Twelve Beers of Christmas: Day 1

Troegs Mad Elf

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" (Wikipedia) is an English Christmas carol that enumerates in the manner of a cumulative song a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas (the twelve days after Christmas). The song, published in England in 1780 without music as a chant or rhyme, is thought to be French in origin. 

THE SET-UP

You may have seen a few of these juxapositions of the ye olde Christmas song singing out twelve days and twelve gifts of Christmas. Since beer is one of my favorite gifts to get and gift, I have been compelled to offer up my list—in of course, twelve offerings.

DAY ONE — Troegs Mad Elf

... perhaps not exactly a turtle dove but a great beer and a classic Christmas beer. Mad Elf, what more needs to be said. Another much anticipated seasonal favorite. Big flavors with Pennsylvania Honey and West Coast Cherries. Again, as with many winter seasonal beers, this one is big on ABV at 11%. Warning, if you want to enjoy this one you best buy early and be disciplined since it may not be available by Christmas quaffing comes around.

The holidays at Tröegs start with our inner Mad Elf momentarily taking over the brew deck. So blame “him” for this cheerful ruby red creation reminiscent of ripened cherries, raw honey and cocoa with notes of cinnamon, clove and allspice.

SPECIFICATIONS

ABV 11% | 15 IBU
Malt: Chocolate, Munich, Pilsner
Hops: Hallertau, Saaz
Yeast: Spicy Belgian
Color: Ruby Red

TWITTER: #12BeersOfChristmas

It's More Than a Beer — It's a Moment

THE SESSION #118— BEER BLOGGING FRIDAY The Session, a.k.a. Beer Blogging Friday, is an opportunity once a month for beer bloggers from around the world to get together and write from their own unique perspective on a single topic. Each month, a different beer blogger hosts the Session, chooses a topic and creates a round-up listing all of the participants, along with a short pithy critique of each entry. 

The December 2016, edition The Session No. 118 was hosted by Stan Hieronymus at Appellation Beer. The theme directions were simple and yet wide open, Four Guests Four Beers.

“If you could invite four people dead or alive to a beer dinner who would they be? What four beers would you serve?”

— Stan Hieronymus - Appellation Beer

When I first read the theme my mind went to historical men and women that I have wanted to meet and perhaps share a beer such as Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln or Benjamin Franklin. Or more contemporary heroes like Paul McCartney or Ronald Reagan. And then my mind drifted even further and I thought about the story A Christmas Carol and I could meet and share beers with the ghosts of Beery Past, Present and Yet to Come (I'd have to make up the forth ghost, perhaps the ghost that could have been). The more I thought about it, the more personal it became.

A Beer With My Father

The first of my four people and beer choices was quite easy. My father passed away at the age of 72. He died from complications due to Alzheimer's disease. He had been battling with that disease for about 10 years before it took him. I had always wanted — hoped — to have a relationship with my father where we could sit down and have a beer together and talk about life, life's lessons, joys, hopes and disappointments, growing up, just having a lasting adult relationship with him. But suddenly and totally unexpectedly he started to lose his mind. And before you know it he was gone. 

I've often said, or at least thought, I just wanted to sit down and have a beer with him. Because that's kind of what a beer has become for me now. It’s more than a beer, its a moment. It's a pause to reflect, to think, to celebrate, to share, just to enjoy some peaceful time, and if its with others so much the better. And I never had that time, that relationship with my father. Alzheimer's stole that from me, from us. So, if somehow I could make a wish and could have a beer with someone, that would be an easy choice — with my father.

Many times I would see him over the course of the weekend drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon, always from a can. Now I don't think a whole lot of Pabst beer these days, I don't drink it. But what it symbolizes is far, far greater than any mere taste of beer. It symbolizes an important relationship, an innocent time in my life. The time that was stolen from us. The time that I'd always wanted to spend with him. And to drink that beer.

A Beer With My Son

That beer that I wanted to have with my father and never did I can now play forward and enjoy it with my son. As I'm writing this, he is 25. Earlier this year he married his high school sweetheart. That day was one of the best of my life. And now, I love watching the two of them together. I hopefully have taught him some things about life and beer, and now he is teaching me about his passions. 

He loves good German beer and his favorite is Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier. He knew to buy the proper weissbier glasses. I told you he was smart (and good looking). We occasionally have that beer and I enjoy every moment, every sip we have together. Prost! Zum wohl!

A Beer With Lost Friends

Chris Holmes was a friend of mine. We spent some good times together. But more than a person, I am sorry to say, Chris is a symbol of friendship lost. A friendship that never fully developed, but I had hoped someday would. Chris passed away this year, suddenly, from a brain tumor. He was a man full of life, fully enjoyed his family and friends and life's experiences. And I wish I had known Chris deeper and more thoroughly. I wrote on his online journal when I had learned of his passing that my mind was fixed on a quote from a James Taylor song, "I always thought that I would see you again".

