Christmas Beer Club 2009
 

This year, Chuck (step father in law) did the Beer Club again. He buys a bunch of cases of beer, and splits them up between himself and 11 or 12 friends. We got what came out to a case of beer plus 3 BIG beers. 2 of most, one each of the big beers.

I'll share pics of the beers, and my opinion of how they taste.

first up is He'Brew Ale by Shmaltz Brewery. 13th anniversary holiday beer. It has 13 kinds of Hops, 13 malts, and is 13% ABV

http://images2b.snapfish.com/2323232...5%3A3345nu0mrj

Jewbelation:

http://images2b.snapfish.com/2323232...59499345nu0mrj

This is a super dark stout. It's sweet and smooth, and not at all bitter. I assume it's Kosher, too. 8 mugs out of 10 for this one.

Folliwing that one up with the Port Brewery's Imperial Stout.

http://images2d.snapfish.com/2323232...5%3A4345nu0mrj

This one has that grapefruitey kind of bitter bite like you get in a pilsner....not bad, but not my favorite kind of stout. It's also very dark and is 10% ABV. i'm buzzing after these two..... I'll go 5 mugs on this one.

http://images2b.snapfish.com/2323232...49%3B345nu0mrj

Weyerbacher Winter Ale

Now THIS is a fine beer. fine fine fine. smooth and crisp, and just a hint of bitter to curb the sweetness of the malt... nice clean finish, anda mellow after glow.

it's another dark ale, but it has a nice light flavor and feel. 9 mugs. I would like a case of this beer for christmas please.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aAMgJW-puH...88768f05ac.jpg

this is a nice ale. Bell's Winter White Ale. rather like Blue Moon White ale. It has a sweet taste, but it's drier than blue moon. no bitterness at all......nice and light......would be great on a hot day even. not an overpowering flavor, but decidedly un-boring. I stole this picture because the one i took was crap.

8 mugs~!

moar!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DzNDMCAvW5...0/IMG_0004.jpg

Smuttynose Winter Ale

dark beer, chocolatey taste......like a tootsie roll. wouldn't be able to drink a lot of these at one time, but it would be a great compliment to a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

7 mugs..... it's a dessert beer, really.

So I made beest a Beer Advent calendar this year. He's not too impressed with some of the beers. It had Full Moon (Blue moon winter ale), Red Snapper, "SnakeDog or something" (I just asked him) and Sam Adams. The calendar looks great and isn't falling apart like the first on eI did a couple of years ago.... but he really only likes the Sam Adams..... :(

with real beers?!@($!?????

beest!

put reviews in here too, dude!

real beers of course! Didn't you get one?

http://www.united-nations-of-beer.co...t-21136280.jpg
Brooklyn Brewery Chocolate Stout

kind of half way between the he'brew and the Port stout. rich and creamy.....not bad at all. 7.5 mugs

http://www.troegs.com/assets/images/...ad-elf-ale.jpg

from their site:i would agree. 9 mugs....this beer is bangin'

http://www.dailyhops.com/wp-content/...winter-ale.jpg

bitter.

3 mugs

but i'll drink it cuz it's 7.2 % abv

From the Deschutes Brewery.


These say 2009 but I had them last year or last winter. I'll have to try them again but they were very good compared with my opinion of Blue Moon and Snow Cap and Flat Tire which are overrated.

Black Butte Aged Porter.( #21 -2009 version )
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2786/...24c986f3be.jpg

http://www.drinkhacker.com/2009/07/0...i-aged-porter/

If you want to go to sleep that one will do it.

My favorite was Jubelale

http://www.nwmicrobrews.com/Deschutes/Jubelale_2006.jpg



review
http://www.drinkhacker.com/2009/09/1...nter-ale-2009/

Mad Elf is a personal favorite. You have to get it early in the season.

The description of Mad Elf sounds delicious.