Beer style of the week; The 12 Beers of Christmas, (but Great any time)

6th Day of Christmas

For the past 3 weeks we have merrily ventured through the kingdoms of Christmas Ales and enchanted Winter Warmer wonderlands. For the next 7 days we bring you a sampling of diverse beers from around the world that are purely divine by nature. These are the splendid spirit-lifting brews to enjoy with family and friends as we celebrate this special time of year.

Some of these delightful beers are found in weeks past and in week’s future, others will be making a cameo appearance because of their special connection to the season. They come in all styles, varieties, and strengths. All are very good!

Day 1 – Sinebrychoff Porter

Day 2 – Geary’s Hampshire Special

Day 3 - Hooker Liberator

Day 4 – Trappiste Rochefort 10

Day 5 - Baden Baden – Red Ale (Double Red)

Day 6

Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout – Samuel Smith Old Brewery – Tadcaster, England – 7% ABV

Served in a standard pint glass.

This is the beer that got me writing beer notes about 15 years ago.

This excellent Imperial Stout is ebony in color with a thick, foamy tan head that leaves behind a shroud of lace. The complex aroma gives pleasing smells of coffee, chocolate, hops and alcohol. The heavy and rich malt provides a luscious, velvety texture. Abundantly hopped with citrus, metallic and tea-like bitterness. Coffee and chocolate press forward as does some molasses sweetness. Noticeable alcohol, but not overdone. Wow!

Cheers!

Quote: “Blessing of your heart, you brew good Ale” – William Shakespeare – ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’

Joshua Norton Russian Imperial Stout

Haverhill Brewing - Haverhill, MA 9.3% abv
22oz dark brown bottle. Freshness date etched on label.
Served in a standard pint glass.
The color is like thick, spent motor oil with a thin, fast-fading tannish head along with some patchy and trailing lace.
Roasted chocolate malt smells are upfront, while the resinous hop aroma fades quickly and the alcoholic fuminess is very well disguised.
The flavor profile is quite subtle for the style. Naturally, there's the roasted malt-forward flavors, with tastes of coffee, dark chocolate, doughy rye bread and molasses. The hops display some tea-like and slightly metallic edgy bitterness, but way in the distance. Some light rummy alcoholic tastes are also noticeable but fairly subdued.
It's an Imperial Stout that goes down surprisingly easy and that could prove dangerous to me.
Goes well with creme brulee and vanilla ice cream.

Goose Island-Bourbon County

Goose Island Chicago, Il- Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout - 13% abv
Served in a goblet
Brown 22 oz bottle. Freshness date.
Big thick spent engine oil black with a moderate sized, fast fading tan head. Some sticky and patchy lacing clings to the glass.
A strong alcoholic smell rises at first pour. Smells of dark coffee, chocolate, bourbon, piney hops and camphor remain potent throughout.
Wow! A taste of Kalua and bourbon jump straight out. Coffee, dark chocolate, malt and edgy hop bitterness follow.
The alcoholic kick is unmistakable.
Lovely in an extreme sense! Try with dark chocolate, rich vanilla ice cream, creme brulee, or creamy, aged cheese.

Serving type: bottle

AleSmith Speedway Stout

Imperial Stout – San Diego, CA – 12% abv

25.9oz Dark green bottle. No freshness date.
Inky, oily black, with a smallish tan head on top, along with some sticky lacing.
Rich, potent aromas of coffee, bitter chocolate, dark malt and piney hops are released upon first pour. A whiff of dark rum lingers in the background throughout.
A strong earthy dark malty body lays a solid foundation for a variety of complex and distinct flavors. Espresso, dark chocolate, buttered biscuits, cherries, white grapefruit, spruce, burnt caramel, vanilla, cream, and rum all mingle quite separately, then, as it warms, blends into a wowingly balanced Imperial Stout extravaganza.
Almost anyone can make an extreme beer. Many brewers lose sight of the purpose of their extreme creations by concocting a sea of over-the-top flavors and aromas with no clear direction in mind. AleSmith Owner/Brewer, Peter Zien understands the complex art of brewing beers that are full flavored and highly drinkable while maintaining high-quality beer-related foundations. Simply put; He gets it! And when a brewer "Gets it" we all get it. Get it?