337163 Wed Oct 25 18:31:16 -0700 2006 40 35 Beer 0 1971963 I just saw Sierra Nevada's 2006 Celebration Ale at Costco and wondered what other winter holiday ales and beers chowhounds would recommend. Some of my favorites in past years: Anchor Our Special Ale Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale Alaskan Winter Ale Redhook Winterhook Wed Oct 25 18:31:16 -0700 2006 10644 Nancy Berry 1 1972152 Anderson Valley's Winter Solstice Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome I loved last year's Anchor winter release. Wed Oct 25 19:16:19 -0700 2006 1971963 10809 Josh 1 1973169 Bah Humbug, from Wychwood. working on a bottle now. Thu Oct 26 01:40:35 -0700 2006 1971963 11796 tuqueboy 2 1985870 tuqueboy, give us a little review of that please. i ve seen the gorgeous bottle the last two times at the local place but havent tries it out yet. i like that brewery's hobgoblin a good deal so im interested. hows it taste? Tue Oct 31 17:28:40 -0800 2006 1973169 42755 ben61820 3 2057666 sorry for the ridiculous delay. if you're still interested, it's actually kinda sweet for my liking. cinnamon's strong, but not overpowering. not bad, but not a session beer. Thu Nov 30 05:53:30 -0800 2006 1985870 11796 tuqueboy 1 1973662 Can't forget Sam Smith Winter Welcome:) Thu Oct 26 10:00:47 -0700 2006 1971963 21245 sarahbeth 2 2037028 this is one of my favorite beers. Mon Nov 20 21:51:34 -0800 2006 1973662 16801 subinai 1 1974606 For California products, look for Alesmith Yulesmith & Marin Hoppy Holidaze (preferably on tap). St. Fuillien (Sp?) is one of may favorite Belgian seasonals and I also like Enghien Noel (pronounced engine apparentlty) and Affligem Noel. If you're in the Bay Area I can't recommend enough a trip to the Toronado (Haight & Fillmore) during December to see what they have on tap for the season. Thu Oct 26 17:43:04 -0700 2006 1971963 20858 Kevin B 1 1974623 Lakefront Holiday Spice..... http://www.lakefrontbrewery.com/meetbeer.asp Thu Oct 26 17:47:18 -0700 2006 1971963 47019 gido 2 2002878 i second the lakefront holiday spice. wish i could get it here in FL. and although not just a holiday beer - tracquair jacobite is one of my favorites. Tue Nov 07 14:39:43 -0800 2006 1974623 51618 hitachino 1 1975047 We just started the Sam Adams 24 pack for $20 from Costco. Couldn't turn down Sam Adams at that price, especially when the pack includes the Boston Lager and Black Lager. The others are Winter Ale, Cranberry Lambic, Holiday Porter, and Fezziwig Ale. Thu Oct 26 19:31:01 -0700 2006 1971963 11577 Pei 2 1975302 Fezziwig is one that I really like but it pi**es me off that Sam Adams now only makes it available is the holiday pack (At least on the west coast). So I have to have 2 six packs of beer that I actively dislike in order to get one that I do. This bit of brainless marketing led me to give up and never buy any Sam Adams product at all. I keep hoping that some year I'll see the Fezziwick available in individual sixers so I can stop being mad at them. Thu Oct 26 20:41:55 -0700 2006 1975047 20858 Kevin B 3 1975478 Wow, now I can't wait to try it. Perhaps some strongly worded letters are in order... Thu Oct 26 21:27:25 -0700 2006 1975302 11577 Pei 3 1975602 Maybe they figure that's the only way they can move that dreadful Cranberry "Lambic". Thu Oct 26 22:02:53 -0700 2006 1975302 10809 Josh 4 2117363 Yes! That was my thought exactly. The Cranberry Lambic is one dreadful brew. Wed Dec 20 20:43:48 -0800 2006 1975602 40062 lisa13 5 2146958 The lambic isn't great but it made me try a Belgian fruit kriek