The Tale of Two Christmas Ales

Tis the season to be on the hunt for the best of the best Winter Warmers.  I have tried several (shocking, I know) and to my delight I have not tossed any in the sink in disgust. 

Just to list a few...

Iron Hill Brewery - Winter Warmer

Flying Dog - K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale

Harpoon - Winter Warmer (My ultimate favorite)

Lancaster Brewing Company - Winter Warmer

All of the brews were pretty tasty and the Harpoon Winter Warmer is FANTASTIC! I serve it in a glass rimmed with a little simple syrup dipped in cinnamon and sugar.  Pure Christmas Bliss.

I would have liked to review each Winter Warmer but I decided  to pick just two and I thought the two with the same name was the ticket.  Christmas Ale by Great Lakes Brewery and St.Louis Brewery/Schlafly Bottleworks.

St.Louis Brewey/Schafly Bottleworks

Christmas Ale - 8% ABV

I happen to see it in the make your own six pack and thought, what the hell.  In the cart it went with a few other treasures. 

Hello, Christmas in a bottle!!!  Really!  I opened the bottle and instantly smelled orange and cloves.  The color of this bottle of Noel was a rich amber with a small creamy head.  It did not hold the head for long but it had a decent amount of carbonation.

I was not too sure with the orange action oozing from the bottle but the fist sip proved my intuition to be wrong!  What a well balanced, sweet, yet not too sweet, spiced, fruity, and just a drinkable beer. Oh, and with a respectable ABV of 8% I was feeling mighty festive after three bottles.

Great Lakes Brewing Company

Christmas Ale - 7.5% ABV

Even though they share the same name the two beers are completely different.  The Schafly Christmas Ale had an orange flavor that lingered with some clove but this number used honey, ginger, and cinnamon.  Great Lakes once again did not let me down.

After I emptied the bottle out into a glass. the head rose to at least 3 fingers high.  When the head slowly shrank a beautiful copper colored ale was left in the glass. 

The taste was constantly evolving.  I instantly tasted ginger, then honey, and last cinnamon.  The three flavors melted together to produce a well brewed ale.  Again, with a nice 7.5% ABV it left you no choice to feel all warm and fuzzy for Christmas.

So, if some of you faithful readers want to try a good Winter Warmer instead of trying to hide that obnoxious Elf on the Shelf try some of my picks!

Cherrs!

~K~





Iron Hill Brewery's release of the Imperial Pumpkin Ale

 Iron Hill Brewery

Imperial Pumpkin Ale

8.8% ABV

Finally, I made it to Iron Hill Brewery for their release party of the Imperial Pumpkin Ale.  There was music, pumpkin carving, and Chris (head brewer) walking around in a jack-o-lantern shirt. The restaurant was extremely festive!  You could not help but smile as you were pulled back to the simple childhood days when you heard the band playing the Peanuts theme song.  Ahh, memories. 

When our waitress asked us if we wanted to start with a drink I quickly rattled off three beers to try and a Imperial Pumpkin for me.  You see, my mama came with me and I had to show her why Miller Lite is not worthy.  We tried the Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Pumpkin Ale, and the Scottish Ale again.  I thought the Scottish Ale was light and low enough in ABV so her noggin would not explode.  After trying her samples, my mama went for the Imperial Pumpkin too!  I did try the Pumpkin Ale and it was a little on the bitter side and not as full bodied as the Imperial Pumpkin.

The Imperial Pumpkin is considered to be the BIG BROTHER to the Pumpkin Ale.  It has a fuller body because it is brewed with additional molasses and Belgian candi sugar along with pumpkin spices.  I certainly picked up on the spices and molasses.  It was smooth, a beautiful amber color, and the cascade in the glass made it even more enticing.  My first glass went down so fast that I had to order another so I could savor all the flavors and appreciate Chris' workmanship.  Blah ha ha...I will say anything to get another beer.

Cartoon Christmas Trio

As the music came to an end I saw the table behind me stocking up on beer like Hurricane Irene was on her way back!  Seriously, they were on a mission. They had several growlers and a few bottles of the Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale (Imperial Pumpkin Ale aged in bourbon barrels).  It was my idea of a perfect family portrait...lots of beer, smiles from ear to ear (I am sure the Imperial Pumpkin had a small part in that), and to top it off an adorable little girl with a infectious giggle!

To end my perfect afternoon, I sent my mom home with my daughter and I skipped out of Iron Hill with my son and growler in tow. 

Cheers!

~K~





A Fish, a Pig, and The Second Rising

This past friday Kathleen and I met at Iron Hill Brewery for a long overdue lunch. I was dying to try the new 

seasonal releases - spefically Ironfish, a collaborative brew between Iron Hill and Flying Fish Brewing Co.

 

Our waitress, Nancy, was awesome. Since I told her I was a hoppy girl, she suggested I also try Second Rising, which is their Rising Sun brew with double the hops. She also brought out a sample of the Unassisted Tripel (IBU 35, ABV 9.4%), a smooth, wonderful Belgian ale that balances bitterness with hints of spices and sweet plums. My husband, a loyal Miller Lite drinker (I know), drank an entire growler of this beer 2 years ago on his birthday and passed out on the couch with the jug still in his hand. He he.

