Bison Gingerbread Ale Review

Bison Brewing creates USDA organic certified beer. Gingerbread is their spiced Porter for Christmas.

Gingerbread organic ale pours dark brown with a thin tan head that dissipates quickly to lace. The nose is sweet speculoos cookie with figs, molasses and malts. The brewery says this beer tastes like a drunken gingerbread cookie, but I find the initial flavor to be ginger, caramel malts, and spice. It has a strong porter base from the

Anchor Our Special Ale 2014 Review

For 40 years Anchor Brewing of San Fransisco has been making a Christmas beer that they call “Our Special Ale.” Everyone else calls it Anchor Christmas beer. Each year the recipe changes. The 2014 version is a step up from the past several years in terms of more body and lively spices.

The 2014 Anchor Christmas ale pours reddish brown with a thin wisp of lacy foam on top. It is loaded with spice aromas: cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, candied fruit, and well, Christmas tree pine. It tastes thinner than it’s abundant smell would prepare you for. There is caramel, sweet malts, figs, dried plums, and

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Review

The shortest day of the year is the Winter Solstice. From that day forward night becomes shorter and day becomes longer. Anderson Valley Brewing celebrates the Winter Solstice with a ale to get you through the long nights.

Winter Solstice pours dark amber with a beige head that dissipates to fine lace. Big caramel malt, toffee and spice aromas invite tasting. For all that nose, Winter Solstice is medium bodied, silky with good carbonation. Lots of malts and just enough spice flavors, there’s a touch of

Santa’s Little Helper, Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Released

Santa's Little Helper BourbonPort Brewing Co. just released their Santa’s Little Helper bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout. Yes, released in July after barrel aging Santa’s Little Helper.

I know you’re only thinking of IPAs, blondes, lagers, and saisons…

It’s available now. And will be long gone by Christmas unless you pick up a bottle today and stash it away.

Watch the video about this release over at Port Brewing Co.