Winter Beers Equal Holiday Cheers!

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Even though the streets of Kalamazoo are flooding due to the severe weather the entire Midwest has been subjected to in the past 24 hours, I can't help but continue to think about the magical blanket of thick and fluffy white snow that will soon cover the mitten state.


And let's be honest, every year I feel the same way about it.


I'm sorry, I adore Michigan. And not having snow on Christmas is sacrilege, but thinking about scraping off my car every morning and night, shoveling my driveway, turning up the heat, having to buy new boots because every year I choose price over quality and every year I end up with wet socks. 

Also, snow pants. I have come full circle and now appreciate them. There was a time in the middle where it was embarrassing, from about age 10 through relatively recently. But now I would rather go to the bar looking like a marshmallow then be cold. Sorry everyone that has to witness that.

But speaking of the bar, let's talk about the one great part about cold weather, and that's the type of beer you're about to see flood menus across Michigan.

BRING ON THE WINTER BEER. Because winter beer equals holiday cheer.

In no particular order, I present to you my list of the Top 10 Winter Beers I am most excited to drink this holiday season, and you should be excited too. 






10. Santa's Private Reserve Ale - Rogue (6% ABV)



Thank goodness Santa's not holding out on us anymore. You should probably treat yourself to this at some point, regardless as to whether you have been naughty or nice. You've got your basic hoppy red ale with additional notes of orange peel and holiday spices. A sweet and bitter treat.

9. 2XMAS - Southern Tier Brewing Company (8% ABV)



Taking in the aroma of this beer is like smelling a gingerbread/sugar cookie hybrid. This beer is full of figs, orange peel, and holiday baking spices, everything you need for a truly solid Christmas ale. Southern Tier always brews delicious, people pleasing beers, and this is certainly no exception.




8.  Bourbon Barrel Soaked Sustenance Black Beer - Short's Brewing Co. (6.5% ABV)



Ok, so this one doesn't directly reference the holidays in the title. But trust me, when the snow comes down and your socks are wet and you're too poor to turn the heat up, this is the beer you want. The old label actually used to have a turkey sitting on a barrel, which is pretty Thanksgiving-y if you ask me, but the new one isn't bad either. Kind of looks like my tiny family around the Thanksgiving table.

Feel free to point out that this beer is released in early spring. But trust me, there is nothing, nothing I tell you, that feels like sitting in front of a toasty fire in your favorite flannel pajamas than this beer. Probably because, as Short's so aptly describes it, this beer is bourbon barrel soaked. You've got a great oaky char in there, and certainly prominent vanilla notes which to me, allude to baking on Christmas eve, but the star player is the bourbon.


6. Ursus - Greenbush (8.9% ABV)



Greenbush actually has three winter beer options this year, including Mammoth (weizenbock) and Jadis (winter white). But I'm mot excited to try Ursus, an old winter ale. It boasts roasty chocolate malts and notes of dark fruit, along with a surprise addition of maple sap. I'm really looking forward to grabbing a glass this season. Label not pictured here, but it's got a very menacing looking bear on it. I'm a fan.


5. Plow Horse - Brewery Vivant (9.5% ABV)

                            

Winter is stout season, and this Belgian Imperial stout absolutely blew me away the first time I tried it. Its official release month is November, so now is the time people! This beer is just huge and robust, everything a great stout should be. Wonderfully balanced, delightfully complex, it's a Christmas miracle! But it's actually not, because I think we've all come to expect nothing less from Brewery Vivant.


9. Christmas Ale - Great Lakes (7.5% ABV)


Great Lakes Brewing Company has just celebrated their 25th Anniversary this year, and with options like this, it's no wonder they've been brewing strong for so long! This seasonal ale is a glorious offering to anyone looking to experience some serious holiday cheer in a pint. It's brewed with honey, ginger, and cinnamon, which gives this beer a great savory to sweet balance. Definitely don't wait until Christmas day to open up a bottle of this stuff.


