Samichlaus bier

Billed by Schloss Eggenberg as “The World’s Most Extraordinary Beer”, I spied this lone bottle of Samichlaus lurking behind a bevy of fine ales at Top Foods in Bellevue, and intrigued by the label picked it up for a closer look. Drawn in by the blurb on the back

 Brewed only once a year on December 6, Samichlaus is aged for 10 months before bottling. This specialty is perhaps the rarest in the world. Samichlaus may be aged for many years to come. Older vintages become more complex with a creamy warming finish.

I really couldn’t wait the recommended “many years”, and decided to crack into the very same day I bought it. Bad form, I’m sure… but by gum, worth every moment – poured a beautiful dark amber, almost port-like in it’s appearance with little head and a minimal amount of carbonation. Sweet and reasonably gentle on the nose, it’s when you take the first sip that things start to get really interesting: very, very sweet with a good dose of ripe fruits and the crazy alcohol level to the fore, this beer’s got depth and contemplation written all over it. Clearly you’re not going to be knocking back more than a couple of these in an evening (if that) and the time you spend swirling the glass and sipping by your fireside will pay dividends, for as it warms the beer opens up and reveals more of it’s fruity depths for you to enjoy.

Brewed only once a year by the Castle Brewery on December 6th, the feast day of Saint Nicholas, this is truly a unique beer. My 2007-bottled vintage was sweet, malty, and – according to the Guinness Book of Records - the strongest lager in the world. That, and the phenomenal complexity of flavour, texture, colour and mouthfeel make me certain this is worthy of a “Hall of Fame” designation, but until Doug can give it a try, we’ll stick with… 

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Maritime Pacific Jolly Roger Christmas Ale

Brought to you from the great Northwest… Maritime Pacific Jolly Roger Christmas Ale not only looks cool but has a taste to even warrant the label!  Brought to the tasting party be “The Belly” and approved by the spousal unit for the cool holiday label, this beer should be a permanent fixture in your Northwest refridgerator this season.

The beer itself has a slight head, honey brown color, and mild nose, with a body that is a careful mixture of malt, hop, and a bit of spiciness.  A short finish and concise finish make this an incredibly easy to drink winter / Christmas ale.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Hale’s Ales O’Brien’s Harvest Ale

I have to sneak in a late season seasonal… Hale’s Ales brings us their Hale’s Ales O’Brien’s Harvest Ale for a fall warmer that has some nice intricacies.  This beer pours dark brown with a modest head and provides nice smells of roasted malts and heavy hops.  The body, though, is smooth and slick and easy to drink and the finish leaves you with a delayed bitter hoppiness that completely preps you for more.

A solid brew from Hale’s!

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Pyramid Sno Cap

Pyramid has been hit and miss for me to some degree, but I really do like this local brewery.  I was excited to try their Pyramid Sno Cap this year since we didn’t get a chance to blog it last winter and it is going to make a nice addition to the winter ales list for sure. 

Dark and heady.  Yeasty and hoppy.  Smooth and fiesty.

That pretty much sums up this solid brew.  If you have to go with one of the locals in the northwest, this is probably the one… it won’t disappoint.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Winter Beer Tasting 2008/2009

The last few days have been pretty busy… from a beer perspective.  Much tasting has been going on related to some of the winter beers we have in the area.  Draft posts are started for each and I will be working on them over the next week or so. 

UPDATE UPDATE

Bringing together the two phases into one mother of a winte beer tasting list… drumroll, please:

Winter Beer Tasting 2008/2009 (in order of preference… +/- 1-2 up or down)

1. Harvey’s Christmas Ale
2. Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper Imperial Stout
3. Port Townsend Winter Ale
4. Dick’s Double Diamond Winter Ale
5. Jolly Roger Christmas Ale
6. Scuttlebutt 10 Below Ale
7. Michelob Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale
8. Elysian BiFrost Winter Ale
9. Pyramid Sno Cap Ale
10. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
11. Alaskan Winter Ale
12. Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale
13. Full Moon Winter Ale
14. Bad Elf Winter’s Ale
15. Avery Old Jubilation Ale
16. New Belgium 2 Below Ale
17. Redhook Winter Hook
18. Samuel Adams Winter Lager

**UPDATE**  The tasting and posting is complete and here you are, in order of preference:

PHASE 1

1. Harvey’s Christmas Ale
2. Jolly Roger Christmas Ale
3. Pyramid Sno Cap Ale
4. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
5. Alaskan Winter Ale
6. Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale
7. Redhook Winter Hook
8. Samuel Adams Winter Lager

We definitely had a good time trying all of these, so I hit Malt & Vine for another round and will be tasting and posting more in the coming weeks, so check back for phase 2!

**UPDATE**

Here we are folks, phase 2 has officially began and the beer reviews will start rolling in.

PHASE 2

1. Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper Imperial Stout
2. Port Townsend Winter Ale
3. Dick’s Double Diamond Winter Ale
4. Scuttlebutt 10 Below Ale
5. Michelob Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale
6. Elysian BiFrost Winter Ale
7. Full Moon Winter Ale
8. Bad Elf Winter’s Ale
9. Avery Old Jubilation Ale
10. New Belgium 2 Below Ale

Oh Happy Day #4 – Widmer Brothers Brrr

Oh yes, my friends, it is time to celebrate once again… give me a hallelujah!  Amen.  Our fine friends from Widmer Brothers and Maxwell PR sent us another sample for an upcoming brew…  Widmer Brothers Brrr. 

