Pike Brewing of Seattle, Washington has been around since 1989, the 3rd oldest independently owned brewery in the state. Auld Acquaintance Spice Holiday Ale is Pike’s gift to us for the holidays.
Auld Acquaintance pours clear copper-red with white foam that reduces to a swirl of lace. The nose is sweet malt, orange zest, cinnamon, and spices. The taste is neither sweet malts nor bitter hops (it’s only 32 IBU), but a balanced ale. The spices are well-blended and evident. Pike used two kind of orange peels, Curacao and sweet orange, along with coriander, cassia bark (a type of cinnamon), and nutmeg. Floral hops come through in the finish as does the coriander. It’s 6.8% ABV with a good mouthfeel and pleasant finish.
The name “Auld Acquaintance Spice Holiday Ale” rings back to Robert Burn’s poem and the New Year’s song no one understands –Auld Lang Syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
Auld lang syne means “old long ago” or the “good old days” according to the Examiner. These lines of the song are rhetorical questions with the implied answer – no. We shouldn’t forget auld breweries either!
You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.