And so this third beer is for Chris and Bob and Joe and Tom, all of those friends that you wanted to develop a more meaningful relationship with, but you keep putting off, because life happens — but then one day it doesn't. And this is the toast to all of my friends that I have lost far too early, that I wanted so much to have a deeper relationship.  In the hope that I will keep Chris in my mind when I'm thinking about the friends before me. That I will not put off time with them. Because life is short, time is fleeting, and friendships are far too important to put off till tomorrow.

So what beer would I have with Chris or Joe? I think, it would have to be Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale. That was a beer that has been special in my life, that really opened my eyes to how good a beer can be. And I’d like to share one, no two, maybe even three, with these friends. I'm older now, and have learned that we should not take moments or friends for granted.

A Beer With Myself

I've often heard of interview questions were someone asks what advice would you give to your 30-year-old self. I thought 22 might be a good age to have that talk, but at that time my life I had just graduated college, didn't have many cares or worries, I was bright and shiny and ready to take on the world.

But by the time I turned 30, some of the shininess had started to tarnish a bit. I’d been in some some relationships that didn't work out and was wondering if I'd ever find the right person, if I'd ever marry and have children. 

I would like to tell my 30-year-old self to just be patient, in about another year you'll meet the love of your life. You will have two beautiful children together and they will grow into wonderful people. Yes, they'll be ups and downs but life in general is really very good. As for the beer, you're going to have to settle for industrial lager for a while. But try this, it's a Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. You'll have to wait a few years to have it again but it will be worth it. And oh, put more money into savings, you're going to need it.

Finale

A beer is not just a drink, it is a moment — a celebration of sorts. Whether its just you, a dear friend, or a group of people you just met. There you are — enjoy the moment, enjoy the beer, enjoy your life. And never take the moment for granted — it is a gift. And with the famous words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!"

---

Jack Perdue is a regular beer blogger at DeepBeer.com and contributor to beer-related adventures on Twitter @DeepBeer. He is a Cicerone Certified Beer Server and studying for the next level of certification. He has worked at a prime bottle shop on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for over 8 years and has toured many fine beer locations around the world, with more lined up on his bucket list.

Thanksgiving Beers for 2016

Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving this year or going to a family or friends house, if you are a beer lover, you probably will want to share some interesting beverages to help make the day even more memorable. To some, the first thought may be wine, but really, beer goes very well with any aspect of the day’s meals. I know at our family gathering, there is an early part of the day leading up to the main course where people are arriving, food is being prepared in the kitchen or even the backyard (my brother cooks a turkey in the fryer and I bring the oysters for grilling and shucking). Tradition! You may want to bring some interesting beer just for this time. 

An aperitif is an alcoholic drink offered before a meal to stimulate the appetite (or even the mind - my addition). It should prepare you for the main course, setting a proper frame of mind and preparing your gastro visions of the feast to come.

Of course, the usual main course which may offer the traditional turkey and all the fixings. There are many great beers that will compliment the main course enhancing both the array of foods and the lively conversations around the table.

And what would Thanksgiving be without the desserts. Some may not consider beer as a component of the dessert menu, but some beers can enhance the desserts or if you have real beer lovers in the group, can even stand along as a dessert. Let’s take a look at some considerations.

Aperitif

Allagash Curieux - This is a beer that can provide a very interesting opening round. It could be served with the main course or even as dessert, but I offer it here as an aperitif. First, this is a Belgian-style tripel ale that has been aged in Jim Beam bourbon barrelsfor eight weeks. The combination of the bourbon and oak and spicy yeasts make for not only an stimulating drink but good conversation. It is rated at 94 points on BeerAdvocate. About $20 / 750ml

Dogfish Head Pennsylvania Tuxedo -  This is a beer you may want to consider just for the wow factor.  This seasonal beer is brewed with spruce tips. If you have not had a beer with spruce as an ingredient you are in for a treat. It is like nibbling on a Christmas tree, so it will certainly get everyone in the mood for the next big holiday coming in about one month. About $11 / 4-pack

Main Course

Unibroue La Fin du Monde -  This is perhaps one of my favorite beers and for the money, can't be beat. Brewed in Canada using an authentic Belgian style, is a perfect pairing with a turkey dinner or any time of the year. Thanksgiving will not be the end of the world if you offer this beer (see translation of the name). About $9 / 750ml

Founders PC Pils - Full of effervescence and a slight hoppy spiciness. A good choice for those that love classic clean, crisp pilsner beer. About $12 / 6-pack

