Cold weather, warm fires shared with friends and family from near and far. This could only mean one thing – The Holiday Season is finally upon us! Join us as we speak with some of craft beer’s greatest minds about not only what makes a great holiday brew, but also hear about some of their personal favorites.
Everyone’s favorite time of year is here once again. Wrapped gifts underneath trees inside the house, frightful weather outside with delightful friends, family and fires to keep us warm all season long. Even more comforting; ‘tis the season for all of our favorite holiday and winter brews to warm our frosty spirits.
When it comes to craft beer, of course we want something we know we will enjoy, but it’s more than just drinking something that makes your taste buds happy. It is about making ourselves happy as a whole. Enhancing an experience with the right craft beer can really kick any event to the next level. Not sure what holiday brew to choose this season? Worry no more. We reached out to some of San Diego’s greatest craft beer minds to let you in on what they feel are some of the top winter brews for you to enjoy.
When asked about the key elements in a winter time brew, Yiga Miyashiro, Head Brewer of Pizza Port Ocean Beach says he looks for a classic style that will slowly warm him up as well as deliver many different flavor notes. “I really enjoy classic winter time styles. When you’re in a setting where you’re only going to sip on one, maybe two beers I really like Imperial Stouts, Strong Scotch Ales, Barley Wines and Belgian Dark Strong’s.” He continues, “Sipping on a beer that slowly warms you and keeps opening different doors of flavor as you sip it is so pleasurable. The great ones have had a brewer strive over the recipe to create a complex, interesting, and drinkable beverage. As a drinker I feel you can taste the hard work and passion that goes into a beverage like that. As a brewer I have so much respect for someone that has put the time into perfecting a style where imperfections can easily be hidden.”
A Scotch Ale, also known as Wee Heavy, tend to be mildly dark in color and boast a sweet and malty flavor with a well balanced hop character throughout, melding well with toasty malts and some smokiness.
Barley Wine ales are one of the strongest of beer styles, typically with a very high ABV. Although called “wine” it is very much a beer. Brewed in the style of other beers, of course. Barley Wine ales almost always run heavy on the hop character. They are often copper in color with flavors ranging from a super bitter, strong hop character, to strong fruity aromas.
An Imperial stout is a style of beer that has been brewed since the 18th century. Imperial Stout’s are dark and strong, bearing deep and complex flavors of roasted or burned malts as well as heavy tones of chocolate. These brews are also typically higher in ABV, which help warm the soul as you sip.
Ryan Lamb, Executive Editor of WestCoasterSD.com, broke his favorite holiday styles down by categories. “First up are beers with a coffee element; friends and family are often surprised to learn that many local beers use local beans. Ballast Point’s Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter and AleSmith’s Speedway Stout are two of my favorites.” Porters and stouts are two dark, roasted styles that are often brewed with coffee in the recipes.
Ryan Lamb continues his favorites by saying, “Second is the ‘tradition’ category: St. Bernardus’ Christmas Ale has a festival label and is one of the most balanced Belgian holiday beers. I also enjoy Anchor Brewing Company’s Christmas Ale, which has been brewed with a different recipe every year since 1975. You can get it in six-packs or a 1.5 liter magnum bottle, which is fun for big parties. Lastly I’m a sucker for good label art, and Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale gets it right with a snowy log cabin, poinsettias and hope bines (the beer’s really good, too). You can’t forget about Port Brewing’s Santa’s Little Helper Russian Imperial Stout either; a reindeer, an elf and Santa drinking together is a pretty funny image, even though Santa had to be blacked out for label approval. “
Claudia Faulk, CFO and Managing Partner of Aztec Brewing Company says, “When the weather turns cold, we (as a whole) tend to go more towards the darker often heavier styles of beer, maybe due to bring in the hibernation spirit or a compliment to the short dark days…Who knows? Something is comforting about the thought of curling up near a warm fire, with a mug of rich dark beer in your hand. Sipping it slowly and letting the flavor and alcohol do its work.” When asked about her favorite winter styles she says, “Sierra Nevada Celebration, a Christmas beer that they put out every year. At Aztec – we are putting out a special barley wine to celebrate the Mayan/Aztec end of the year 12/21/12, called Doomsday Barley Wine. Our Noche de los Muertos is another great winter sipping beer. Smooth and warm, with a glimmer of cinnamon, it packs a powerful and unsuspecting punch with its 10.2% ABV. It definitely warms a cold winter night.”
