It was hard enough to try 25 different beers in 25 days, blogging about each one certainly did not happen. However, let it be known that Jingle Beers 2008 was conquered in good form. We tasted 25 Christmas or Winter Brews in the first 25 days of December. Below is a complete list of the beers we sampled.
Full details after the break.
1. Boulevard Brewery Nutcracker
2. Sam Adams Winter Lager
3. Breckenridge Christmas Ale
4. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
5. Schlafly Christmas Beer
6. Michelob Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale
7. Avery Old Jubilation Ale
8. Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve
9. Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown
10. Ridgeway Santa’s Butt Holiday Porter
11. O’Fallon Cherry Chocolate Beer
12. Pyramid Snow Cap
13. Shiner Holiday Cheer
14. Odell Brewing Isolation Ale
15. Blue Moon Full Moon
16. Anderson Valley Winter Solstice
17. Tommy Knocker Cocoa Powder
18. Great Divide Hibernation Ale
19. Delerium Noel
20. Ridgeway Warm Welcome Nut Brown Ale
21. Hook Norton Brewery 12 Days
22. Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale
23. Wynchwood Bah Humbug
24. Samuel Smith Winter Welcome
25. Anchor “Our Special Ale”
Christmas beers do run the full spectrums in terms of flavor. We tried easy-drinking lagers (like Michelob’s Winter Bourbon Cask) and the undrinkable (like Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale.) A lot of the beers were similar, but several stood out as extraordinary. May I present, Sarah’s Best of Jingle Beers 2008 (in no particular order.)
Boulevard Brewery Nutcracker
Maybe I’m a sucker for the locals, but Boulevard makes several distinctive beers and this is no ex exception. It is nutty and smooth there is no doubt when you sip this beer that is it Christmas.
Schlafly Christmas Beer
We got to sample this beer straight at the source at the Schlafly Bottle Works in St. Louis. This Christmas Beer is light and crisp but still spicy. It was as good alone as it was with food.
Samuel Smith Winter Welcome
This was defiantly one of the best beers we sampled. It was amber-colored and malty. Wish this was available year-round.
Shiner Holiday Cheer
This beer stands out because it was certainly unlike any Christmas beer I have ever had. Unlike most malty, chocolaty Christmas beers, Shiner’s Holiday Cheer tempted us with the sweeter side of the holidays. It was flavored with peaches and roasted pecans and deliciousness.
Honorable mentions: Blue Moon Full Moon and Tommy Knocker Cocoa Powder
What is most exciting about this challenge is that we forced ourselves to try a lot of beers we normally would overlook. We got to really explore craft beers from around the world and compare them critically. I don’t claim to be an expert by any means, but I know I tested my beer knowledge. I can’t wait for the next challenge...
My favorite Jingle Beer was the Schlafly, it didn't have the super nutmeg/gingerbready flavor of the others. Close seconds would have to be the Anderson Valley and Shiner's Holiday Cheer. I'd still like to get my hands on another Holiday Cheer and Leinenkugel Fireside Nut Brown for further deliberation. Worst beers were the Sierra Nevada (Christmas IPA? WTF?) and probably the Santa's Butt, which was too watery. Ridgeway's Warm Welcome was much better than Santa's Butt.