Ommegang Rare Vos Amber Ale - Ommegang does beer well—pick a style. Amber beers simply offer themselves well with lighter foods. This one adds a note of caramel with a touch of sweetness and a spicy finish. About $13 / 6-pack

Devils Backbone Vienna Lager - No hops here, just a touch of sweet malt and caramel. This beer style will pair well with your main meal and this beer is a great example of the style. About $11 / 6-pack

Allagash White - This a traditional Belgian-style wheat beer spiced with coriander and Curacao orange peel. It is fruity, refreshing and slightly cloudy in appearance. A classic food beer and always a safe choice if thinking about what to drink with a great meal. About $11 / 4-pack

Chimay Première Ale (red) - You could choose from any of these classic Trappist ales and do well. This one is in the middle, you can choose to go higher (blue) or lower (white). Simply put, Belgian beers are a perfect and easy choice with most meals, especially Thanksgiving. About $12 / 750ml

Dessert

Lindemans Lambic Kriek -  This is a classic Belgian lambic, full of effervescence, cherry and sweetness. Offer a sample to the person who says they don’t like beer. It also comes in a raspberry (Framboise) or peach (Pêche). About $11 / 750ml

The Bruery Autumn Maple - This is what my favorite beers of autumn and Thanksgiving. Knowing is is brewed with yams, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses and maple syrup, it’s easy to see that this beer was made for Thanksgiving dinner. About $13 / 750ml

Ballast Point Victory At Sea Imperial Porter - Full of roasted barley notes, brewed with cold brewed coffee and whole vanilla beans, plus with the added coffee it may just delay that “help-me-find-the-couch” feeling. About $17 / 6-pack

Stone Coffee Milk Stout - Milk stouts offer a touch of sweetness and smoothness to beer.  Great with many sweet desserts or as a dessert on its own. About $12 / 6-pack

Conclusion

Be a Thanksgiving hero to all of your beer lover family and friends. Show off you beer prowess by sharing one or more these excellent beer choices—or better yet, one from each category. Thanksgiving is about spending some comfortable time with loved ones, recalling and sharing blessings and lots of great food. And beer certainly pairs oh so well with all of that! Cheers!

Jack Perdue is a regular beer blogger at DeepBeer.com and contributor to beer-related adventures on Twitter @DeepBeer. He is a Cicerone Certified Beer Server and studying for the next level of certification. He has worked at a prime bottle shop on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for over 8 years and has toured many fine beer locations around the world, with more lined up on his bucket list.

Less Room in the Inn AKA More Competition

THE SESSION #117— BEER BLOGGING FRIDAY The Session, a.k.a. Beer Blogging Friday, is an opportunity once a month for beer bloggers from around the world to get together and write from their own unique perspective on a single topic. Each month, a different beer blogger hosts the Session, chooses a topic and creates a round-up listing all of the participants, along with a short pithy critique of each entry. 

The November 2016, edition The Session No. 117 was hosted by Csaba Babak at Beer Means Business. The theme directions were simple and wide open, consider the future of beer and “capture ONE thing you think we will see MORE of with an explanation of the idea.”

Less Room in the Inn 

This is an interesting question — more what — and the answer, as desired, can go in any direction. The one thing that has been on my mind is the pending beer bubble burst. There have been many pundits that tell us there is plenty of room in the beer business, that there is no looming bubble. But there are some very basic things we must be on our minds.

I've been working with a very nice bottle shop — The Winery — for almost nine years. During that time, a lot has changed in the beer business and culture. More breweries, better beer, more sophisticated beer drinkers. And with all of that, more beer trying to push its way onto pub tap handles and bottle shop shelves. And what about those tap handles and beer shelves. My observation is that they haven't expanded all that much to accept the deluge of beer coming on the market each week. The creation of new beers is one thing, expanded distribution adds a whole other dimension. Just in the last year some excellent, long standing breweries have begun distribution to my state of Maryland, including Bell’s, Founders, SweetWater.

So what does that do to the beer from Stone, Lagunitas and Dogfish Head. Rather than go with the great beer we’ve come to know from these breweries, many curious beer drinkers want to try the beer they may only have heard about.

I attended the Backyard Symposium event at Flying Dog in Frederick MD leading up to Savor in Washington DC this year — an event they hold this time of year. Ryan Glenn,  Ballast Point VP of Operations was asked about the Grapefruit Sculpin and how that came into being. He said that they must produce their regular lineup of expected beers, for example Sculpin, but that there is a segment of the customer base that wants to try the new thing and that they have to be there with those beers e.g. Grapefruit Sculpin. In other words, they have to keep pushing more beer onto the market to stay relevant. 

Local Preferences

As an observation of people making beer choices, I've noticed a preference for beer from local breweries. Some have even voiced their opinions of this preference. Some of this is an effort to support locals businesses. Some may be from an effort of limiting decision exhaustion — too many choices causes people to decide with with what they know.

