December, 2022

Today I’m recycling the cans/bottles from my Beer Advent Calendar, but first I wanted to go through them and see if I learned anything. Here are the beers in rough order of how much I enjoyed them, taking into consideration not only deliciousness (of course) but also comparison to expectations. Favorites in the top row, least favorite on the bottom.

Some notes:

• The Focal Point lager I already bought more of
• All three New England IPAs are in the top 10, surprising no-one
• The lagers did better than I expected
• All the beers (and the cider) on the bottom row disappointed me in some way, mostly for being too sweet
• The only over-the-top beer I might buy again is the Allagash Day’s End, but I would need to be in the right mood to drink it
• The sole hefeweizen, and the honey saison, would have done much better in warmer weather

Beer Advent Calendar day 24: Anchor Brewing Our Special Ale 2022. Subtle winter warmer (spice) flavors atop a very competent brown ale. This is the last beer in the calendar, and it’s been fun! I hope you enjoyed following along with me.

Sadly, I won’t be able to get this calendar again next year because the Newton franchise of Craft Beer Cellar is closing! I was able to go in one last time to thank him for the calendar and wish him well — and pick up some heavily discounted glassware.

Beer Advent Calendar day 23: Greater Good Gingerbread Ale, Imperial ale with cinnamon, ginger, and molasses. When I signed up for a Beer Advent Calendar I figured on getting a lot of beers like this one. I’m glad there have been a few, but I am just as glad most were just well-selected examples of non-season-specific styles.

Beer Advent Calendar day 22: Amory’s Tomb Farm Road Honey Saison. This is yet another beer that I would probably pass by on the shelf, and yet is more to my liking than I’d expect from reading the can. “Crisp, easy drinking, and light” is not what I’m looking for this time of year; but there’s more complexity here than that description implies.

Beer Advent Calendar day 21: Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter. Now that’s what I’m talking about, a proper brew for the longest night of the year. Dark as midnight, a lot of roastiness backed by some sweetness, and as the bottle says, “tons of strange American hops”.

Beer Advent Calendar day 20: Rockport Brewing Jetty Juice, New England IPA. The third NEIPA in the lineup. This one is less tropical, less floral, more pine along with citrus, so perhaps more seasonally appropriate. Just don’t tell them I’m drinking it out of a Trillium glass.

Beer Advent Calendar day 19: Tröegs The Mad Elf, holiday ale brewed with cherries and honey. This one is a little Too Sweet For Doug. There are some interesting flavors under there that I hope come forward as may palate adjusts.

Beer Advent Calendar day 18: Baxter Stowaway India pale ale. This is the bitterest beer in the lineup so far. I’d say it’s seasonally appropriate if only because of the amount of it consumed by New Englanders at various ski lodges throughout the winter.

Beer Advent Calendar day 17: Bent Water Horchata Relic, imperial stout with vanilla beans and cinnamon, aged in rum barrels. What was I saying about non-extreme beers? This one is 12.3% ABV — just 2 percentage points less than the Malbec I had with dinner. Cinnamon is very assertive, almost hot (backed up by the alcohol I’m sure). Glad I’m not driving!

Beer Advent Calendar day 16: Allagash Day’s End. “Ale brewed with Lambrusco grape must, Angelica root, and bitter orange, aged in bourbon barrels. Inspired by the Boulevardier cocktail.” See, this is why I’ve essentially stopped homebrewing. If I tried something like this it would turn out the flavor equivalent of Kindergarten Brown. But the pros have the experience — and the practice runs — to pull it off.