{"id":8665,"date":"2021-12-17T14:27:22","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T20:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/?p=8665"},"modified":"2021-12-22T22:13:30","modified_gmt":"2021-12-23T04:13:30","slug":"12-beers-of-christmas-2020-reprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/golf\/lifestyle\/8665\/12-beers-of-christmas-2020-reprise","title":{"rendered":"12 Beers of Christmas 2020 Reprise"},"content":{"rendered":"\"2020<\/a>\n

[Dec. 17, 2021]–<\/em>As promised, we blew past 100 beers sampled in the now nine years of doing the 12 Beers of Christmas<\/strong>, hitting the milestone with our fourth beer in 2020, the Fant\u00f4me Hiver, certainly a worthwhile addition to the collection. Almost any selection from the year\u2019s batch would have been.<\/p>\n

What am I talking about? The faithful know, and come joyful and triumphant for yet another go round. Newcomers are welcome as I go down the rabbit hole again and soon try to write 12 more or less coherent reviews of Christmas beers, holiday ales, winter warmers\u2014call them what you will\u2014as long as they seem to bear some relevance to our festive season or the approaching big chill.<\/p>\n

A new wrinkle this year is that I was asked to do a Greatest Hits piece for SI.com\/Morning Read and the \u201c12 Days of Christmas (With a Beer Twist)\u201d is now online<\/a>. But all the beers sampled to date are linked to below.<\/p>\n

\"Christmas<\/a>

Christmas in July (and August)<\/p><\/div>\n

I try to do all the annual reviews in consecutive days, usually failing, and only vowing to finish dashing through the beers by the Twelfth Day of Christmas, or Epiphany, January 6. Still, it\u2019s all a secular undertaking, and for 2020 it was a wrap by Dec. 30 in any case. That may have been due to the unfortunate lack of distractions. I love to share the beers for the varied responses that arise, but we were all alone last year, thanks to Covid.<\/p>\n

That made it a very different Christmas\u2014and the first time in their lives that our grandchildren were not here for the holiday\u2014but we managed, and wound up celebrating Christmas 2020 with the whole family on Aug. 1, 2021.<\/p>\n

The only other off note for the year came from the beer that was the hands-down winner in the festive packaging category, the Glazen Toren Canaster Winterscotch. With its red and green snowflake design on its paper wrapping, the beer couldn\u2019t have looked more Christmasy. But having read glowing reviews of the brewery before I had the beer, I subsequently found it a bit of a letdown. Ah, well.<\/p>\n

All of these were sturdy brews; the average ABV clocked in at 8.31%. Only three beers were below 7%: Shipyard Prelude (6.7), Prairie Artisan Seasick Crocodile (6.3) and Harpoon\u2019s The Long Thaw (6.2). Tied at the blockbuster high end of 11% were the Straffe Hendrick Xmas Blend and Tro\u00ebg\u2019s Mad Elf Grand Cru, both perfect picks for their respective days. Hard on their heels was the Pipeworks Rudolph vs. Unicorn at 10.5%. For beer, it was a good, strong year.<\/p>\n

The rules of the game are not to repeat a beer from years past, other than the Anchor Christmas ale, which changes its recipe every year and is pretty much responsible for reviving the custom of holiday ales in the U.S. I stretched the rule a bit in 2020 when I again had a Tro\u00ebg\u2019s Mad Elf, but this was the Grand Cru version, a decidedly different beer from the regular (if one can call it that) Mad Elf. I also had another holiday brew from the Berkshire Brewing Company, when I realized the brewery also changed its recipe each year, and I had run out of other options anyway.<\/p>\n

Still, I wouldn\u2019t think of not warming up with some old favorites with unchanging recipes over the years, like Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale <\/a> (which I reviewed before I had begun the 12 Beers of Christmas series) and Deschutes Brewery Jubelale<\/a>, which appeared in 2014. (But thanks to the brewery, I do have a bit of a surprise in store for this year, once the series gets underway.)<\/p>\n\"Jubelale<\/a>\n

The extent to which Jubelale changes every year is in its label art, and this year the task fell to Stephanie Littlebird Fogel<\/a>, who calls herself a Contemporary Indigenous Artist. She\u2019s a member of Oregon\u2019s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes, and a descendant of the Chinook and Kalapuyan people . She specializes in painting and printmaking, using acrylic paints on a wood panel for this year\u2019s label.<\/p>\n

