Spencer Trappist Holiday Ale

Christmas has come and gone again, and as per usual, i enjoyed a bevy of wonderful brews through all of the family and presents and food and chaos.  Enter the Trappist Holiday Ale from Spencer Brewery.  Everything that comes from Spencer is top quality and delicious, and their holiday ale is no different.  The 9% ABV brew pours a dark, reddish color with a foamy white head and smells of dark fruit, bread, and Christmas spices.  The flavor follows the nose with some notes of caramel and ginger in a medium body brew.  It's like somebody liquified a Christmas cookie, added some alcohol, and then mixed it to perfection.  Just a really solid beer all around and a wonderful libation for the holiday season.  Get on this one quick before you have to wait another year.

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Well gang, i think i may be putting this beer blog to rest here very soon.  Ten years on, i don't think there's anything left for me to say that i haven't already said a dozen times before.  It's been a fun decade though, and just by researching all these wonderful beers i've consumed each and every week, i've learned a lot about all of the different processes and ingredients and more that goes into these beverages i love so much.  I'm going to keep drinking them.  And i'm going to continue to visit every brewery i can get to.  Craft beer has never been an easy endeavor, these last two years in particular, but it will always have all the support i can give it.  I'll be back next week with one last entry to kick off a new year that is hopefully better than the ones that have preceded it.

Cheers!

Martin House Campfire Whiskey Barrel-Aged Imperial S'mores Stout

Martin House Brewing has a reputation for getting a little crazy and out of hand with their beer ideas every now and then, but when they hit it, they hit it out of the park.  And the 2021 edition of Campfire, their whiskey barrel-aged imperial s'mores stout does just that.  The 11.6% ABV brew pours black with a light brown/dark tan head and smells of chocolate, vanilla, and a little bit of booze.  The Flavor is a nice, thick, and sweet mix of said chocolate and vanilla, along with marshmallow, some graham cracker and roasted maltiness, and a nice bite of whiskey to tie it all together.  Enjoy this one outside on a moonlit night.

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Broken Bow Imperial Small Arms Dealer Pilsner

Earlier this year, my wife re-upped me into a Rare Beer Club, and as i am wont to do, i saved several bottles for consumption over the holidays.  One such brew was the Imperial Small Arms Dealer Pilsner from Broken Bow Brewery in Tuckahoe, New York.  The 8% pils pours gold with a foamy white head and smells of sweet fruit along with some malt and hoppy notes.  The flavor is a crisp and bitter mix of floral hops, bread, and maybe just a hint of honey with a dry finish.  Drink this one while grilling or watching a game.

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The Return of Imperial Stout

Generally when you think Texas brews, you think something sessionable...pales ales and pilsners and such.  It is hot here after all.  But the good folks over at San Antonio's Weathered Souls Brewing just consistently knock it out of the park with their stouts.  Maybe that should be our state brew instead.  Enter The Return of Imperial Stout.  The 12.3% brew pours black with a very minimal brown head and smells of chocolate, vanilla, coconut, and a little booze.  The flavor is a sweet mix of said chocolate, vanilla, and coconut along with some marshmallow (which the beer was brewed with), and those booze notes again.  It's a night time beer for sure, but a lovely way to end a weekend.

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