All Things Beer!

It never fails to amaze me how many weird and wonderful beers you manage to track down and try, Tracey!!

You are a true beer junkie!! 

Glenn

Thanks... I do try! 
There is a core group of about 8 of us, but which can expand to anything up to 16, who are all interested in the same types/styles of beers, and we all go out of our way to find them, drink them, and spread the word about them.  So we're always on the lookout... finding new beers, new outlets, meeting the pub managers and the brewers and letting them know we are willing to spend our money if they will give us good stuff...and it often pays dividends!

One of the Wetherspoons had Orkney Blast last night, so we went round there, but it was unpleasantly sweet and a disappointment.  We had 2 pints each, then went down to the Southside to drink bottled Christkindlmarkt and Weihnachtsfest biers the rest of the night.  I also had a bottle of Sam Smith's Christmas ale, but it was nothing special.

I had 'Christmas Light' ale and a 'Reindeer's Revolt' last night - both very yummy!
Yay Christmas beer!

Oh yeah, i had that 'Christmas Light' on Thursday night and it was gorgeous... what a lovely biscuity after-taste it had!  I wasn't going to drink it cos it was only 3.8% but the cellarman convinced me I'd like it and gave me a taster...and I was hooked. 

I had the Breckenridge Brewery Christmas Ale last night. It was absolutely delicious. I've been behind on my seasonal beers for winter, so I think I may need to make a trip to my local giant liquor store and see what amazing selection they've got!

My local Wetherspoons had Bradfield Brewery's Belgian Blue on - now I know it's Christmas!
I had a poor pint of Wychwood's Bah Humbug yesterday in Manchester on the way back to the ststion from the Xmas market

My local Wetherspoons had Bradfield Brewery's Belgian Blue on - now I know it's Christmas!
I had a poor pint of Wychwood's Bah Humbug yesterday in Manchester on the way back to the ststion from the Xmas market

Ooh, that Belgian Blue sounds interesting... what's the abv and what's it like?  (we will probably never get it here anyway, but still...enquiring minds!)

Ugh, Wychwood.  I hate their beers.  I have a bottle of Hobgoblin that's been in the fridge for over a year. 

Ooh, that Belgian Blue sounds interesting... what's the abv and what's it like?  (we will probably never get it here anyway, but still...enquiring minds!)

Ugh, Wychwood.  I hate their beers.  I have a bottle of Hobgoblin that's been in the fridge for over a year. 

I like Hobgoblin!

Belgian Blue is 4.9% - their website states "This unique beer has christmas berry overtones; and has a slight blue tint to the head - making it an unusual winter warmer!"
It's a darker ale.

My roommate and I went in together on a variety case from Sountern Tier, and holy cow, I just am loving everything they make. I'd first tried their Pumpking Ale back in September and loved it. Last night we drank the Un-Earthly IPA (so strong alcohol content wise, but so so good!) and the Iniquity Black Ale which I think might be a new favorite for me.

They've got a 2XMas Ale that I've got my eye on now!

We heard about a liquor store in Owensboro, KY, which is just across the river from us, that sells Sam Smith's. So, off we went. Not only do they have three kinds of Sam Smith's, including the Nut Brown Ale that I truly adore, but we also got some Wells Banana Bread Beer, which I have missed terribly. Then, we saw some Hobgoblin  and I was so happy I nearly cried.  We ended up spending $51 on 18 bottles, but tis the season AND it is our anniversary. They do a 'build your own 6 pack' and the price depends on each individual bottle from their single serve case.

These days we are into sipping and savoring, so they will last a while.

We've been doing that with a lot of Sam Adams beers lately, including the Winter collection that has White Christmas, Chocolate Bock, Winter Lager (my fave by far), Old Fezziwig Ale and Holiday Porter.

Leinenkugel’s Snowdrift Vanilla Porter is another one we have enjoyed recently. For all our worries we were going to be without good beer when we came back, we have found quite a few great ones so far. Now that we have found this new place, we are overjoyed! We've also asked them to see if they can get Fuller's beers.

I like the Sam Adams Winter beers, TamaMoo!

I was drinking 'Bad Elf' last night. That was a tasty pint!

Wells Banana Bread Beer, which I have missed terribly.

I like that one!

I stayed in last night, cos HB was on a curry night with colleagues.  Just drank bottled German Christmas beers (we have 3 crates in the house!):  Pyraser 2012 Weihnachts Festbier, Vierzehnheiligener, and Tucher Christkindlmarkt.  Also had a bit of mulled ginger wine.

Working a half-day tomorrow, then heading to Huddersfield, where I will meet up with my partner and 10 of our friends and spend Hogmanay in the Grove Inn... a brilliant wee pub with something like 17 cask beers on, dunno how many kegs and a several-page-long menu of bottled beers.  Last I saw their board was Thursday and at that time, they had Fullers ESB, Landlord, 3 Thornbridge casks, 2 Magic Rock, 3 Brodies, 2 Marble and much more... can't wait to see what we're getting tomorrow!

Planning to get some Ossett beers at Rat & Ratchet on Ne'er Day (or if anyone has any suggestions on other good real ale pubs we could try...), and on the 2nd, we will call in at a few places in Manchester, particularly the Marble Arch on our way home.

That sounds like a great way to spend Hogmanay!  Have a great time!!! 

That sounds like a great way to spend Hogmanay!  Have a great time!!! 

Yes it does! Just a bit jealous here. 

I came to say I have no idea how I missed it on my last list, but we shared a bottle of Fuller's Reserve No. 3 on our anniversary. It was amazing, although hubby said No. 2 was better. He and a friend shared one of those before he came back over (I came in mid June, he came early August).