Beer: Lump of Coal

Brewery: Ridgeway Brewery, Oxford, England - Imported by Shelton Brothers

Overview: Billed as a dark chocolate stout consolation prize for those too naughty to get anything else in their stocking.

Aroma: Dark fruit sweetness, some alcohol bite.  Slight cocoa or caramel notes.

Appearance: Ultra-thin head on top of a dark brown beer with translucent edges.

Flavor: Roasted nuts, some fruity sweetness with a very light mouthfeel.  Light alcohol warming in the throat with with a bitterness in the finish.

Overall Impression: Overall, a bit light in color and body for a stout, so this drinks more like a really strong Porter.  Still an enjoyable beverage, but not so rewarding to offset the coal and switches in my stocking.

Vitals:
Style Russian Imperial Stout
Price $1.99/Single 22 ounce bottle
Found In National Import Chain
Alcohol Content 8% by volume
Availability Seasonal




Rating: 85

Beer: Shiner Cheer

Brewery: Spoetzl Brewery Shiner, Texas

Overview: Shiner Cheer is Spoetzl's offering to the holiday brew montage.  With a peach and pecan focus, it is not as wintery focused as some others, but targeted towards the Texas holiday drinker.

Aroma:Peaches are dominant, but a little super sweet undertones almost like a peach jelly instead of fresh peaches.

Appearance: Clear brown with a quickly falling tan head that poured about an inch to two before collapsing in large bubbles.

Flavor: The sweet peach is noticeable on the first sip, but is quickly balanced out by a strong malt profile, even hinting at some roasted flavors in there, perhaps from the pecans.  Some of the acidity of the pecans is evident, and it leaves some of the sweet syrupy flavor in the finish.

Overall Impression: I like this beer from a drinkability standpoint, but I would much rather drink this as a September beverage than December.  Still, it is an easily available go to beer for an alternative to my highly spiced favorites.  I'm confused why Shiner felt compelled to add caramel coloring to this beer (which makes me wonder the original color).  I do find it has a nice balance for a beer and is not overly fruity like a Pyramid Apricot or other fruit beers, but at the same time, other than aroma, that really costs it in bringing through a distinct flavor from the peaches and pecans.  Another drinkable offering from the folks at Shiner.

Vitals:
Style Fruit Beer
Price $7.49/six-pack
Found In Grocery Store Beer Aisle
Alcohol Content 5.4% by volume
Availability Winter Seasonal
Bitterness 22 IBU

Rating:  90

Beer: Sierra Nevada Celebration

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Chico, California

Overview: Sierra Nevada Celebration is not particularly a Christmas beer, but a hop-laden spicy winter warmup.  A perennial staple, it has made many an appearance around my house and in front of my barstool.

Aroma: Fresh evergreen, clean hop smell. Some spicy notes.

Appearance: Translucent amber with orange highlights.  Generous frothy white head that persists.

Flavor: Hop dominated, the citrus and grapefruit flavors reminiscent of a potent IPA.  The bitterness lingers on the sides of the tongue.  Some hit of sweet in the back of the throat.

Overall Impression: Good beer overall, not sure why this is a winter beer and not a summer seasonal, but it is still one that I drink nevertheless.  Always enjoyable.

Vitals:
Style India Pale Ale
Price $7.99/six-pack
Found In Grocery Store Beer Aisle
Alcohol Content 6.8% by volume
Availability Year-round
Bitterness 65 IBU

Overall Rating: 91

Beer: Magic Hat Howl

Used with permission
Magic Hat Brewery

Brewery:  Magic Hat Brewery South Burlington, Vermont

Overview: "I am beer, hear me roar" - well at least that's what it said under my cap.  Magic Hat's continued set of unique creations continues with the winter seasonal, Howl. 

Aroma: Honestly, it's a clean beer, with not much in the aroma department as far as I can tell.  A little hint of malt in there, and perhaps some syrup.

Appearance: Black.  Yup.  Black.  Light tan head, and if you hold it to the light just right, you might find a ruby.

Flavor: Smooth and creamy, some roast and drying at the edges.  Light and easy drinking body.  Leaves a slight bitterness in the finish.

Overall Impression: I am impressed with Howl as a beer, and it is one of my favorite Magic Hat seasonals to try so far.  It is also the only Magic Hat brew I have tried so far that fits within a category relatively easily.  It is a Dark Black Lager aka Schwarzbier.  It ranks well up there with the other Black Lagers that I have had.

Vitals:
Style Schwarzbier
Price $7.99/six-pack
Found In Local Liquor Store
Alcohol Content 4.6% by volume
Availability Winter Seasonal
Bitterness 32 IBU


Rating: 92

Christmas and Winter Beer

So let's start with a fact: I am a sucker for winter beers (particularly of the Christmas beer variety).  So I had this grand idea to get 25 Christmas beers and do a big countdown throughout December and all that.  Unfortunately, I have not had time to do that, nor have I found (yet) 25 beers available in the area to try.

So, armed with a secret stash of last year's Christmas beer (and those for this year that HAVE been released), I have still decided to bombard you over the next month with as many winter seasonal and Christmas beer reviews as I can do, given beer supply and available time.

Enjoy!

Beer: Sierra Nevada Tumbler

Photo by
Cameron Mathews

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Chico, California

Overview: Adorned with leaves and general autumn themes, the Tumbler is Sierra Nevada's answer to shortening days and foliage on the trees.  It aims for a malty profile for a relaxing session brown.

Aroma: Fall leaves, nuts, fresh bread baking in another room, with hints of green apple and sweetness.

Appearance: Clear brown, with a thick, light tan head that falls in mountainous peaks.

Flavor: Roasted walnuts, some roast flavor into the finish ending with a light sweetness in the back.

Overall Impression: Overall the bitterness is a little high to call this beer one with a malty profile, and the flavor in my opinion does not live up to what the aroma indicates might be hiding in there.  But, in a very nutty way, this is still a good beer, and I would definitely finish the six pack (or buy another).

Vitals:
Style American Brown Ale
Price $7.49/six-pack
Found In Grocery Store Beer Aisle
Alcohol Content 5.5% by volume
Availability Fall Seasonal
Bitterness 37 IBU


Rating: 91

Still here

Just not reviewing at the moment - however, I do have a plan to try to get quite a few Winter Seasonals and Christmas beers reviewed for the month of December.  I have a fall seasonal reviewed that needs to get out soon, too - perhaps next Monday?

Cheers!