lambic (lindemans raspberry or black cherry lambic) which are incredible Wed Jan 03 00:52:17 -0800 2007 2117363 63643 niquejim 3 1982365 My wife and I still have fond memories of getting Fezziwig in 25 oz. bottles for $1 per in April/May following its Xmas release. Made for a great beer to serve at a party, as the spices had just mellowed to the point to make it really enjoyable. Of course, that was about 10 years ago. Lately, I've been enjoying Sweetwater's Festive Ale '06 on tap at a local concert venue in ATL. Mon Oct 30 14:13:16 -0800 2006 1975302 12626 ted 2 2002685 Was that the Sam Adams Winter Lager? Have you tried it yet? To me it was horrid, sweet and cloying as molasses. The spices were supposed to be orange, cinnamon, and ginger but, for me, they didn't come thru. I seem to be in the minority on SAWB as the beer forums give this high marks. Tue Nov 07 10:35:19 -0800 2006 1975047 10264 rworange 3 2119432 Tried SA Winter Lager last night (bottle) and found it to be mildly spiced, not really sweet, with that Sam Adams taste found in the Boston Lager that I just don't like...it always makes me thirsty. Wouldn't have gotten this but menu had very limited choices. Thu Dec 21 15:22:50 -0800 2006 2002685 16728 kenito799 4 2119476 Sam Adams Winter Lager, I think, varies a lot between bottle and draft. I prefer it on draft much more. Thu Dec 21 15:37:13 -0800 2006 2119432 10118 joypirate 2 2026887 Just picked up the Sam 12 pack at my local beer guy (Garden City Park, NY). It had 2 Boston Ale, 2 Boston Lager, 2 Cranberry Lambic, 2 Holiday Porter, 2 Old Fezziwig and 2 Winter Wheat. For $12 its a little cheaper than the Costco and you get less of the stuff you don't want. I'm not sure if I will drink the Cranberry Lambic... The owner was telling me that about ten years ago they sold the Old Fezz in six packs and he blew them out but could never get them that way again. Thu Nov 16 16:51:24 -0800 2006 1975047 16775 PapaT 1 1975654 I don't know if I'd categorize Samichlaus bier as "Winter" but it is galactic and perfect for the season. It has prune, peat, raison, caramel, toffee, chocolate . . . with a finish that is longer than the Wagner Ring Cycle. Thu Oct 26 22:20:55 -0700 2006 1971963 26180 Chinon00 2 1975785 Samichlaus is 'winter' in that it's brewed only one day a year, Dec 6, St Nikolas Day. On the other hand, it tends to be available year-round in the US. If I recall, it's a lager beer around 14% abv, made in Austria by Eggenberger. Used to be made by Hürlimann in Switzerland. Thu Oct 26 23:10:58 -0700 2006 1975654 10998 Jim Dorsch 1 1981168 Has anyone had the 2006 Celebration ale yet? Or the Anchor Special? Sun Oct 29 20:01:19 -0800 2006 1971963 12484 MVNYC 2 1981480 I just picked up a bottle of the Anchor special yesterday at Holiday Wine Cellars. Will probably crack it open tonight. Also sprung for a bottle of Anchor's Old Potrero rye whiskey. Pretty intense! Sun Oct 29 23:27:41 -0800 2006 1981168 10809 Josh 1 1985065 delirium noel and corrsendonk christmas that's all I can think of for now Tue Oct 31 05:17:03 -0800 2006 1971963 24546 bitsubeats 1 1985876 its not a special winter brew, but i think CELEBRATOR makes a wonderful winter warmer. around a fireplace in a goofy sweater sippin on that fig, fruity beauty...warms the soul Tue Oct 31 17:30:22 -0800 2006 1971963 42755 ben61820 1 2029572 it's all about the Dekonick Winter. That said, unless you live in the DC area and are able to make it to The Reef, you won't find it in the states on tap. :) Fri Nov 17 13:59:28 -0800 2006 1971963 49180 jpschust 