4. Christmas Ale - Goose Island (7.5% ABV)



I look forward to this truly spectacular Christmas ale every single year. Distinctly sweet, like plums, brown sugar, vanilla, and orange zest. I know first hand that this stuff ages well, so if you grab yourself a six pack, consider cellaring a bottle or two to appease the you of Christmas future.

3. Noel de Calabaza - Jolly Pumpkin (9% ABV)



All I want for Christmas is a Jolly Pumpkin in Kalamazoo. I have an obsession. Some days, only a Jolly Pumpkin brew will do, and for those days that also happen to be around the holidays, there is Noel de Calabaza for your drinking pleasure. Its flavor is equally full of dark fruit and nuts as it is chocolate rum truffles. The only thing that keeps me from confidently stating that this is my favorite winter beer is that it's not nearly as readily available as I would like. So when you see it, snatch it up because Jolly Pumpkin beers have a habit of flying off the shelf like Santa's reindeer.

2. Three Philosophers - Brewery Ommegang (9.8% ABV)



This Belgian quad is one of the most outstanding beers I have ever had. It's fitting that it was created around the description of someone's dream beer in a contest. I will actually direct you to my review of this beer from a few months ago. But as far as why this gets ranked into a winter beer list, the sweet rum raisin, dark cherries and cloves you pull from this beer would pair perfectly with any holiday meal. Or it can certainly stand alone on a cold winter's night.



1. Breakfast Stout - Founder's Brewing (8.3% ABV)



Winter is stout season. Breakfast Stout is the perfect stout. It's basic math. There is truly nothing even mediocre about this beer. Beautiful layers of Kona and Sumatra coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and oats make up the foundational flavors of this cornerstone beer from one of Michigan's best breweries. Bonus! If you're reading this out of state, this beer is distributed nationally, so make sure to keep an eye out for it wherever you normally shop for your favorite craft beer.






THE GREAT PUMPKIN (BEER) OFF FEATURING 22. SOUTHERN TIER BREWING CO. - WARLOCK

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Ok, ok. I know I said I was only going to do one more of these, but I stumbled upon Warlock at Central City Tap House at lunch today, and I have a little extra time before work so why the hell not explore this beer a little bit.

Warlock is Southern Tier Brewing Co.'s Imperial Pumpkin Stout (8.6% abv).

Poured into a tulip in the dark bar, the beer is almost completely opaque but not for a touch of red/brown.

Aroma is a pleasant bouquet of roasted coffee, allspice and vanilla.

The taste is definitely like your bartender mixed your basic stout with Pumking. It's got the same pumpkin pie sweetness, spice and vanilla cream notes mixed with dark coffee, bitter chocolate and roasty malts. Touches of real pumpkin come in as this beer hits about room temperature.

It's actually a pretty dry finish on this guy, almost chalky. But in general, very thick and rich with a nice alcohol presence.

I really loved it. After Smashed Pumpkin, though, it's kind of hard to venture back into the world of very sweet pumpkin dessert beers, but I'll take it. Maybe not at lunch again, though that 8.6% started my day off on a good note!


THE GREAT PUMPKIN (BEER) OFF FEATURING 21. SHIPYARD BREWING CO. - SMASHED PUMPKIN

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This was my other pumpkin beer for my personal flight night 2013 at Shakespeares in Kalamazoo.

Totally different approach to pumpkin beer than Pumking for sure.

This is Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin (9% abv).

This is a darker orange than Pumking, but still very vibrant. Same small head, but with slightly less retention, leaving only a thin ring around the edge.

The aroma is deceving! There are lots of seasonal spices in here with warm, bready notes. There is no actual pumpkin in the recipe, so I anticipated it to be more spiced and sweet, and would simply allude to pumpkin flavor.