Good Beer Hunting in a July 2016 article mentioned that, “In a 2015 survey by market research firm Nielsen, 45% of respondents said “local” is important to their beer purchasing decisions. The number rose to 53% for 21-34-year-olds, the most important potential consumer demographic in American beer.”

Again, this makes pulling the Stone beers from the shelf to make your next beer that much less likely. Speaking of Stone...

Stone Layoffs

The recent announcement from Stone Brewing says a lot about the current state of the brewing industry. The mature breweries are feeling the pinch from macro beer, but also from the new comer local breweries.

“Due to an unforeseen slowdown in our consistent growth and changes in the craft beer landscape, we have had to make the difficult decision to restructure our staff. Unfortunately, this comes despite a year that includes the incredible accomplishments of opening two new breweries, which are ultimately expanding the availability of Stone beers and boosting the reputation of American craft beer in Europe.

“More recently however, the larger independent craft segment has developed tremendous pressures. Specifically, the onset of greater pressures from Big Beer as a result of their acquisition strategies, and the further proliferation of small, hyper-local breweries has slowed growth. With business and the market now less predictable, we must restructure to preserve a healthy future for our company. Even given this unfortunate circumstance, we will continue to be fiercely independent and, importantly, Stone remains one of the largest – if not the largest – employers in the craft brewing segment.

Less Jovial Brethren

The word has been that the craft beer business is a friendly sort, that craft breweries all get along great and help each other, brewing beers through collaborations, sharing excess hops with needy smaller breweries. And I'm sure that is mostly true. But there is increasing news about law suits over marketing infringements and the such. Its getting crowded in here, give me some room. Industrial macro beer is the common enemy of craft beer, right?

But business is business when survival is on the line. I've been reading Sam Calagione’s new book Off-Centered Leadership. It's a great read about the throws of building a business from scratch and directing it through the maze of growth and higher expectations. 

One particular passage caught my attention on the subject of increased competition within the craft beer business.

“I saw our industry becoming more complicated and competitive is less of jovial, familial club on like-minded entrepreneurs”

— Sam Calagione - Off-Centered Leadership

“I began considering bringing in new external resource in 2014 I saw our industry becoming more complicated and competitive is less of jovial, familial clubon like-minded entrepreneurs. Don’t get me wrong, most of the 4,000 indie craft breweries in the country still recognized each other as compatriots. But the landscape where the large breweries operate this change more rapidly in the last two years. Having the previous 18 years our company has been in business. More and more breweries that were once and for my craft brewer founders are now controlled by publicly traded international brewing conglomerates or financial enterprises— yet compete with craft brewers because they have acquired craft breweries. To ensure we remain competitive and continue to reach a bigger market, we needed to invest in the business. Before we could consider bringing in outside investors, who have their own opinions about what dogfish should be focused on, however, I wanted to make sure our internal leadership team is ready to work with the greater harmony priorities.”

Too Many Beers Out There

In a Thrillist article Why Craft Brewing Is About To Go To War With Itself again the finger gets pointed to the new competition is from inside the craft beer industry. 

Craft beer’s competition isn’t the Anheuser-Busch boogeyman anymore. “We’re definitely not getting pushed around by the macros [like we were] when Sierra Nevada and Bell’s were coming around,” says John Laffler, co-founder and brewmaster at Chicago’s Off Color and the former “innovation brewer” at Goose Island. Nope, these days, it’s the brewer next door that poses the threat. Across the country, craft brewers are crowding in. The neighborly smiles are starting to strain.

Serious Eats stated in a 2014 article stating that the breweries are simply out pacing the expanded beer drinking base. That was 2014, how about now in 2016 when there are a record number of breweries in the US.

““We all talk about the camaraderie in the industry, but at some point competition is a very real issue: the number of breweries outpacing the growth of the consumer base, outpacing the growth of available tap handle space, available grocery store space,” says Tom Nickel, co-founder of Nickel Beer Company in Julian, California and co-owner of O’Brien’s Pub and West Coast Barbecue & Brew.”

— Serious Eats — Feb 2012

CONCLUSION

As craft beer drinkers we have a lot to be thankful for. The selection of beer has never been better. Not only has the quality gotten better, the range of style and hybrids has certainly kept it interesting. But the physical reality is that there is only so much space on bottle shop shelves and only so many tap handles to compete for. When the pressure increases, business survival becomes even more front and center. It’s a big room, right? Perhaps from a beer drinkers perspective, but not as big as it use to be for craft brewers.

Beer or Shakes

I was listening to an audiobook — in the flow — when suddenly the author described the condition of an author of the 1927 era who had suffered from delirium tremens. Whoa! — sound of a needle dragging across a vinyl record. Stop! Now I know that beer but not the “condition”. 

