meant wassail, which (of course!) refers to the hot, mulled punch that is often made with ale, wine or cider, and spices. For me the wassail, hot spiced ale is one of the most traditional Christmas drinks (right up … Continue reading →
Deschutes Brewery‘s seasonal Winter Warmer, Jubelale, is one of my all-time favorite seasonal beers, and most years I wax rhapsodic about it and this year is no different. Yes, I know it’s only mid-September and this (and other such seasonals) should really be making their appearance in November, but unfortunately the market dictates when these types of beers come out by buying (and drinking) up all the prior seasonals and demanding the next ones right away. Hence Deschutes … Continue reading →
The Christmas season is the traditional time (and setting) for the popular ballet The Nutcracker, and so today’s pick is, accordingly, Boulevard Brewing’s Nutcracker Ale: a rich, malty Winter Warmer that is 5.8% alcohol by volume. Boulevard describes it thusly: Nutcracker Ale is Boulevard’s holiday gift for real beer lovers. This hearty, warming brew is a classic winter ale, deep amber in color, with hints of molasses balanced by the “spiciness” of freshly harvested Chinook … Continue reading →
This week is the official Deschutes Brewery release of their annual Winter Warmer, Jubelale (the release party at the Portland Pub was yesterday, and the Bend Pub is hold their release party today at 5:30), so to coincide with that I opened up one of the bottles they had sent me last month to enjoy and review. Okay, maybe less of a review and more of waxing rhapsodic about the beer—because frankly, I’ve written a … Continue reading →
