Winter beers are here

[The AD]

One more sign that winter is on its way. Sighted at the store yesterday: Full Sail Wassail, Deschutes Jubelale and Pyramid Snowcap.

[Jumper Bones]

Holiday Egg-Nog is in stores too, biatch.

How's that Homer Simpson quote go? "Just 120 days of creamy goodness, until the government takes it away..."

something like that.

another sign, for us living in the south sound low-lands - fog, and tons of it. I love how quiet it makes everything, masking sound, like falling snow does too.

[rip]

Thats right, now is the time we say our teary goodbye to Oberon and welcome Winter White to the taps.

Not much better than Bells around these parts at least. mmmmm.

[KQ]

My personal favorite:


http://www.beerlabels.com/labels/ful....com-03128.jpg

[scoober]

Thats right, now is the time we say our teary goodbye to Oberon and welcome Winter White to the taps.

Not much better than Bells around these parts at least. mmmmm.

come on now, at least sack up and go for the Expedition Stout and Third Coast Old. too bad they got rid of their 11 stouts of november campaign.

there is no need to qualify Bell's with 'around these parts', they are hands down one of the top 5 breweries in the country. they're so good they don't even bother with the GABF.

everytime i talk with the guys out here at Bottleworks they speak wistfully about getting their hands on the rare Bells creations. I've found the same response in Denver as well.

i would say the only places up in the PNW that come close to getting what Bell's is about, are LaConnor and Rogue. Stone in San Diego is pretty close too, as is DogfishHead in Delaware.

AD... those are all some good early choices, and good signs of the impending season but we all know that the real breweries are just getting done with their Oktoberfests and Double IPAs!

edit: brewerys? no... breweries. and... damn i miss Bells.

[The AD]

come on now, at least sack up and go for the Expedition Stout and Third Coast Old. too bad they got rid of their 11 stouts of november campaign.

there is no need to qualify Bell's with 'around these parts', they are hands down one of the top 5 breweries in the country. they're so good they don't even bother with the GABF.

everytime i talk with the guys out here at Bottleworks they speak wistfully about getting their hands on the rare Bells creations.

Interesting. The head brewer at Bell's is a guy I swam with at Michigan State. Maybe I can work out a deal between him and Bottleworks. My finders fee, of course, would be free beer for life

EDIT: I'd add Hair of the Dog to the list of breweries in the PNW that could compare to Bell's, however their range is much narrower.

[scoober]

Interesting. The head brewer at Bell's is a guy I swam with at Michigan State. Maybe I can work out a deal between him and Bottleworks. My finders fee, of course, would be free beer for life

so, as the "clue-er in" i would just need to ask for a fee consisting of a montly sixer of everything in available in their lineup that month, as well as vintage bottles of the Eccentric Ale as far back as they are available. (they had some 1996s the last time i was there a couple years back)

seriously though, if Bells ever wanted to test out a western distribution market, Bottleworks would be a great place to start. they already have exclusive rights with LaConnor for their dry hopped IPA, and they also import some small brewery Belgians and stick their own Bottleworks label on it. so they are displaying some great working relationships with brewers.

the thing is... i don't think Bells cares about distributing out of the midwest.

[iskibc]

Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome frequents my fridge. Wish the stuff came in more than just 22 oz. singles. I think I'll pick a couple up on my way home tonight.

[The AD]

Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome frequents my fridge. Wish the stuff came in more than just 22 oz. singles.

I wish it didn't come in clear bottles! What the hell are they thinking? Haven't they heard UV damages beer?

Scoober: you're right. I'm sure they are perfectly happy just distributing in the midwest. They don't want their beers traveling too far and getting damaged as a result.

I knew my friend was brewing there, but I didn't realize he was the head brewer until I looked at their web site over the weekend. I emailed him, so I'll have to mention Bottleworks when he replies. This is strange synergy because I immediately thought of a Bottleworks deal when I found out he
was the head brewer.

[Billow]

I can bring east to west Ho! Ho! Ho!
Marry fucking winter and time to bootleg Utah with Billows nonprofit rolling beer store.

[scoober]

I knew my friend was brewing there, but I didn't realize he was the head brewer until I looked at their web site over the weekend. I emailed him, so I'll have to mention Bottleworks when he replies. This is strange synergy because I immediately thought of a Bottleworks deal when I found out he
was the head brewer.

That's cool. You can let him know that a random internet guy thinks Bells is one of those places that do what they do so well, that it is really just an amazing standout amongst many. My circle of friends think the same as well. When I used to live in Ann Arbor, I would seriously stock up on case upon case of the good stouts and seasonals that the rear end of my car would sag as I drove back to my hometown outside of Cleveland.