A quick trip to Wikipedia was required and thus resulted in my continuing education. That condition the author had described — delirium tremens — is what I've always known as the DTs. 

So what is the connection? Is there one? Of course there is!

About the Condition

The DTs is the shaking withdrawal one experiences after stopping a drinking binge.  I have been there once, but that story is for another time. And one of its nicknames is elephants. A sad joke or cleaver beer name — you decide. Here is some further information if you should want to know. 

The name delirium tremens was first used in 1813; however, the symptoms were well described since the 1700s. The word "delirium" is Latin for "going off the furrow," a plowing metaphor. It is also called shaking frenzy and Saunders-Sutton syndrome. Nicknames also include barrel-fever, blue horrors, bottleache, bats, drunken horrors, elephants, gallon distemper, quart mania, pink spiders, among others.

About the Beer

As mentioned, I've only known Delirium Tremens as a superb Belgian beer. Or so I thought. It's label is distinguished by bright blue background with dancing pink elephants. Someone once mentioned to me they'd never bought the beer because they thought it was a "girly" beer because of those pink elephants. Just to assure you in case you are unsure, it is an excellent beer choice for all boys and girls. 

Huyghe Brewery is the Dutch brewery founded in 1906 by Leon Huyghe in city of Melle in East Flanders, Belgium. Its "flagship" beer is the Delirium Tremens, a golden ale often rated as one of the best beers in the world. The brewery does produce other fine beers that you can find on good beer store shelves, the dark Delirium Nocturnum, the seasonal Delirium Christmas, the Delirium Red fruit beer and Deliria, but Delirium Tremens is the most common.

Perhaps the beginning of its global fame, Delirium Tremens was named as "Best Beer in the World" in 2008 at the World Beer Championships in Chicago, Illinois. Plus, Stuart Kallen gives it the number one spot in his book, The 50 Greatest Beers in the World.

The fine people at Beer Tourism offer a nice write up of this beer, its genesis and ingredients. 

The Delirium Tremens was born in 1988 at the request of an Italian client. This beer is an outsider. Its white bottle is reminiscent of Cologne pottery ware.

On the label you will see pink elephants, crocodiles and dragons depicting the various stages of inebriation you might expect to go through after a few glasses. The name was invented by a tax inspector, of all people, as he became aware of slowly-approaching intoxication. Delirium Tremens hits the spot as far as many beer lovers are concerned. Its production alone represents almost a third of the brewery’s total volume.

Conclusion

So, try some pink elephant beer and I assure you that you won't regret it. And my hope is that you never suffer the other Delirium Tremens. 

The Role of Beer Books

THE SESSION #115— BEER BLOGGING FRIDAY
The Session, a.k.a. Beer Blogging Friday, is an opportunity once a month for beer bloggers from around the world to get together and write from their own unique perspective on a single topic. Each month, a different beer blogger hosts the Session, chooses a topic and creates a round-up listing all of the participants, along with a short pithy critique of each entry. 

Date: September 2, 2016
Host: Joan Villar-i-Martí at Birraire Blog
Topic: The Role of Beer Books

The Beer Geek Handbook

The Beer Geek Handbook: Living a Life Ruled By Beer. This was a book with many great gems if you whether you are already a full-fledged beer geek or someone just getting started on that path. Wherever you are on the path of beer geekdom, this is a fun and clever road map. It is full of pithy life lessons, beery vocabulary, and warnings of pitfalls that anyone who chooses to walk this path will benefit from.

I first discovered Patrick Dawson from my desire to learn more about aging beer. His book Vintage Beer: A Taster's Guide to Brews That Improve Over Time is highly rated on Amazon and I've purchased the paperback as well as the digital versions. I then discovered from engaging him personally that his second book would be released later in the year, so I preordered it.

Six Chapters

Without going into the details of the book, I offer a glimpse inside. Here are the six chapters:

1. Beer Geeks: An Introduction
2. Beer: The Root of All Beer Geekery
3. Breweries: The Exclusive Club
4. Procurement: The Beer and Other Geeky Goods
5. Drinking: Where & How
6. The Beercation: Seeking the Source

“It is for this sole reason that the beer guy must be befriended, because after all, he holds the key to the elusive beery castle.”

— The Beer Geek Handbook, Patrick Dawson

As I was reading through the book, I couldn't help but place myself somewhere on the beer geek continuum—how do I rank? As I think you will find, on some subjects I think I would rank well, on some others I have some ways to go. One of the things the book did help me with was to answer some of the questions I've had (like all of us) but were afraid to ask. I mean, no one wants to expose himself/herself as not knowing something that you secretly think everyone else knows. Here was one of my favorite parts of the book, the beer guy.

