Arguably no beer substyle is more closely associated with Ohio than the spiced Christmas Ale. While Anchor Christmas Ale is the oldest surviving example of the style, dating to 1975, I think it’s fair to say that the Christmas Ale tradition is a bigger phenomenon in Ohio than it is in California, and Great Lakes... Continue Reading →
Barley’s Celebrates 30 Years of Brewing at Friday’s Christmas Ale Tapping
One of my favorite beer events of the year, Barley’s Christmas Ale tapping, will take place at 7:30 pm this coming Friday (Nov 11, 2022). This year’s celebration is particularly sweet as it will mark 30 years of brewing at the iconic High Street brewpub. To the best of my knowledge Great Lakes Brewing and... Continue Reading →
All Things Beer Episode 31 – A White Christmas with Jason McKibben
Just in time for the holidays we offer up a conversation with Jason McKibben of North High Brewing. Central Ohio listeners know Jason as the brewmaster and co-owner of North High Brewing, a position he’s held since 2014, but his career in the brewing industry also includes stops at Anchor Brewing, the San Francisco brewery... Continue Reading →
Searching for the Origins of the Spiced Winter Warmer
The tradition of releasing a special beer for the cold, short days of December is centuries old, a tradition that has only intensified with the shift of the craft beer industry toward a rotating mix of seasonals and one offs. In the latest episode of the Pat’s Pints Podcast, Mark and I sat down with... Continue Reading →
Pat’s Pints Podcast Episode 23 – Winter Warmers and Festive Holiday Ales
‘Tis the season to be jolly and in this episode we do our best to spread some holiday cheer. We look at the evolution of Winter Warmers and other seasonal winter offerings stretching from the dark ages to the modern day. We are joined by our friend and Barley’s brewmaster Angelo Signorino, who has been... Continue Reading →
Beer Review – St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
Christmas is almost upon us and I've saved a special seasonal beer for my last beer review before the big day—Christmas Ale by St. Bernardus Brewery in Watou, Belgium. As beer geeks will know St. Bernardus brewed the beers of the Trappist monastery of St. Sixtus in Westvleteren from 1946 to 1992, using the recipes... Continue Reading →
Elves, Monks and Cinnamon – The Best Christmas Beers of 2013
Although Christmas beers have been on the shelves for months now, as we come to the winter solstice I thought it would be appropriate to do a post on holiday beers. Last weekend I asked my friends Ralph, Nick and Mark to come over, taste a bunch of holiday beers and help me choose the... Continue Reading →
Ohio vs. Michigan Beer Battle Round 6 – Holly Jolly vs. 4-Elf
In an unplanned twist the battle of the Christmas Ales hits the internet on Thanksgiving. This is not a subliminal message to go out start your X’mas shopping early, quite the opposite. On this cold wintery day sit back and enjoy some good Winter Warmers while you wait for the afternoon Turkey feast. Let’s meet... Continue Reading →
Ohio vs. Michigan Battle of the Beers
When late November arrives in Central Ohio one subject dominates the news, and takes center stage in the thoughts and minds of many residents. I’m not referring to Thanksgiving or the ridiculous shopping spectacle that used to occur the day after Thanksgiving, but now lasts longer than Bill Belichick’s tenure as head coach of the... Continue Reading →