Po and I are very excited to check this one out and will be blogging about the tasting soon enough. **UPDATE** Tasting posted here!

Previous Oh Happy Day posts:

• Oh Happy Day #1 – Pipeline Porter
• Oh Happy Day #2 – Fish Tale Organic Ales
• Oh Happy Day #3 – Bell’s Brewery

Official Press Release sent with the samples:

WIDMER BROTHERS BREWING WARMS UP WINTER WITH A COLD ONE

“Brrr” Red Ale is First New Winter Seasonal Brew in Four Years

PORTLAND, Ore. – October 9, 2008 – Widmer Brothers Brewing says “Baby its cold outside!” with its first new winter ale in four years: Brrr. The highly anticipated brew, perfect for winter, is a moderately strong dark red ale that embodies the notable “Pacific Northwest style” citrus hop aroma and flavor.

“I have many fond memories of my brew-studies in Germany. In particular, the tradition of crafting beers that reflect the unique attributes of each season,” said Kurt Widmer, co-founder of Widmer Brothers Brewing. “We’re honoring that ritual by releasing a new winter beer, Brrr. It’s our gift to the holiday season.”

Brrr provides a tangible, but not excessive, flavor that ultimately transitions into a candy-like malty sweetness and quick finish. Caramel and chocolate malts provide flavor complexity, and an enticing color. Its stealthy alcohol content of 7.15% will warm up even the chilliest of nights.

Brrr will be available on shelves and on tap in 17 select markets across the U.S. from the last week of October through the first week of January. In celebration of the gift-giving season, a six-pack of Brrr comes with its own built-in gift tag, making it a fast and refreshing gift idea for any craft brew lover.

About Widmer Brothers Brewing
What started as a dream for two ordinary brothers who just loved beer has now become a reality for two ordinary brothers who still just love beer. Kurt and Rob Widmer helped lead the Pacific Northwest craft beer movement in 1984 when, in their twenties, they dreamed of brewing American interpretations of authentic European style beers. In 1986, Widmer Brothers Brewing introduced the first American-style Hefeweizen; today, the unfiltered cloudy beer is the company’s signature brew and one of the best selling wheat beers in the country. Based in Portland, Ore., the brewery currently produces a variety of beers including Drop Top Amber Ale and Broken Halo IPA. For more information about Widmer Brothers Brewing, visit www.widmer.com

Bell’s Brewery Oberon

Fresh off the boat from Minnesota (well… somewhere back east… my knowledge of what’s beyond Montana is a bit sketchy) comes this gift from a fine, fine Chicago gentleman – a bottle of Bell’s Brewery Oberon summer ale, which I can tell you right now has done much to brighten up a pretty dreary week.

Almost criminal that this is a limited-release seasonal beer, only available from late March to October. But seasonal it is – Bell’s summer ale pours a very hazy amber pint with huge downy cloud of a head that floats across the top of this creamy amber delight. A clean, crisp, citrus aroma greets the nose, followed by the refreshing bite of this wheaty ale and it’s long, refreshingly bitter finish that just makes you want to reach for another. Along with a sharp cheddar cheese filled croissant. Damn I’m hungry now.

Long story short: Bell’s, please find a distributor west of the Mississippi. We need easy access to you here in Washington.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale

Another beer from the “beer tasting” the other night.  I took notes on this one knowing that I would need them later…   Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale comes to us from Anheuser-Busch… those crazy guys that try to be craft brewers but generally end up not able to seperate themselves from the macro lifestyle. 

They have done it again, offering a mediocre seasonal ale that promises a lot in the brand and delivers none of it.  No pumpkin… not in the nose, body, or finish.  Not really any spice… not in the nose, body, or finish.  Just a slightly roasted malty brew with some small semblence of hops to make you think you are getting something worthy of the price they charge.

I would put this right on par with the Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale… definitely Middle of the Road.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Deschutes Jubelale

I think I have recovered sufficiently to post now.  We had a heck of a “tasting session” the other night and I haven’t been able to bring myself to having a beer until tonight.  Tip of the day: if you call it a “tasting session” instead of just saying you are going to drink beer, it is much more socially acceptable. 

So, keeping on the seasonal kick, I noticed a very, very festive six pack of beer at Fred Meyer the other day and had to buy it.  I think we were too late into it last year to enjoy this fine seasonal brew, and have to say I am kind of sad.  Deschutes Jubelale comes to us full of warmth and mirth.  A fine little diddy that makes me want to recite the full version of Twas the Night Before Christmas after each bottle.  A dark ruby color, a good head, high malts *and* high hops and this is one that will keep you drinking long into the cold winter night.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

Part of the lineup from the other night. 

The Jubelale!!

Widmer Brothers Okto Oktoberfest

Second in my mini-Oktoberfest-off is Widmer Brothers Okto Oktoberfest.  This hearty ale has a good mix of malt and hop, coming in a bit heavier on the hop side than the previous contender, Samuel Adams Octoberfest.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing… just a matter of taste.  Definitely more of a meal, Okto has a similar head, darker color and heavier body than Sam Adams.  It does have a smoother finish, although no more complex.  It actually leaves you with a relatively moist feeling in your mouth, not taking that with you as it falls into your gut.

Overall a beer that is well put together but the final, full package just doesn’t really do it for me.  Certain parts are good to great but others are not fully developed yet and so I have to give this one a Middle of the Road.  In this mini-Oktoberfest-off, Sam Adams comes out the winner in my book.

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road