If it's one of these, it counts double:
https://thirstydog.com/portfolio-ite...-of-christmas/
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.
Ah, spruce tips. Some of you may have heard this story live. When I was home brewing, Anchor’s Our Special Ale was unique every year, and that year the special ingredient was spruce. I took it upon myself to try to brew a spruce beer for the subsequent Christmas. The spruce extract I purchased from the homebrew store said 1 tablespoon per gallon, or the whole bottle for a 5 gallon batch.
The resultant undrinkable batch of beer smelled like Pine Sol, and never having tasted Pine Sol, tasted how I imagined Pine Sol might taste.
I had brewed 48 22oz bombers of this beer, and every month for a few months I cracked open a new bottle, same result.
I ended up pouring out all but six bottles. Every year for 3 years I cracked open a new bottle. Never changed, so I eventually poured the last 3 out.
I did brew some good beer; my Christmas spruce amber was NOT one of them. 🤣🤣🤣
2019 Highland Cold Mountain
I never quite got all the hype (although, to be charitable, I never quite get the hype for anything ... including Sexual Chocolate). To me, this is a solid Cat 2 beer. I like the dark copper color, the long-lingering head and the mix of spices (from vanilla to cinnamon, among others). And I buy some every year. But for me it’s not, “OMG, gimme more of *that*!” level. Good beer this time of year. But not cult-worthy.
"Amazing what a minute can do."
From Wednesday evening:
Javanog-Haw River Farmhouse Ales
From a nearby zipcode
Credit-knowledge, adventure and being nowhere near my credit limit this month
Format-pint can
Style-really? java? nog? holiday season? (it's listed on the label as a coffee cream stout
Appearance-dark, dark brown; the java triumphs over the nog
Nose-coffee; cream; spices
Mouthfeel-smooth
Tastes-as the nose goes; nutmeg; milk chocolate; rum (it is rum barrel aged); vanilla; cream
Adjuncts-lactose, nutmeg, vanilla beans and coffee beans; no eggs were harmed in brewing this ale
IBU-48 (higher than perceived)
ABV-7.2% (lower than perceived; this has a pretty stiff punch)
Overall impression-Santa would highly approve and likely want more than one
Ymm, Beer rating-cat 3; worth seeking; a great concoction to sip with family and friends this season
I guess I've returned to rating (almost) all Haw River brews as cat 3 and I enjoyed Javafruitcake as much as I enjoyed this one and should've given that a 3, too.
[redacted] them and the horses they rode in on.