Liquor Stores and Beer Guys — In this chapter, Patrick goes into his explanation of the various types of guys you may encounter when you visit a beer shop. I read this section with special attention because for the past eight years, that has been me. I have my own opinions of the "beer guy" from both sides of the counter. Its funny because I used that term to describe myself before reading this book. It just seems to fit. According to the author, here are five things every good "beer guy" should know:

• Anything and everything about every beer on the shelves
• New breweries arriving on the scene
• What the upcoming limited releases are
• How many cases of each offering are coming in
• How quickly a particular beer will sell

Summary

This is a fun and engaging read. I took my time, first reading through some of what I thought would be the most interesting sections, then going back from the beginning taking it all in. Sometimes I would laugh out loud, then others scream about something I would disagree with. Anyway, if you are a beer geek, you'll find the book enjoyable. If you are just wondering into the beer geek world, then it is a must read. Hey, you're likely to save yourself from some beer brotherhood/sisterhood embarrassment and you may even win friends and influence people with your new found beer knowledge.

Holy Beer

“If Jesus had been born in Germany, he likely would have turned the water into doppelbock.”

— Some wise guy

Seek-A-Brew

When I travel I always like to seek out beer that is not available to my favorite local bottle shops. One tool that I've found to be helpful is the Seek-A-Brew website.

“SeekABrew is powered by a community-maintained distribution spreadsheet of US craft beer. The distribution map page lets you see which states your favorite breweries distribute to. The compare distribution page lets you compare the breweries that distribute to any two states. Next time you are on vacation or a road trip, use this tool to figure out what breweries to look for.”

— Seek A Brew

From the main page, if you click on the Beer Distribution Map, at the top of the map you will notice Display brewery on map: Select a brewery. Click the pulldown menu, find a brewery, and the states this brewery ships to will be highlighted on the map. For example, I will be traveling to Arizona soon and now know that AleSmith, Lost Abbey and Crooked Stave do ship there. And Hair of the Dog, Wicked Weed and Hill Farmstead to not.

If you click on a state on the map, a list of all the breweries that ship there will appear. The list can be sorted either alphabetically or by the number of states they distribute to (ascending). This could be helpful to see the most limited distribution to a state.

Note: A brewery may not be displayed if shipping is limited to a state, for example Maine Beer Co does ship to Maryland but only some of their offerings, and thus does not display on the Beer Distribution Map.

Beer Geek on the Road

A true beer aficionado (geek) on the road will most likely not just looking for more than just breweries to visit, included in an itinerary could include well be iconic beer bars, think Max’s Taphouse in Baltimore or Monk’s in Philly, and even premium bottle shops that could hold bottled treasures to bring back to share and cellar.

To drink or not to drink (beer)

“When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.”

— Henny Youngman

Belgians vs Belgian Beer

“Ask a non-Belgian to name three famous Belgians and, even though the list is long, there will probably be a painful pause. Ask them to name three Belgian beers and their performance is likely to improve dramatically. ”

— Michael Jackson

There's a Tree in My Beer

Dogfish Head's Pennsylvania Tuxedo brewed with spruce tips

When you think of winter beers several things may come to mind. For me, its the special seasonal releases like the Anchor Steam Christmas Ale (a 41-year tradition this year) or Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome — always a seasonal favorite. Of course there are many others that likely bring back memories or invoke pleasant sensations. And then there are the traditional seasonal ingredients added to many winter beers — fruits, spices, honey. And the ABV often gets a bump, too. Like all beer seasonal releases, it brings a beery anticipation. Now, there are countless reviews available on winter releases—I particularly enjoyed Tom Bedell's 12 Beers of Christmas, where for the last three years he has "taken on the agreeable task of writing about a dozen holiday beers or winter warmers, one a day (or late into the night)".  But I want to take you to another place. Let's take an unfamiliar path through the forest and see what is waiting for us there.

I want to discuss just one beer and probably not one you think of as a Winter beer. But wait! What is more Winter-like than the Christmas tree. And for many of us the tree of choice is a spruce tree. See where I'm going with this?

I've read about the American colonists using spruce tips in brewing their beer. As someone within an interest in tree things, this caught my fancy. Then in December 2014, I found a local beer in Madison WI that was a spruce tip beer. I tried it to satisfy my curiosity. Yup, no doubt, it had a tree quality about it. Done! It was interesting but I didn't need another one. Then a few months later I saw the Yards’ Tavern Spruce on the bottle shop shelf. Again, tried it, curiosity was satisfied but I didn't need another.  

