I don’t have many pet peeves, at least I don’t think I do, my wife may argue otherwise. It’s November 1st and I noticed about three weeks ago stores lining their shelves with Christmas, or “Holiday” to be politically correct, items. Now don’t get me wrong, I am no Scrooge, I love the winter Holiday season. But I really love the fall as well. Why it is that society wants to skip right over this amazing season and go straight to late December? Of course we are a consumer driven nation, and many stores rely on big sales this time of year.
I have noticed the beer shelves mimicking these early isles of ornaments, lights, stockings and trees. Already at my local bottle shop, Corvallis Brewing Supply, winter warmers and festive ales have hit the shelves. Every year these beers seem to appear earlier and earlier, pushing out the small selection of fall brews. So, inevitably, I get asked the question “when does Ol’ St. Nick come out?” And my answer is always the same; according to the calendar, winter solstice is December 21st, we release our first winter beer around December 5th just before winter’s start (St. Nick’s Day). Until then, we have an amazing line up of fall inspired brews; Super Fly Rye, Chocolate Porter, Jack Straw Pumpkin Ale, and Fat Monk Belgian Dubbel(reappearing mid November), and our Dunkel Weissbier.
However, just to entice your winter wonder I will share with you what’s going in our cellar. This year we are releasing not one, not two, but four holiday Winter Warmers for your enjoyment. I’m coining this years winter ales, “Winter Holiday Ales from Three Countries”.
First we have our American inspired “Ol’ St. Nick”, 9%alc/vol. This is our big bold hoppy and malty mahogany brew. We also are ageing a batch on American oak, “Oaked St. Nick”. The majority of Oaked St. Nick will make its way to Portland for their Holiday Ale Festival.
From Germany comes a traditional holiday brew, Weizenbock (8%alc/vol). A strong version of a Dunkel Weissbier, brewed with dark German wheat malt, noble hops, and a Bavarian yeast strain. This ale is big and complex with notes of banana, clove, raisin, & cocoa.
And from Belgium; Winter Quad (11%), spiced Belgian Quadruple. This huge ale is brewed with Belgium Pilsner malts, specialty malts, Trappist yeast, and large amounts of Belgian Candi Sugar. The spices are secret, complementing the ale but not cloying to the point of recognition.
And those are just the holiday ales. This Winter, which runs through March ( I googled it), we have several more big brews for your warming pleasure, Super Nebula (bourbon barrel Imperial Stout), Pappy’s Dark (bourbon barrel specialty ale), Doppelbock (Strong dark German Lager), Trubbled Monk (Belgian Strong Ale) & more.
So get out there and enjoy the rest of the beautiful fall colors and a pint of fall ale, pissing cold rainy months are just around the corner, and when that comes we will have your winter warmer waiting.
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