\"Stephanie<\/a>

Stephanie LittlebirdFogel<\/p><\/div>\n

Fogel worked for awhile in Portland, Oregon\u2019s Pearl District, and often dropped into the Deschutes pub there for lunch. She said, \u201cSo the brand really reminds me of laughter with friends and collaborators. Working in collaboration with the brewery was an amazing opportunity to translate my colorful style into a label design that reflects the magic and wonder of the winter season. We chose the moon as the \u2018subject\u2019 for the design and I wanted to depict that reflective, sparkling energy that can only be experienced on a snowy evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"WW<\/a>I\u2019ve since realized that the Samuel Smith Winter Welcome ale, also with a set recipe for the last 30+ years it has been imported to the U.S. from its home in Tadcaster, England, does change its label every year (other than the frou-frou framing around the central illustration). This year\u2019s label, \u201cDrayman,\u201d offers a tip of the hat to the people who deliver Winter Welcome and other Samuel Smith beers to stores, bars, and restaurants\u2014locally, barrels are often still delivered by horse-drawn dray.<\/p>\n

The same artist, Craig Gillin, has been doing the labels all along, all looking vaguely pointillist, though aiming at a 19th century illustration technique called chromolithography. Gillin was just out of art school when he first landed the assignment; now he has his own Washington State design firm<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gillin at first sketched out a drayman with a hipster-like beard and mustache, but the brewery requested he be given a shave, and so he was. The drayman is shown delivering some Winter Welcome to the Greyhound Inn, an actual pub in Saxton, about five miles south of Tadcaster.<\/p>\n

The Winter Welcome made the 2018 roster, and as I said then also deserves an annual visit. So I made one, shown in the glass in the photo up top, along with Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice and Harpoon’s Winter Warmer.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the entire list of all the beers visited up to this point:<\/p>\n

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

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

2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"2020\"<\/a><\/p>\n

1 Anchor Our Special Ale 2020<\/a><\/strong>
\n 2 Liambru Tasty Arctic Al<\/a><\/strong>
\n 3 Four Quarters Buffalo Plaid<\/a><\/strong>
\n 4 Fantome Hiver<\/a><\/strong>
\n 5 Einbecker Winter Bock<\/a><\/strong>
\n 6 Glazen Toren Canaster Winterscotch<\/a><\/strong>
\n 7 Prairie Artisan Seasick Crocodile<\/a><\/strong>
\n 8 Straffe Hendrick Xmas Blend<\/a><\/strong>
\n 9 Shipyard Prelude<\/a><\/strong>
\n 10 Pipeworks Rudolph vs. Unicorn<\/a><\/strong>
\n 11 Harpoon The Long Thaw<\/a><\/strong>
\n 12 Mad Elf Grand Cru<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"2019<\/a><\/p>\n

1 Anchor Our Special Ale 2019<\/a><\/strong>
\n2 Brooklyn Winter Lager<\/a><\/strong>
\n3\u00a0Stony Creek Winter Weight<\/a>
\n4 To \u00d8l Santa\u2019s Secret \/ Frost Bite<\/a>
\n5 Four Quarters The Gifts of the Magi<\/a>
\n6 Weird Beard Brew Co. Black Christmas<\/a>
\n7 Struise Tsjeeses Winter Ale<\/a>
\n8 Wormtown Blizzard of 78<\/a>
\n9 Shmaltz Chanukah, Hanukkah: Pass the Beer<\/a>
\n10 Avery Old Jubilation<\/a>
\n11 Trois Dames Winter Sour<\/a>
\n12 Berkshire Brewing Holidale<\/a><\/strong>
\n12 Beers of Christmas 2019 Reprise<\/a><\/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>
\n12 Beers of Christmas 2018 Reprise<\/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 2021 – 1: Anchor Our Special Ale<\/a> ><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Dec. 17, 2021]–As promised, we blew past 100 beers sampled in the now nine years of doing the 12 Beers… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":8799,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[939,627,18],"tags":[632,174725,634,676069,597,2045,720,975741,749,992256,267,1002722,3919,1016814,3920,26,60717,174722],"class_list":["post-8665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beer-on-tap","category-tap-beer-of-the-week","category-lifestyle","tag-anchor","tag-celebration-ale","tag-san-francisco","tag-christmas-beers","tag-california","tag-bend","tag-sierra-nevada","tag-12-days-of-christmas","tag-christmas","tag-jubelale","tag-england","tag-12-beers-of-christmas","tag-samuel-smith","tag-winter-welcome","tag-tadcaster","tag-oregon","tag-deschutes","tag-our-special-ale"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/12\/2020-reprise-opener.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8665","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=8665"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8665\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8869,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8665\/revisions\/8869"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/tombedell\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}