Man, if I am able to get out that way this holiday, I'm going to have to leave my clothes in Cleveland so I can fill my luggage w/ Bells.

[schuss]

we're brewing some winter brew right now, plus soon our fridge will spill forth with harpoon winter warmers and my cup with tuckerman's headwall. MMMMmmmmm.

[powderhound]

Sighted at the store yesterday: Full Sail Wassail, Deschutes Jubelale and Pyramid Snowcap.

FUQ UTAH!!

[Benny Profane]

I cut down on Weiss beers, turn the fridge temp up a bit, and look for stouts.
Guiness, Sierra Nevada, and Brooklyn Chocolate stout.

[MacDaddy]

FUQ UTAH!!

If you look in the larger LDS (state) liquor stores you might be able to find Pyramid Snowcap, at about $1.55 12oz bottle
Try the new Draper store or Sandy

[climb2ski]

What about the pumpkin beer. Blue Moon makes a good one. Not something you want to drink all the time but nice to have once a year.

[Viva]

Mild hijack here, but last night Platnium Pete and I went to the New Old Lompoc brewpub in NW PDX. Been more than a year since I last visited the place. Damn they have some great beer! Better than Rogue, which I love.

I know that New Old Lompoc has a limited distribution in PDX, but if it's available on tap elsewhere, give it a try. Don't know if they have a winter ale in the works.

[The AD]

I wouldn't touch pumpkin beer with a ten foot pole. Then again I don't like pumpkin pie, either.

A couple more that are always eagerly awaited:
http://www.sierra-nevada.com/beers/images/m-cebeerb.jpg

http://www.anchorbrewing.com/images/..._bottle_ns.jpg

[scoober]

The only good pumpkin ale I've had is Elysian's Night Owl. No spices, just a really dark amber ale w/ a hint of pumpkin. They have it on cask at their Tangletown pub, and it is superb. I'm not a huge fan of the Blue Moon and that ubiquitous Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin is terrible.

I forgot to mention Anderson Valley Brewing Company before... they get it right too. Their Winter Solstice is great, and refreshing because its not a 'xmas' ale.

Then there is always the Alaskan Smoked Porter. Unbelieveable.

Winter seasonals are cute all in all, but I really prefer just to change styles of beer depending on the months. As I get into winter I turn to the imperial stouts, strong ales, double IPAs, and dark dark Belgians.

[Skidancer]

Any true stout is a good winter beer! Bristol's Winter Warlock is a great, inexpensive brew. I love winter because I'm partial to all those spiced beers (I'm still trying to find a really good pumpkin beer???) Ah, yes, and the witty, warming, wanton doppelbocks. Mmmmmmmm

Winter is good for all those great hot drinks as well: Irish, keoke and all those alcho coffees. Don't forget hot apple pies, Tuaca shots...

What I'm REALLY looking forward to is making crockpots full of simmering hot mulled wine (with brandy for a kicker). You sip and you make cookies and you sip and you wrap presents and you sip and you chug and you're happy and in the holiday spirit!

[half-fast]

I haven't gotten to any winter stuff yet-been enjoying saranac, sam adams and otter creek octoberfests

[divegirl]

Mmmm... Pyramid Snowcap.

Went to Portland this past weekend, it was awesome. My new favorite brewery in the whole wide world: The Lucky Lab. Mmm, black lab stout!! And they're dog friendly, that's the best thing about them!

Bridgeport brewery was good, too. We hit up a bunch of others, but I seem to have forgotten their names. Rock....something. Anyway, Portland is a wonderful city.


EDIT: Anyone have a good recipe for real (alcoholic) eggnog?

[KQ]

On a beer related topic for those of you in the PNW:


October 30:

5th Annual Washington Cask Beer Festival at the Seattle Center Alki Room. Two sessions: 12-4 pm and 6-10 pm, tickets are limited and sold out last year! Rogue is slated to be serving Cask Brutal and/or something Hayley has brewed at Rogues award winning Issaquah Brew House.

Washington Brewers Guild

And as a side note for any NY Maggots - this weekend:

October 16:

NYC BeerFest from 1 until 9pm at Pier 54 (West Side Drive near 13th Street, West Village). Rogue Dead Guy Ale will be poured by Global Brewers Guild.

NY Beer Fest

[non grata]

... And they're dog friendly, that's the best thing about them!

that's good... beer brewed from dogs is yucky.

ohhhh thanks, kq.

[scoober]

What I'm REALLY looking forward to is making crockpots full of simmering hot mulled wine (with brandy for a kicker). You sip and you make cookies and you sip and you wrap presents and you sip and you chug and you're happy and in the holiday spirit!

check out Quelque Chose by Unibroue in Quebec. its a very dark cherry ale that is made to be heated and served just below a boil. very good stuff.