Then I saw the Dogfish Head Pennsylvania Tuxedo. Anyone that has had more than one of DFH beers knows that they live up to their motto of "Off-Centered-Beers-For-Off-Centered-People". You are use to getting wild and crazy ingredients from the four corners of the world in you beer. Hey, its DFH, sometimes its great and sometimes — well lets say its just not my style. So, another spruce tip beer? Why not?

"It's like biting into a Christmas tree!"

I grabbed a four-pack, got home and poured one. Oooh, this is interesting. It's like biting into a Christmas tree, but without the tinsel. I loved the flash of tree-like quality, but this time it was well balanced and quite enjoyable. One is not enough, I want another. I raved to my beer geek buddies about this and they (mostly) had the same reaction. This was the first beer in some time that my reaction was "one is not enough,"

The DFH Background

Here is what the Dogfish has to say about their beer. "A spruce-infused 8.5% ABV Pale Ale. Brewed in collaboration with Family Run outerwear company in Woolrich, our two like-mined companies came together to make this beer with Pacific Northwest hop varieties to make a sessionable concoction with a grassy citrus kick complimented by the resinous conifer qualities of fresh green Spruce Tips.

"Brewed in collaboration with family-run outdoor clothing company Woolrich, Pennsylvania Tuxedo is a sessionable concoction with a grassy citrus kick complemented by the resinous conifer notes of fresh green spruce tips. We went into the forests of north-central Pennsylvania and Georgetown, Del., to pick these fresh tips ourselves. A dry yet doughy malt backbone lets the hops and spruce shine while still balancing out the bitterness, making this one an easy sipper."

Expert Opinion

For some reason I expected the beer boards at BeerAdvocate and Untappd to be as crazy about this beer as much as I was. I guess I'm old enough and just wise enough to really know better. If you pay any attention to the beer rating sites, you know reviews can be all over the place and often coming from (frankly) unqualified tasters. If you realize that these are merely someones opinion and thats all, then you can relax and enjoy your beer. Beer reviews are a mixed lot as mentioned in the All About Beer article of July 2015, Beer Reviews All About Beer The Agony and Ecstasy of Beer Reviews.

Someone with an educated opinion will try a beer and ask “does it taste how it’s supposed to” before reviewing. A novice drinker will rate solely based on how they like it. I see a lot of reviews on Untappd where people will give a beer a low rating and in the comment say it’s because they don’t like the style.

“There are no beer experts, just beer drinkers with opinions”

— Jason Alstrom, a founder of BeerAdvocate.com

The collective gave it 84 pts at BeerAdvocate while The Bros gave it a 90pt rating. I agree with The Bros. Untappd has is posted at 4-Stars, which is higher than when I first posted my review there. I was a bit concerned but it seems this beer has caught on. I attributed the early lower scores to the fact that spruce was not the taste for many of the hop-heads.

The beer rating article mentioned early may explain some of this thinking, "Someone with an educated opinion will try a beer and ask “does it taste how it’s supposed to” before reviewing. A novice drinker will rate solely based on how they like it. I see a lot of reviews on Untappd where people will give a beer a low rating and in the comment say it’s because they don’t like the style."

As for tasting an unusual ingredient such as hops, it says, "we’re seeing more and more brewers color outside of the lines — my feeling is that they should be as free as chefs to do so." Now isn't that the reason we are enjoying so many excellent beers today, brewers are taking some chances and getting excellent responses and kudos from the craft beer community.

Spruce As A Beer Ingredient

If you'd like to learn more about spruce as an ingredient in beer, here are two excellent sources.

The Oxford Companion to Beer is always an great source for information on beer history, styles and ingredients. About spruce in beer from Garrett Oliver's beer compendium... 

"The green shoots at the tips of the branches of evergreens, can be harvested in spring and used as a flavoring in beer. To the taste they are far less resinous than the more mature needles and twigs (although these can be used as well, to harsher effect) and even somewhat citrusy. When boiled in water they can provide either simple flavoring to the brewing liquor or, if further concentrated, an essence to be added to the ferment, as appears in recipes for spruce and pine ales dating as far back as the 17th century. It is reported that in 1769 when Captain James Cook landed in New Zealand, it was with beer on board made with a mash of spruce tips, a beverage with an added antiscorbutic element. Like many beers brewed with ingredients alternative to imported British malt and hops, evergreen-flavored beers were common in colonial American brewing, often combining with molasses as the primary fermentable."  Oliver, Garrett; Colicchio, Tom (2011-09-09). The Oxford Companion to Beer (Oxford University Press.

The Drunken Botanist is another fun information source on where our the ingredients for all kinds of "spiritual" drinks. If you are the person that likes to get a bit deeper on topics of your passion, then this is a handy reference to keep close. Ben Franklin has been associated with this special beer ingredient and the Yard's Spruce Tavern does have his face on its packaging. 

