December Tasting: Christmas Beers
Friday, December 21st, 2007 | Tasting Reviews
Bartenders Sammy & Tasia helped with the tasting
Thanks for all those who attended the December tasting at Chuck’s house. I thought it was a huge success and have posted pictures on the web site. I didn’t catch who brought what beer, but here is the roll call and the selection that we had (quite an impressive list)….
Attendees…
- Chuck & Sally
- Joe & Cathy Barter
- Mike & Lori
- Matt & Tina
- Steve
- Luke
- Todd
- Dave H
- Dave S
- Andrew W.
- Andrew S.
- +bartenders Sammy and Tasia
Beers Sampled….
- Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
- Great Lakes Christmas Ale
- Great Divide Hibernation Ale
- Penn Brewery St. Nikolaus Bock
- Mike’s Happy Holidays Ale
- Anderson Valley Winter Solstice
- Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve
- Goose Island Christmas Ale
- Bell’s Winter Welcome
- Anchor Steam Christmas Ale 2004
- Anchor Steam Christmas Ale 2007
- Killer Penguin BarleyWine
- Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve (20 oz bottle, I guess this was a duplicate)
- Trader Joe’s 2005 Vintage Ale
- Young’s Winter Warmer
- AleSmith Yuletide Holiday Ale
- Barrelhouse Belgian Style Winter Ale
- Church Brew Works Belgian Triple mini-keg (which kept well the next day).
I thought they were all good, as best as I can remember. But the ones that stood out for me in particular were Penn Brewery St. Nikolaus, Great Divide Hibernation Ale and the AleSmith Holiday Ale. I was also very impressed with Mike’s homebrew — I thought it stood up well next to any of them. Great job, Mike.
I thought it was also interesting to do the Anchor Steam vertical tasting. You could really taste the difference in the aged beer — it was much smoother with the spruce flavor being a little mellower. Someone commented that the 2004 had more of an alcohol taste to it. I preferred the 2004, but others liked the 2007. It was bolder and more intense flavors.
As a side note, we forgot to split up the extra’s and I have a ton of beer in my refrigerator which I will not be able to drink or store. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood Friday or Saturday. Also, somebody left a nice sweatshirt with a West Virginia logo on it. It’s a nice sweatshirt, but due to the logo, I could only use it for like changing my oil, etc. 
Happy Holidays.