However. This beer was quite different. It actually was very earthy, almost peat-like. It has a vegetal quality that I anticipated moreso from a beer with actual pumpkin. There was some spicy ginger in the finish, but otherwise I found that there wasn't much in terms of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves. Definitely not the pumpkin pie flavors you get from a lot of pumpkin beers, so I appreciated trying something so distinctly different. I'm also getting some herbal notes and a little bit of maple syrup (oh god, not Mrs. Butterworth, the real stuff. From Michigan). There was a touch of bitter hops at the finish.

The mouthfeel, again, was unexcepted. For somethig less sweet than other pumpkin beers, I anticipated a lighter mouthfeel. Instead, it was quite sticky but carbonated, like a cola. Definitely had some warmth from the high alcohol percentage.

This beer really leaves me baffled, considering it claims to have no actual pumpkin in it (same goes for their Pumpkinhead). I think it's a little bit less balanced than I expected, but I love the direction it's going in. Much more tailored to those looking for something with classic beer elements  mixed with fresh pumpkin flavor.

THE GREAT PUMPKIN (BEER) OFF FEATURING 20. SOUTHERN TIER BREWING CO. - PUMKING

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So again, back to discussing Shakespeare's Pub in Kalamazoo, I went out with some friends last week and there were just so many great and interesting beers that I needed to drink flights the whole night.

Southern Tier's Pumking (8.6% abv) had been elusive to me until this day. It's so good, it's not an easy brew to find considering its popularity means that bars and bottle shops run out pretty quickly around here. I had to grab it while I could.

Pumking has always been one of my favorites. It's definitely a sweet one.

Pours bright orange, certainly the most concentrated orange color I've seen this year, with a thin, but retaining head.

The aroma is pretty heavenly, loaded with nutmeg and cream, like a pumpkin spice coffee creamer. Some almond cookie, cloves, and vanilla. The whole nose is very bold.

This beer is as bold and agressive in flavor as it is in aroma. You've got a lot of pureed pumpkin right up front mixed with some solid malt character that leads into some heavy baking spice. The finish is unique in that it almost has this whipped cream or vanilla ice cream type creaminess and flavor, like pie a la mode. It's pure decadence.

Overall, this a great option for the holidays, especially because it's distributed nationally (considering I've done a few this month that are only available in Michigan or the midwest). If you enjoy a good pumpkin pie, this beer is certainly for you.


MLive's Michigan's Best Brewery List SLASH Beauty and the Brew's Best MI Brewery List

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At the end of September, Mlive.com, Michigan's primary news source, released a list of Michigan's Best Breweries. The list is ranked based on overall experience, including the feel of the brewery, the knowledge of the staff, and of course, the beer.

They visited breweries based on Michigander votes over the course of nine short days with the assistance of Amy Sherman from The Great American Brew Trail television show. This was the list they compiled.

1. Short's Brewing Company

2. Greenbush Brewing Co.

3. Dark Horse Brewing Co.

4. Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.

5. Founders Brewing Co.

6. Bell's Brewery, Inc.

7. Arbor Brewing Company

8. Arcadia Brewing Company

9. Right Brain Brewery

10. Cranker's Brewery

More information about why they chose the breweries can be found here.

But (and isn't there always a "but), I politely and respectfully disagree, and will submit my own list in protest, which will mostly be based on the beer.

So here are Beauty and The Brew's Top 10 Michigan Breweries.

1. Short's Brewing Company
They got this one right. They really did, and Short's has earned this title. Short's has worked their way up from a humble start to becoming the craft beer powerhouse that it is today. Only distributing in Michigan has given Short's the opportunity to expand their beer selection enormously and they frequently venture into the realm of flat out bizarre (but somehow delicious) territory with some of their more experimental beers, such as their Key Lime Pie, Bloody Beer (inspired by Bloody Mary flavors), and their OMGWTFBBQ. Short's is located in Bellaire, MI, a sleepy lake town up north that provides all the charm that you'd expect to suit a local brewery. There's great beer to choose from, a staff that clearly loves their jobs, and a deli menu to die for thanks to Joe Short's wife Leah. This brewpub really has it all.