This time of year, a lot of breweries break out the holiday spice for their holiday releases. Clinton Smith, California Sales Manager from Coronado Brewing Company tells us, “Some of my favorite holiday beers are the ones that capture the aromas and flavors that I associate with the holidays. Think pumpkin pie, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and ginger. Smell is the strongest trigger to memory, and what better way then to drink a beer that encompasses some of those qualities, then takes us back to some of our greatest holiday moments with our loved ones. Also, beers higher in ABV fit this mold. They can hold up to the heartiest of meals that we tend to eat around the holidays.”
When asked about his favorite holiday brews, Clinton Smith told us, “Anchor Christmas, Samuel Adams Winter Lager, Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, Alesmith Yulesmith, Port Brewing Barrel Aged Santa’s Little Helper and Coronado Brewing’s Blue Bridge Coffee Stout are some excellent options that are sure to please!”
Commercial brewers are not the only ones breaking out the spice for their winter releases. We spoke with award winning home brewer Cody Scott about not only what he looks for in a holiday beer, but also what he wants to share with friends and family.
“Typically stronger, more malt forward beers are some of my top choices for the winter season. Double and Triple Bocks, Imperial Stouts & Porters, of course any spiced beer. Winter means I have less and less daylight and I’m spending more time indoors, I like to give my family and friends a beer to talk about, challenge their pallet, and warm their bones.” He continues, “As a home brewer, I like to take some of my standard brew recipes and bump up the grain bills, add some choice seasonal spices and or rack onto oak, nuts and fruit. Winter calls for big beers, but that doesn’t always have to translate to huge ABV. Getting a good complexity is what I look for in seasonal beers. Bring on the caramel and biscuit notes, rounded off with roasted barley and wheat, with hints of spice that make everything nice.”
Mike Hinkley, owner of Green Flash Brewing Company told us he looks for something, “Full of flavor and emotion, just like the season. Whether the hoppy crispness, sturdy malt backbone and American Craft tradition of Celebration or the Belgian Dark-Strong-Estery complexity Green Flash Grand Cru.” He continues, “I had a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale yesterday and not only did I love it, but I was transported back in time. My favorite Green Flash beer this Holiday season is our Grand Cru. It is dark and strong and warming. This is the first release of the beer in two years, so it is fun to have it back again. I put a five-gallon keg on tap at my house to share with friends for the next month.”
As craft beer lovers, we all understand the importance of pairing your beer with the perfect meal. As we mentioned before, pairing your beer with the occasion can enhance any holiday into that perfect moment.
To enhance Yiga Miyashiro’s holiday experience, he likes to share something with friends and family that, so they can all sip together during holiday gatherings. “I love that there are so many social gatherings during the holidays. I like to bring and share beers that you can sip on all night. Commercially Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, and Anchor Brewing Company’s Christmas are classic beers that always have a place at a holiday party.” He continues, “A great thing about living in San Diego is that weather is so nice. So a great fresh IPA that’s brewed locally always has a place in my hand.”
Home brewer Cody Scott says the holiday season is all about, “Sharability…plain and simple. A perfect holiday brew is one that can be shared, liked by all and brings everyone together. Nothing warms up a home like good conversation over an exceptional beer, whatever the style.”
In closing, there really is no right answer for what you might enjoy during the holidays. There are a lot of very special and very delicious holiday craft beers out there to help enhance your winter.
When it comes to enhancing the holiday season, Ryan Lamb from WestCoasterSD.com sums it up quite perfectly. “I look for either interesting ingredients, a cool story or as I mentioned above, good label art. A combination of all three is best. As for elements that enhance the occasion? Beer-bearing friends in ugly sweaters might help!”
Happy Holidays!
Special Thanks to everyone who participated in the article! Check out their respective websites for all things craft beer!
WestCoaster SD
Coronado Brewing Co.
Green Flash Brewing Co.
Aztec Brewing Co.
Pizza Port OB
Cody Scott Twitter