{"id":8044,"date":"2019-12-20T19:35:39","date_gmt":"2019-12-21T01:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/?p=8044"},"modified":"2020-12-14T12:08:57","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T18:08:57","slug":"12-beers-of-christmas-2018-reprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/golf\/lifestyle\/8044\/12-beers-of-christmas-2018-reprise","title":{"rendered":"12 Beers of Christmas 2018 Reprise"},"content":{"rendered":"\"big<\/a>\n

[Dec. 20, 2019]–I\u2019ve polished off the last of my Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale <\/a>12-pack, I\u2019m about to tip another bottle of Deschutes Brewery Jubelale<\/a>\u00a0and I confess I\u2019ve already been sampling some of the beers that will make up the 2019 edition of The 12 Beers of Christmas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The aforementioned have already been, well, celebrated in years past, as well they might be. They usually tip me off that it\u2019s time to kick holiday season into gear, though I\u2019ve been slow to rouse this year. I never even wrapped up last year, as has been my wont, and lo and behold, here we are again.<\/p>\n

For the bewildered, I\u2019ve been drinking a dozen (okay, sometimes a baker\u2019s dozen) of holiday beers, winter warmers and the like around the Christmas holidays, and writing them up\u2014sometimes in consecutive days, sometimes less promptly\u2014each year since 2012. I usually manage to get it done before the actual Twelfth Night (Epiphany, January 6 in 2020).<\/p>\n

\"2019_jubelale_artist<\/a>I always kick things off with Anchor\u2019s Our Special Ale and its ever-changing recipe, but I always warm up with those two other west coast classics, which remain pretty much unchanged after all these years.<\/p>\n

Deschutes does re-do the Jubelale label every year, calling on local artists to create a work that winds up on the label and packaging. Now living in Bend, Mark R\u00e4da is originally from Minnesota, and therefore naturally a fisherman and outdoor guy, reflected in his work the brewery selected for 2019.\"2019_jubelale_artist\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It dawned on me last year when I had Berkshire Brewing\u2019s Holidale that the Massachusetts brewery changes up its recipe annually, too, and I\u2019m sure there are others who keep mixing it up. Fine with me either way; there\u2019s nothing wrong with sticking with a winner.<\/p>\n

There were really nothing but winners in the 2018 list. Sure, I liked some more than others–the first and last, Anchor and De Dolle Stille Nacht, would take my top honors\u2014but I wouldn\u2019t turn down any of them if poured again. I suppose Hermit Thrush\u2019s Dark by 4:30 was the outlier as the only sour beer on the list, but no complaints there.<\/p>\n

A 6% ABV beer was a piker among the many heavy hitters this year: 11 Pipers at 11%, Holidale at 11.5%, Stille Nacht at 12%, the Prairie Christmas Bomb at 13%, Samichlaus at 14% and Jule M\u00e6lk at 15%. Good thing I wasn\u2019t always drinking alone. Compared with all these bruisers the low end 5.5% To \u00d8l Santastique almost came off as a session beer.<\/p>\n

Holiday beers are not necessarily about alcoholic heft and heat, but they\u2019re certainly not out of place, either, and they usually set up a certain amount of anticipation. But Anchor\u2019s spiced ale does fine at a more modest 6.9%\u2014which at any other time of the year would be a plenty sturdy beer as is.<\/p>\n

So, we\u2019ve sampled 84 different beers over the years, all of them linked to below. Twelve more will give us 96, and it would probably be a shame to stop shy of 100. Sound like incentive for 2020 to me.<\/p>\n

<<<>>><\/p>\n

The grand roundup:<\/p>\n

The 12 Beers of Christmas<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

2018<\/strong><\/p>\n\"2018<\/a>\n

1 Anchor Our Special Ale 2018<\/a><\/strong>
\n2 Mikkeller Win Bic<\/a><\/strong>
\n3 To \u00d8l Santastoque<\/a><\/strong>
\n4 Samichlaus Helles<\/a><\/strong>
\n5 Berkshire Brewing Holidale<\/a><\/strong>
\n6 Tro\u00ebg\u2019s Blizzard of Hops<\/a><\/strong>
\n7 Samuel Smith Winter Welcome<\/a><\/strong>
\n8 Anderson Valley Winter Solstice<\/a><\/strong>
\n9 Hermit Thrush Dark at 4:30<\/a><\/strong>
\n10 Prairie Artisan Ales Christmas Bomb<\/a><\/strong>
\n11 The Bruery 11 Pipers Piping<\/a><\/strong>
\n12 De Dolle Stille Nacht<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"12<\/a><\/p>\n

1 Anchor Our Special Ale 2017<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n 2 Rogue Yellow Snow Pilsner<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n 3 Baird Jubilation Ale<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n 4 Thiriez Bi\u00e8re de No\u00ebl<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n 5 Saison Saint M\u00e9dard Cuv\u00e9e de No\u00ebl<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>
\n 6 Ommegang Winter Is Here\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>
\n 7 Birra del Borgo 25 Dodici<\/a><\/strong>
\n 8 Port Brewing Santa\u2019s Little Helper<\/a><\/strong>
\n 9 Lost Abbey Gnoel de Abbey<\/a><\/strong>
\n 10 N\u00f8gne \u00d8 Special Holiday Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 11 Upslope Christmas Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 12 Mikkeller Ris a la M\u2019ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n12 Beers of Christmas 2017 Reprise<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"12<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