2. Brewery Vivant
I'll try not to go on and on about this one, even though I easily could. Brewery Vivant was actually the brewpub I vouched for when I sent my email to Mlive, mostly knowing that Short's wouldn't need any help getting to number one. But Brewery Vivant is certainly newer, and a little more elusive as it's located in a building tucked back on Cherry Street in Grand Rapids, MI. Honestly, nothing that has come out of that brewery has been anything less than world-class. Everything from their standards to their specialty options have floored me. I am obsessed with their packaging (as a graphic designer), it has the look of medieval woodblock prints from religious texts, and you can always tell a Brewery Vivant can from the consistency and the fact that they choose a single color to represent each beer. Not to mention that fact that it is a can is fantastic for the environment, and I appreciate their commitment to that.

The brewpub itself is a renovated historic building in the East Hills neighborhood in Grand Rapids. The building looks like an old Abbey, complete with exposed beams and stained glass behind the bar. Most seating is community style, so you get a great chance to talk to the people around you about the food and beer. The whole building in LEED certified.

And now we get to talk about the food. They have taken bar food to a whole new level with some serious treats. From artisanal cheese plates to upscale bar favorites like oysters and belgium fries (complete with truffle oil on request), they've got all your main faire covered, as well as some really unique twists on some old favorites. Like their bar nachos are made with duck and brie. Their chicken and waffles are made with cornish hen and a cheddar bacon cornbread waffle.

Again, I could go on and on. But I won't. Just go there yourself, it's worth it.




3. Greenbush Brewing Co.
Who would have thought that Sawyer, MI was the perfect location to sustain a craft brewery. Situated closely to Chicago but not too far for most Michigan cities, Greenbush has been an attractive destination for many in their very short lifespan. They are expanding so quickly, it's hard for anyone, even their employees, to keep up, but that is simply the price of serving up great beer. Their staples, Anger, Closure, Brother Benjamin, and Distorter, all get high marks from me in their respective styles. Their food sources great local ingredients, and all people can do is rave about their brisket (for good reason). Looking at the outside of this tiny brewpub, you'd never guess how bustling it is inside! It's a beer lover's haven.



4. Jolly Pumpkin
Approaching a very dark and historic looking line shop in a college town with a Nightmare Before Christmas style logo and awning has never been so appealing. In Ann Arbor, MI, they have a very discerning clientele of professors and students attending the prestigious University of Michigan, so you know if they've managed to keep their supreme location then they are doing something right. Jolly Pumpkin has some world-class beers, consistently scoring 90 or above on Ratebeer.com regardless of style, though they excel at sours.  




5. Founders Brewing Co.
Founders is one of those breweries that needs no introduction, even among a national audience. Their beer has made it across the country, from north to south, purely running on awesome. I have been there many times, and despite enormous crowds have always thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, especially after their recent renovation where they have expanded immensely and increased outdoor space including outdoor fire pits for heating because, let's face it folks, Michigan gets really damn cold. They also have a pretty neat little gift shop in there, so kudos for that addition. Founders is constantly outdoing itself, especially with their Backstage Series beers, which are always interesting as well as incredibly delicious and limited in supply. Founders makes nationally appealing not because they are some sort of toned down version of Michigan beer, but it's because they are a superb example of what makes our state's craft beer so great and people are starting to take notice. 
The renovations are so new, I can't find pictures of the new building anywhere!


