Beer 12

Beer Advent Calendar day 12: not beer at all! Today’s selection is Stormalong Happy Holidays Holiday Spiced Cider. In pie form I would like these flavors. But as a beverage it’s too one-dimensional, too far in the sweet direction. I may add some cocktail bitters to try to balance things out.

Beer 11

Beer Advent Calendar day 11: Notch Dunkel, Munich-style dark lager. The 2nd Munich dunkel in the calendar. Compared to Beer 7, this one is significantly darker with more roastiness and bitterness.

Beer 10

Beer Advent Calendar day 10: Smuttynose Cherry Cheesecake Sour. Now, that’s more like it for a seasonal beer. I do in fact get the flavors mentioned in the name. We’ll see if it’s enjoyable for an entire pint, or if the novelty wears thin.

Beer 8

Beer Advent Calendar day 8: Brick & Feather Half-Light Sunbeam

The second New England IPA so far. This one has a light, almost citrusy flavor. Brewed in Norwood, MA, less than 15 miles from my house.

Beer 7

Beer Advent Calendar day 7: Focal Point Munich Dunkel Lager. This is the second lager in the calendar. Nice roasty grains in this one, as you can tell by the color. The can says, “Each case of this beer supports 109 square feet of local farmland.”

Beer 6

Beer Advent Calendar day 6: Little Willow Star Chaser, New England IPA. A style that takes what would have been a defect 20 years ago (haziness) and runs with it. This one is from a tiny brewery in Florence (Northampton), MA; so small that the address is a house and it’s actually brewed in Connecticut.

Beer 5

Beer Advent Calendar day 5: Wandering Soul Past Life Vienna Lager

I did not have high hopes for tonight’s selection, but it’s good. So far the beer omnivore in me is really appreciating the wide range of styles in this Calendar.

Beer 3

Beer Advent Calendar day 3: Founders French Toast Bastard, vanilla cinnamon maple bourbon barrel aged Scotch ale. I am drinking it out of a Medieval Manor 8oz beer glass because it’s 11.1% and also might give me diabetes.