1 Anchor Our Special Ale 2016 <\/a>
\n2 Great Lakes Christmas Ale<\/a>
\n3 New Belgium Anne-Fran\u00e7oise Spiced Imperial Dark Ale<\/a>
\n4 Spencer Trappist Holiday Ale<\/a>
\n5 Le Trou Du Diable La Grivoise De No\u00ebl<\/a>
\n6 Blaugies La Moneuse Special Winter Ale<\/a>
\n7 Aegir Bryggeri Julebrygg<\/a>
\n8 Dieu du Ciel Solstice d\u2019hiver<\/a>
\n9 Haandbryggeriet Nissefar<\/a>
\n10 Allagash Hibernal Fluxus 2016<\/a>
\n11 Kerstmutske Christmas Nightcap<\/a>
\n12 Scaldis No\u00ebl Premium<\/a>
\n12 Beers of Christmas 2016 Reprise<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The 12 Beers of Christmas 2015<\/p><\/div>\n

1 Anchor Our Special Ale 2015<\/a><\/strong>
\n 2 Jewbelation 19<\/a><\/strong>
\n 3 Warsteiner Winter Special Edition<\/a><\/strong>
\n 4 Jolly Traveler Winter Shandy<\/a><\/strong>
\n 5 Magic Hat Feast of Fools<\/a><\/strong>
\n 6 Page 24 Bi\u00e8re de No\u00ebl<\/a><\/strong>
\n 7 AleSmith Double Red India Pale Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 8 Smuttynose Smistletoe<\/a><\/strong>
\n 9 Wychwood Bah Humbug Christmas Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 10 Ridgeway Lump of Coal<\/a><\/strong>
\n 11 De Ranke P\u00e8re N\u00f6el<\/a><\/strong>
\n 12 The Bruery 8 Maids-a-Milking<\/a><\/strong>
\n12 Beers of Christmas 2015 Reprise<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The 12 Beers of Christmas 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

1 Anchor Our Special Ale 2014<\/a><\/strong>
\n 2 Harpoon UFO Gingerland<\/a><\/strong>
\n 3 Hanukkah, Chanukah Pass the Beer<\/a><\/strong>
\n 4 Guinness The 1759<\/a><\/strong>
\n 5 Samuel Adams Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout<\/a><\/strong>
\n 6 Elysian Bifrost Winter Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 7 Ommegang Adoration Dark Winter Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 8 Deschutes Jubelale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 9 Petrus Winter #9 Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 10 3 Sheeps Ewephoria<\/a><\/strong>
\n 11 Baladin N\u00f6el<\/a><\/strong>
\n 12 St. Bernardus Christmas Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n12 Beers of Christmas 2014 Reprise<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"12<\/a>

12 Beers of Christmas 2013<\/p><\/div>\n

1 Anchor Our Special Ale 2013<\/a><\/strong>
\n 2 Tro\u00ebg\u2019s The Mad Elf Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 3 Victory\u2019s Winter Cheers<\/a><\/strong>
\n 4 Magic Hat\u2019s G-Thing<\/a><\/strong>
\n 5 10 Barrel Brewing Pray for Snow<\/a><\/strong>
\n 6 Corsendonk Christmas Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 7 Mahr\u2019s Br\u00e4u Christmas Bock<\/a><\/strong>
\n 8 Sixpoint Global Warmer<\/a><\/strong>
\n 9 N\u00f6el des G\u00e9ants<\/a><\/strong>
\n 10 Mikkeller Hoppy Lovin\u2019 Christmas<\/a><\/strong>
\n 11 Harpoon Winter Warmer<\/a><\/strong>
\n 12 Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux<\/a><\/strong>
\n 12 Beers of Christmas 2013 Reprise<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2012<\/strong><\/p>\n\"st<\/a>\n

1 Anchor Our Special Ale 2012<\/a><\/strong>
\n 2 Nogne \u00d8 Winter Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 3 Samuel Adams Winter Lager<\/a><\/strong>
\n 4 Southern Tier 2XMAS<\/a><\/strong>
\n 5 St. Feuillien Cuv\u00e9e de No\u00ebl<\/a><\/strong>
\n 6 Delirium No\u00ebl<\/a><\/strong>
\n 7 Newcastle Winter IPA<\/a><\/strong>
\n 8 Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza<\/a><\/strong>
\n 9 Gouden Carolus No\u00ebl<\/a><\/strong>
\n 10 Otter Creek Winter Red Ale<\/a><\/strong>
\n 11 Magic Hat Wooly<\/a><\/strong>
\n 12 Element Winter Ion<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

> 12 Beers of Christmas 2019 – 1: Anchor Our Special Ale<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Dec. 20, 2019]–I\u2019ve polished off the last of my Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 12-pack, I\u2019m about to tip another bottle… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":8226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[939,627,18],"tags":[676069,2045,632,975741,634,992256,597,1002722,720,749,26,60717,174722,174725],"class_list":["post-8044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beer-on-tap","category-tap-beer-of-the-week","category-lifestyle","tag-christmas-beers","tag-bend","tag-anchor","tag-12-days-of-christmas","tag-san-francisco","tag-jubelale","tag-california","tag-12-beers-of-christmas","tag-sierra-nevada","tag-christmas","tag-oregon","tag-deschutes","tag-our-special-ale","tag-celebration-ale"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/12\/2018-reprise-640.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8044"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8044\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8492,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8044\/revisions\/8492"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}