Comments on: Christmas beers: An early tasting…

By: William Brand

William Brand — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:46:05 +0000

Refrigerators do have a way of talking, don’t they.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:13:14 +0000

I agree, Anderson Valley is great. And yeah, there is some spice to A.V.W.S.. But not to the extent of, say, Anchor’s Our Special Ales of the past (have yet to try this year’s offering). And it’s balanced out by the slightly sweet aftertaste. I wouldn’t call it over the top. Just a great beer for a chilly night. Such as tonight. Speaking of which, I hear my refrigerator calling…

By: William Brand

William Brand — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:43:21 +0000

Is Winter Solstice spiced this year? Have you tried it? Anderson Valley’s one of my all-time favorite breweries.But sometimes the spicing in Wionter Solstice is over the top.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:21:03 +0000

I wanted to make sure that Anderson Valley got some love. While it may not be a “holiday beer” by name, Christmas doesn’t hit in my house unless Winter Solstice has hit the shelves. Fortunately for all the little kiddies out there, it has hit the shelves. Let the rejoicing begin!

By: William Brand

William Brand — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:54:56 +0000

I’ve never been a fan of the Wassail Our Special Ale. Before they started spicing the beer, it was a champion brown ale. Wish they’d go back, but they never will Fritz Maytag loves the historical aspects of wassail.

The spicing does change from year to year. What I always do is tuck a few bottles away and try them after a year, after two years., Aging reduces the impact of the spicing.

By: KC

KC — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:58:01 +0000

Small kvetch: the Anchor Ale aint what it used to be. Back in the early days it was a very, very small production that was only available if you knew your distributor, or got a bottle right when it hit the shelves. And it was different every year.

Now it is readily available and pretty consistent year over year. I find the nutmeg a bit overpowering. A still enjoy it, but it is not the same…

By: William Brand

William Brand — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:24:48 +0000

I’ve visited a few times. $4 – $5? Yeah that’s unfortunately becoming standard. It is hell and gone. Think I’ll look at Monument this afternoon.

By: craig

craig — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:54:12 +0000

you can always go to yhe “black diamond” tap room..open 3-6 i think…it’s around the corner form “diablo creek golf course”…and around the other block from my work…the tap room is really well done….and since they raised their prices i stopped going….i mean 4-5$ to drink in an industrail park..(down wind from many nasty things i may add)…is just too much…

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:19:11 +0000

another shout out for the St. Bernardus Noel. Can Saint B do anything wrong?
-22oz

By: Big beer and a big turkey

Big beer and a big turkey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:20:31 +0000

[...] releases the ABV – there wasn’t one on the magnum – checking out some sites – including – What’s on tap – seem to say it is 5.5% – sounds good to me. I am happy we have that straight now) but not as [...]