West Of Free Press — December 2022 - Flipbook - Page 24
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M
y buddy enters the house,
carrying with him a festively
adorned bottle of magic elixir
from Belgium. Later in the evening, we
crack open an American barleywine,
and the rich flavors and alcohol warm
our mouths and bellies. Another night,
my brother in law breaks out a flavored
Baltic porter, all family members grab a
glass. These are the big beers made for
the holidays.
We are into December friends. This
is a time for strong, warming beers,
those that will stick to your bones
and put a fire in your tummy. Luckily,
there are several styles of malt-driven
goodness that offer higher alcohol
levels for those frigid nights.
We are also now into the holiday
season. Another perfect time for these
same styles of beer. Big, bold brews,
that often appear only once a year,
showing up in big bottles and checking
in at high ABVs (alcohol by volume)
– characteristics which perfectly lend
themselves to sharing with friends
Happy Holidaze
The strong beers of the season
and family. Many winter warmers and
spiced beers are already out, so get
them now.
A great place to start is barleywine.
These ales were offered in the winter,
but require at least some aging, so they
were brewed months before release.
J.W. Lee’s Vintage Harvest Ale is the
king. Great Divide Old Ruffian is a
wonderful American version, offering
more hops, but not in the realm of a
double IPA.
One of my favorite styles of winter
beer is old ale. Old ales get their name
from the aging process they undergo
after brewing, where beers are kept in
vessels to mature and gain character. A
classic English style of brew, old ales
are rich in color, very flavorful with
strong malt presence and often produce
a variety of subtle fruit tastes. North
Coast’s Old Stock Ale and Bell’s Third
Coast Old Ale are both excellent; drink
now, or hide them away and allow these
beers to continue to age in the bottle.
If you’re looking for a strong lager,
Germany’s dopplebock is your best
choice. These lagers will contain a huge
amount of malt, noticeable in all aspects
of the beer. Hops are rarely perceptible,
with sweetness being obvious. Colors
are frequently thick and deep ruby or
brown. Dopplebocks will have a definite
alcohol presence. Ayinger’s Celebrator
is the gold standard and a must for the
holidays.
For something a bit more exotic,
with yeast and earthy tones, seek out
a Belgian strong dark ale. These gems
are as complex as most beers get, and
silky smooth, but dangerously strong.
Chimay Grande Réserve is a standard
example and widely available, sitting
at 9% ABV (alcohol by volume). The
warmth of alcohol is noticeable at the
swallow and in the chest, yet it’s barely
present in the flavor.
If you lean toward the darkest of the
ales, and prefer chocolate, coffee notes
and roasted character in your beer,
you have three choices: Baltic Porter,
Russian Imperial Stout, and American
Double Stout. Baltic porters tend to be
the weakest of the trio, although ABVs
can reach double digits, and fall on the
sweeter and less roasted side of the
group. Examples from Finland, Poland
and Russia are highly recommended,
although the Smuttynose Baltic
Porter is near perfection in a glass.
If you yearn for more bitterness,
and coffee is your thing, Russian
Imperial Stouts and American Double
Stouts will satisfy. The American
versions are usually stronger in
alcohol, and can have aggressive to
tongue-numbing hop levels. There
are too many excellent examples
to name here, but stand-outs come
from Founders, with their Breakfast
Stout and Kentucky Bourbon Stout,
and Goose Island with its Bourbon
County Stout, as well, the Samuel
Smith Imperial Stout being the closest
to a classic version of any.
Most of these beers are sippers;
pour slowly into a snifter, tulip or large
wine glass, drink in slowly by the fire
and watch the leaves fall outside. Enjoy
the brews ... cheers.
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