The only thing that can be said with certainty regarding beer made specially to celebrate the winter holiday season, often specifically Christmas, is that nothing is certain and anything goes. In posts over the next few days I am going to take a look at several holiday classics and new releases readily available in the capital region.
Long before the craft beer revolution in the United States and the Campaign for Real Ale in the British Isles, breweries large and small would make unique batches of beer to celebrate the solstice, Christmas and the New Year. These beers are almost always of vastly different character (read higher alcohol by volume) then the regularly produced lineup of offerings from a brewery. This approach has been largely the rule versus the exception in the United States as the craft beer renaissance gained steam during the 1980s. Special holiday releases have arguably become some of the most sought after brewery productions and have sparked interest in not only regional offerings but an increased interest in European offerings new and old across the pond.
Many holiday offerings are fantastic beers to age in your beer cellar (you do have a cellar don’t you?) while others are mandatory drink while fresh to get the most out of their flavors. Not all of these beers are designed to send you stumbling into Santa Claus while he is enjoying milk and cookies. With that in mind you might want to check that he is not tapping your beer fridge or cellar (again, you should begin this hobby). Lets take a look at three American classics that should be on your holiday beer list and why.
Anchor Christmas Ale, this wonderful holiday ale is brewed by the Anchor Brewing Company. This year marks the 35th release of this ale which is an astonishing achievement. The brewery was rescued and resurrected by Fritz Maytag (yes those Maytags) in the mid 1960s. If you don’t know the history of Anchor and Fritz Maytag visit their website (link above) and grab Maureen Ogle’s fantastic book, Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer, which has some good insight into Maytag’s venture into brewing. Anchor Christmas Ale is a uniquely spiced winter warmer, no beer that I have ever come across smells quite so much like Christmas in a bottle. Some Belgian spiced holiday ales have similar aromatics put not quite so pungent and pleasing as Anchor’s ale. The base beer is somewhere between a dark brown ale and a light porter. Don’t like hops? This beer is nearly hop free but for some bittering hops, with aroma and flavor driven primarily by a secret blend of spices from nutmeg to cinnamon. The recipe is said to be unique each year and is generally about 5.5% alcohol by volume. This beer is the perfect compliment to the salty and sweet characteristics of a baked glazed ham and a rich all cheddar baked macaroni and cheese dish. Available in both 12 ounce bottles and 50 ounce magnum bottles.
Sierra Nevada Celebration is the quintessential American IPA, you could argue with me, but to rip off Henry Rollins, you would be wrong. Sierra Nevada, now unequivocally an American institution in brewing celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2010. Celebration is a well balanced but hop packed IPA with resinous piney notes and fresh citrus grapefruit character in the aroma and flavor profile. Head out and grab some varieties of aged and flavored cheddar to pair with Celebration on a cold cheese platter prior to a holiday dinner. Available in 12 ounce bottles.
Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve is not quite an IPA but an amped up version of the breweries Saint Rogue Red Ale. Deliciously hoppy with a nice spruce like pine character in the nose, but not so bitter that you will wince. John Maier brewmaster at Rogue has a knack for making hop forward beers with a tremendous malt character and balance. Santa’s Private Reserve is no exception. I like to leave a bottle out for Santa each year, he takes long trips after all, one pint can’t hurt? Makes an excellent compliment to Rugala and other semi-sweet to tart desserts. Available in 12 and 22 ounce bottles.