7. Arcadia Brewing Company
Arcadia, my love, what can I say about you that hasn't already been said in any of my other blog posts. They make it on this list not simply because their brewpub in Battle Creek is just a lovely experience all together and their food alone is worth the trip, but their Kalamazoo location sounds like it will top my list for next year. So far the feel of the building seems very similar to Founders with the open loft feel and the large garage doors to open to the outside, where they will put a pet friendly beer garden with river access. But THE MENU. Can I just take a second and drool over the menu? They are drawing inspiration from South American barbeque, Turkish inspired spice rubs, house cured meats and fresh fish! Those are a few of my favorite things! And to top it all of, Arcadia is serving up some of my favorite beers, from their Loch Ness to Cocoa Loco, and they will be able produce 60,000 barrels annually in this new facility.
Arcadia (Battle Creek)
Arcadia West (Kalamazoo)


8. New Holland Brewery
Fact: New Holland actually came out publicly during the search for Michigan's Best Brewery and stated that they really don't believe the competition is what the craft beer industry is about. I found that to be incredibly admirable, honestly. I was disappointed to see that New Holland wasn't even an addition to the list that Mlive put out, likely due to their statement, but they have so much public support because their beers are fantastic and they do a wealth of good for the Holland community. As an independent blogger I can only say that all lists, such as my own, have a bias towards personal taste. Your favorite brewery may not be mine, and who really cares? Much like New Holland, I'm sure a lot of these breweries know better than to take the competition to heart and know that everyone has a preference, but in the end it doesn't matter because it all is for the good of the industry as a whole. So here is my "hats off" to the creators of Mad Hatter, New Holland, my hometown brewery. I remember when they opened in 1997, and I couldn't drink then, but I remember that awesome pizza. I remember thinking it was a great restaurant. And now that I'm older, I know that was just a sign that it was also going to be a good brewpub. It has the kind of atmosphere that allows anyone to walk in and feel comfortable and happy. They also distill their own artisan spirits, which, to be frank, kick ass. Their Knickerbocker gin not only is a staple for my personal bar, but it also makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside thinking back to when I used to see shows at The Knickerbocker Theater, the gin's namesake. Don't even get me started on their Beer Barrel Bourbon. 




9. Bell's Brewery
You can't even do this thing without talking about Bell's. The big daddy of Michigan craft brewing has so many diverse spaces in their brewpub, from the Eccentric Cafe to the brewery store, from the outside beer garden and music venue to the inside bar and music venue. You can see people from all over the United States in a single night at Bell's, it's just that much of a destination for beer-lovers. Everything from the food to the staff to the music follows the same standard as their famous beers; world-class.




10. Dark Horse Brewing Co.
Dark Horse is almost too eclectic to summarize. On the outside, this Marshall establishment looks remarkably biker bar-esque, as the exterior is a blend siding painting army green and wood shingles. The ceiling is so lined with mugs that some of them have started to spill onto the walls for lack of space. Dark Horse also boasts an expansive beer garden that is definitely.... different than others. The entire complex is something you will have to see to believe. Dark Horse brews are unapologetically flavorful and hugely diverse in style. The brewers are literally fearless and it shows in everything they put out. They've got relatively standard fare as far as food is concerned, but it hits the spot. 



So that's it. There is my list and I'm sticking to it. Questions, concerns, complaints. Leave me a comment and argue it up, I thrive on disagreement.


THE GREAT PUMPKIN (BEER) OFF FEATURING 19. NEW HOLLAND BREWING CO. - ICHABOD

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Have you ever been so excited about the future that you forget to live in the present? That is me to a T.

I am always planning for the future, my next move or big life goal, and so often I forget that today could be just as good if I tried to live for the moment instead of spending today planning for tomorrow.

That was where my entire weekend disappeared to, as I sat around planning for my exciting future life when I could have been having an exciting weekend full of new opportunities and adventures. But at the same time, when I put very little effort into doing something that day, I fall into comfortable habits while I'm busy plugging away at planning my entire life.

Drinking Ichabod is one of those habits.

And then I suddenly remember why Ichabod became such a habit for me to drink in the fall. It's damn good.



I have professed my love for Jaw Jacker. I've made a habit out of hoarding bottles and bottles of O'Fallon's Pumpkin Beer. I've indulged in Fermentation Without Representation.