Anyway, back to lunch. We started out with 4 samples - Scottish Ale, Unassisted Tripel (mentioned above), Second Rising, and Ironfish. I tasted the Scottish Ale (IBU 14, ABV 3.4%) first (I think). It is a very nice, drinkable ale. And by "drinkable", I mean you can drink several while hanging with friends and family and not be sorry for it the next morning. Smooth and light, with a lovely chestnut color.

The Second Rising (IBU 80, ABV 7%) was next. It was delish, a little citrus-y, with a not too hoppy finish. I loved it. Perfect in-between beer for hop-haters on the edge.

Lovely deep amber color. Sigh. This came second for me, actually, because first I ordered a half-mug of the Ironfish:

Just look at that color. Come. To. Mama.

(Pig Iron Porter in the background)

I have to say this: when I first tasted the sample, I felt as though someone slapped me across the face, hard. And I liked it. This beer is INSAAAANE! And when you read INSAAAANE, please pretend that I (or the voice in your head) is speaking like a WWF commentator. With an IBU of 50 and an ABV of 8.2%. this brew packs a flavorful punch. This is an Imperial Black Belgian IPA with plenty of hoppy bitterness, fruit and spice from Flying Fish's Belgian yeast, and a roast-y finish. Luscious. Perfection, in my opinion. OH, and I would give it a GBF of 8 - after sampling it I deliberated over the menu for 20 minutes, which never happens. Poor Nancy!

Poor Nancy? Poor Nancy?!  Poor Kathleen!!!  I had to taste the Ironfish and just about lost all sensation in my mouth!  Ugh!!  It was N A S T Y!!!  I know I am a hop-hater and love my pumpkin ales right now, but this was taking the hops to another level!  If I do recall, I even gave the glass the finger!  True story! (Yep, true story - I took a pic, but it was blown out. I almost had to peel Kath off of the ceiling! ~ G)

After that holy crap moment I tried the Scottish Ale. Now that is more like it.  Smooth, light, and had a nutty finish.  Gab is right on with the drinkabilty factor.  I can see myself drinking this all afternnoon and not getting too buzzed. 

When "Poor Nancy" geesh, came to take our beer order I went for the good ole' Pig Iron.  It was delivered with a perfect head and it was still dancing in the glass.  The Pig Iron had a malty, coffee, and chocolate flavor that was all very pleasing.  I almost felt like a Pig in...well you know where I was going with that one.  Let's just say This little Piggy was a winner! 

Stay tuned for another review  - we are getting ready to taste the Imperial Pumpkin Ale that Iron Hill is going to release in a few short weeks!  I know I am dusting off my growler to take some home!

Cheers!

~G & K~

Iron Hill 2-year Anniversary

Anvil Ale 5.1% ABV

Iron Hill Brewery

2 Year Anniversary Celebration

It started out as a usual Saturday afternoon, but low and behold Iron Hill Brewery was in full swing at noon!  They were celebrating their two year anniversary! To celebrate this momentous day they were offering tours, raffles, free appetizers to Mug Club Members, and special releases. Oh, happy day!

I first saw they had my favorite, an oldie but goodie...Winter Warmer!  They called it “Christmas in July”, a bourbon-aged version of our Winter Warmer.  It was almost as good as I remembered!  In the winter, Iron Hill would rim the glass with a simple syrup and a mix of cinnamon and sugar, which in my opinion made it PERFECT!  Today they omitted the glass dressing, but the beer was on spot!  

Winter Warmer, a dark ale aged in used Bourbon barrels for four months! 8.0% APV

Next my hubs, Rob (the hop-lover that I am not) tried the Anvil Ale. (Pictured Above)

It was light in color, but it tasted like flowers!  The description in the menu was...

A medium -bodied, copper-colored,  English-style best bitter with a noticeable malt flavor. Finishes with hop bitterness and floral hop flavor.  It was $6.00 for 16 oz and at a 5.1% APV.

I did not like it at all, but Rob ordered not one but two glasses.  If you like hops, order this little number!

 Right before I was finishing my beer I spied Chris LaPierre, who is Iron Hill's Master Brewer in Maple Shade and I asked him for a tour of the brewery. He not only was extremely nice, he was also very knowledgeable.  He came over to our table and took my family for a tour.  He explained the process from start to finish and even had barley for us to see and sample.

After the tour I was ready to try another beer. I asked out server to try the Cannibal. The description was light in color and medium-bodied but complex in flavor. Unique Belgian yeast imparts notes of spice and tropical fruit. It was $5.25 for 12oz and packed a 7.5% ABV.  I again, a hop hater, did not like it.  It was not terrible but not what I would sit and drink.  I voiced my opinion to the server and she recommended the Hefeweizen. 

Hefeweizen  4.8% APV

Immediately after receiving the sample I noticed the color was a little cloudier and the aroma was more appealing to me. It was crisp and refreshing with a hint of citrus. The description in the menu was a traditional unfiltered Bavarian Wheat beer, light and effervescent. It starts off with a refreshing tangy-ness and finishes with a distant yeast character of banana and clove.  I personally did not pick up clove or the banana, but got the citrus flavor.  It was on my likey list for sure.  It was reasonably prices at $6.00 for 16oz.

Overall the trip to Iron Hill Brewery was, as always, a pleasure.  If you are ever in the mood for eclectic food and distinct craft brews, stop in for a spell.  They have several locations and an informative website too. I promise you will not be disappointed!

Cheers!

K