After spending the last
few weeks deep in research for our next issue (we can’t say much yet, but it’s
definitely one you won’t want to miss!), we returned to find our tasting table
teeming with a fresh crop of seasonal beers. Needless to say, we immediately
got cracking—here are the highlights:
Bend, Oregon, 7% ABV
This winter release from
Oregon up-and-comer 10 Barrel Brewing Co. offers piney hop aromas that evolve
into flavors of toasted grains, graham crackers and a slight cocoa kick.
Cold Springs,
Minnesota/San Francisco, 7.9%ABV
This wintry spiced ale
combines a whole host of our favorite seasonal flavors—think nutmeg, cinnamon
and clove—into the portable convenience of a can.
Bend, Oregon, 6.7% ABV
Celebrating its 25th
anniversary this season, Jubelale is a holiday favorite for many with warming,
wintry notes of sweet malts, dried fruits and a kiss of bitter hops on the
finish.
Milton, Delaware, 5.2%
ABV
Coffee and chicory make a
natural pair and this easy-drinking stout ups the roasty-toasty factor with
added notes of bittersweet chocolate, subtle smoke and a hint of dried fruit.
Fort Collins, Colorado,
10% ABV
From grapefruit and guava
to almond and vanilla—Odell Brewing definitely went in a different direction
with this cool-weather release, offering a welcome addition to winter’s
traditional lineup of deep, dark beers. Utilizing the experimental mosaic hop,
this barrel-aged brew is refreshing from start to finish, with notes that range
from tropical fruit flavors to mellowed hops spice.
Escondito, California,
9.6% ABV
Love mint chocolate chip
ice cream? Then you’ve got to try this recent release from the Stone
Collaboration series. Just as the name promises, expect aromas of fresh-cut
mint, followed by bittersweet cocoa flavors and a touch of blackstrap molasses
on the finish.
Portland, Oregon, 7.6%
ABV
Forget the milk and
cookies and leave Santa a bottle of this stout instead. Oh-so smooth with rich
and creamy dark chocolate flavors and a whisper of smoke, this velvety bottle
is one we plan to revisit all season long.