But nothing compares...... nothing compares to Ichabod.

New Holland is my hometown brewery. Kalamazoo is (in my heart) Beer City USA, but there is a special place in my heart for New Holland Brewing Co. Mad Hatter was the first beer I ever tried (sorry dad, I think it was yours). We used to eat their pizza when I was a kid. I knew nothing about brewing, but since I've gotten older, I can identify the first time I saw a boil kettle and mash tun at New Holland.

Ichabod is just a really lovely pumpkin ale. Pouring in at an average 5.5% abv, this beer is a non-hazed deep but glistening orange with a sizable head for what I've been seeing from the majority of these pumpkin ales. About a finger's thick.

Aroma (you're probably getting sick of me saying this) was full of baking spice and crust-like, bready accents, giving it an overall pumpkin pie feel.

The taste is well rounded, starting with some spicy ginger paired with nutmeg and cinnamon, leading into caramel malts and some dark stone fruit and finishing with a touch of bitter and pumpkin earthiness.

For me, choosing Ichabod is a no-brainer for me. It tends to moderately please those who enjoy pumpkin beer and those who don't. For those that don't, they normally don't cry foul on overwhelming pumpkin flavor masking any of the "good beer" components. Lovers of pumpkin beer may complain that there isn't enough sweetness or robust pumpkin flavor, but will acknowledge that the beer is truly a beautiful symphony of how so many ingredients balance so perfectly in golden liquid form.

Don't let me just sit here talking about it, go out and look for it. New Holland distributes to Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina. Thanks, Wikipedia.


THE GREAT PUMPKIN (BEER) OFF FEATURING 18. ARCADIA ALES - JAW JACKER

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Yesterday I drove by the new Arcadia building. It wasn't on my way to anywhere in particular. I did it for the same reason you might drive past your crush's house in High School, even though it's totally out of the way.


I have a crush on Arcadia. Yes, it's true. I drive by whenever I can, hoping something will change or more of the building will have gone up. I just like to drive by and know it's still there, and yes, it will open soon. That might be a little creepy, but Arcadia, you're worth it baby.

I guess while I wait for the faithful day I can sit out in their beer garden. When they open in December I will be that psycho that sits huddled over the (hopefully) fire pit or outdoor space heater, Starboard Stout in hand.

But it is not this day. This day, we fight (to find the best pumpkin beer available)!

Arcadia Ale's Jaw Jacker has always been my go to pumpkin beer from Michigan. It's readily available, it tastes great, and it sneaks in just above most other pumpkin beers at 6% ABV.

Poured into MY ARCADIA ALES PINT GLASS THAT MY BOYFRIEND WON AT KARAOKE with his rendition of "the song that never ends" aka Stairway to Heaven, this beer actually have magenta hues to it, mixed with the expected hazy orange of a typical pumpkin ale. Picture the colors of a harvest sunset all mixed together. Not much of a head, just a thin ring of white fizz around the rim.

The aroma is very pie-like, likely because there actually is no pumpkin in the recipe, the spices come through more than anything. It's really aromatic, like burning a pumpkin candle, you can actually smell it when it's away from you. Full of allspice, cinnamon, cloves.

The taste is not overbearingly sweet. Nothing is quite as flavorful as the nose was pungent with spices, but the more subdued flavor allows for other, more subtle notes to come through, like touches of honey wheat, toasted malts, spicy ginger, and a little nuttiness all meld together to make a well-rounded brew.

I have heard people argue that it is not a terribly ambitious pumpkin beer, especially despite the lack of pumpkin. It's not that I don't agree, it's that it doesn't bother me. There are plenty of beers that are overly ambitious and just don't work. They flat out don't taste right. This beer tastes right for what it is. It's consistent. And it pairs too damn well with the flavors of fall to pass up.

Now enjoy this video.







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