"Recipes for spruce beer were abundant in eighteenth-and nineteenth-century journals. Benjamin Franklin is widely credited with creating a recipe for the beer— but it wasn’t his invention. While he was ambassador to France, he copied several recipes from a cookbook called The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy, written by a woman named Hannah Glasse in 1747. He never meant to take credit for her recipe; he simply copied it for his personal use. Nonetheless, it was found among his papers, and the story that one of the Founding Fathers created a recipe for spruce beer was too good to resist. Modern re-creations of the recipe credit him alone, not Hannah Glasse." Stewart, Amy (2013-03-19). The Drunken Botanist. Algonquin Books.

Summary

While the DFH Pennsylvania Tuxedo may not be the first beer you think of as a winter seasonal beer, its special ingredient of spruce tips does make a compelling connection. I think, and hope, this becomes a regular seasonal release for Dogfish Head. While I still have a couple in my fridge, I know they won't last long.

Turkey Leg Beer

I love reading lists of beers for the seasons. For example, here is an excellent article, Thanksgiving Craft Beer Shopping List by Andy Skelton on CraftBeer.com, to assist you with beer selections for your Thanksgiving Day. But you know the problem with all of these articles is when you go to try to purchase Beers from these lists you discover that many of these are not shipped to your location.

So, if you live around Kent Island Maryland you’re some excellent Thanksgiving beers that you are likely to find.

Pairing With Turkey. I agree, witbeer is an excellent choice to pair with turkey. Probably the only ones you'll find off this shopping list is Namaste by Dogfish Head and Winter White Ale by Bell’s Brewing (a relatively new brewery to Maryland).  To add to that list, look for Clementine White Ale  by Clown Shoes and Blanch de Chambly by Unibroue (pronounced yoo-na-bru).  An even better choice may be the Unibroue Sommelier Selection. This is a 6-pack of some of their best beers.

Under farmhouse ales and saison,  you’re likely to find the Brooklyn brewing Sorachi Ace and perhaps the Saison Rue by The Bruery, both excellent and favorite brewing establishments.  I like to add another of my favorite beers to the list, the Tank 7 by Boulevard Brewing.  One more, while not a Saison,  Belgian beer go well with just about any meal. Boulevard Brewing’s Long Strange Tripel would be an excellent choice. Okay, one more in this category is Unibroue La Fin du Monde. For the money, I don't think you’ll find a better beer. While it translates as “the end of the world”, your world won't end if you bring (or serve) this beer to Thanksgiving dinner.

Under IPAs, you’ll likely find Hop Stupid by Lagunitas but I have some other choices for you. Look for Mo by Maine Brewing rather than the Lunch. By all means Lunch is a great beer but you're not likely to find it while Mo is more commonly found. Also, Bell’s Brewing Two Hearted Ale, while not an IPA, a very well balanced pale ale and constantly showing up in best beer lists.

On to porters. Breckenridge Vanilla Porter is a very drinkable dark beer but is on the lighter side, meaning not so thick, for the style. It has a hint of vanilla and is not overpowering. To bump it up some other dark beers to look for is Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout. This could be a meal by itself. Okay, it has been once or twice, I'll admit. But it is always a favorite and I often have this with a meal when found on the menu. The oatmeal adds a very nice smoothness to any beer. 

Some other beer selections to go with turkey are the marzen or Oktoberfest beers if you can still find them. A Vienna lager falls into that category as well with a good choice is the Great American Beer Festival Gold winner Devil Backbone’s Vienna Lager. A malt-forward beer that pairs very well with the light meat of a turkey.

On to dessert. You really didn't think we could miss this category. For sweetness, if that is what you are after try Southern Tier’s Choklat. Another dark beer of choice is Ballast Point Victory at Sea. This porter is much heavier than the Breckridge selection mentioned earlier and with hints of coffee and vanilla, make it a great beer for sipping after the big meal. Lindeman’s lambic fruit beers are great for their sweet notes and effervescence. Try the kriek (cherry). To go with the pumpkin pie try a pumpkin beer. This time of year it may be hard to find any left on the shelve since they first begin to appear in July. Always my recommendation, if you want a pumpkin beer for Thanksgiving, show some discipline, buy some and put them away. You should still be able to find Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale, one of those I look forward to every year.

Two sipping beers for you to consider. Allagash Brewing Curieux is a strong bourbon barrel-aged ale, usually found in 750 ml bottles. At 11% ABV, share this one with a loved one (of age of course). Also, White Oak by The Bruery is another favorite that would go well at the end of the evening. They call this a blend of wheat-wine aged in Bourbon barrels and their Belgian-style Golden Strong Ale.

Well, that’s a lot of beer, so you shouldn’t go without some excellent drinks to impress your guests or hosts. Cheers!