1 2030046 Just had Deschutes Jubilale the other night - very good. Moylan's holiday one used to be a rich and dark, but the last few years its been the White Christmas Bock, which doesn't do it for me. Fri Nov 17 17:02:05 -0800 2006 1971963 14367 The Dive 1 2056061 Great Lakes Brewery Christmas Ale is great. I am not sure about its availability nationally. Has any one seen it far from Cleveland? Wed Nov 29 19:16:50 -0800 2006 1971963 56140 adtroy 1 2058153 For anyone in New England, Tuckerman Pale Ale is the nuggets. Also, has an appropriate wintry packing. Thu Nov 30 15:00:08 -0800 2006 1971963 56221 onlytwomuses 1 2065326 I always try and give my favorite beers a chance on draft, not just the bottle. this year: anderson valley winter solstice is my favorite deschutes jubel is next full sails wassail will do in a pinch disappointed in rogues winter, but dead guy and the chipotle ale are always good. sierra nevada celebration- disappointed, a couple years ago it was great. Sun Dec 03 04:05:45 -0800 2006 1971963 57281 apodaca 1 2065442 De Ranke Pere Noel. Amazing! Sun Dec 03 05:38:52 -0800 2006 1971963 10809 Josh 1 2095790 Last night at Tom & Jerry's (288 Elizabeth) Xmas party had Brooklyn Winter and Sierra Nevada Celebration, both on tap. Brooklyn: dark brew but light bodied, little head formation. Quite sweet with a touch of clove spice but mainly root beer and cola flavors. Not too complex. Enjoyable enough. SN: completely different style, a hoppy pale ale, complex, aromatic, really good. No Xmas spice flavors. Wed Dec 13 14:49:43 -0800 2006 1971963 16728 kenito799 1 2101992 I had Goose Island Christmas seasonal on tap fresh tonite... a little goes a long way... Very distinctive stout backnotes. Like pale ale in front, stout in back... and not that well melded... Not bad, but a couple glasses is enough Fri Dec 15 08:38:37 -0800 2006 1971963 42549 Chicago Mike 1 2101995 As for "deep winter beer" why not just a straight barleywine? It's got that unique complex "festive" taste, and it just says WINTER! Fri Dec 15 08:39:55 -0800 2006 1971963 42549 Chicago Mike 1 2112931 Oooh. The Harpoon Winter Warmer is not that good this year. Not bad, just not the cinnamon-toast bomb it used to be. I liked that it was un-subtle. I couldn't drink more than 2, but it was sort of nice once in a while. This year it's got more alcohol bite and more of a commercial taste. Tue Dec 19 16:53:18 -0800 2006 1971963 10118 joypirate 1 2117819 The best I have tried recently is extremely hard to find even in massachusetts is cisco brewers "celebration" Some spice but rich and hoppy are better adjectives. Well balanced and delicious. May only be available on Nantucket though! Wed Dec 20 22:44:42 -0800 2006 1971963 48106 somervilleGM 1 2118439 Great Lakes Christmas Ale Deschutes Jubelale Anderson Valley Winter Solstice I like a lot of Winter Warmers but those are three of my favorites. Thu Dec 21 02:28:47 -0800 2006 1971963 10395 brentk 1 2118842 The Goose Island Christmas from Chicago is goood! Just had that last night. Also, not mentioned is the Lost Coast Winterbraun from Cali which is very good. Cheers Thu Dec 21 05:27:18 -0800 2006 1971963 61139 Bradfish 1 2152592 I still have shipyard's winter brew, full sail's wassail, and alaskan's winter ale in my fridge. No one I know agrees with me, but I like the alaskan the best. The wassail is a good first-beer-of-the-day. the shipyard I thought was pretty good, but not special. Alesmith's yulesmith is my favorite of all these though. Thu Jan 04 17:25:43 -0800 2007 1971963 12853 mr mouther