Every December — while the bartenders close down our Proctor District craft beer bar, bottle shop and restaurant for the night — Peaks & Pints co-owner Pappi Swarner grabs three holiday beers, heads upstairs to his office, cranks his computer speaks to an 11 and watches holiday Youtube videos. Obviously, he can’t perform his holiday tradition this year … at Peaks & Pints. No, his holiday glee now takes place inside his home, much to the chagrin of his wife and daughter. In the spirit of giving, we offer you the chance to share his joy. Today, he pairs the three Christmas season beers below with The Christmas Shoes, a made-for-TV movie starring the guy who used to talk really smart with the president but then ended up doing puppet theater in Reno. Yes, Rob Lowe. Anyway, check out the movie while enjoying Peaks and Pints To-Go Christmas Beer Flight: Christmas Shoes. Cheers!
Peaks and Pints To-Go Christmas Beer Flight: Christmas Shoes
Matchless Cold Mocha
8.5% ABV
There is snow in the mountains. There is a nip in the air. It’s sweater weather. That means it’s time to curl up by a roaring fire with a nice mug of Matchless Brewing Cold Mocha, an imperial brown ale full of rich chocolate and creamy vanilla flavors with a shot of Olympia Coffee Roasters’ Big Truck Coffee Beans.
Maritime Pacific Jolly Roger Christmas Ale
9.5% ABV, 55 IBU
A Christmas beer with a pirate skull and crossbones donning the bottle? This one is for you, Jack Skellington! George and Jane Hancock founded the ma-and-pa Maritime Pacific Brewing Company in an old transmission shop in 1990 in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. In 1997 they opened the Jolly Roger Taproom named, as they say, “in honor of our most popular holiday brew”: Jolly Roger Christmas Ale. A beer fridge staple, Jolly Roger winter warmer combines rich malt character with a blend of fresh Northwest Chinook, Cascade and Amarillo hops.
Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws
11.5% ABV, 70 IBU
Hair of the Dog’s holiday-themed barleywine Doggie Claws is brewed with Simcoe and Amarillo hops along with Organic Pilsner malt, British crystal and dark wild flower honey collected on Mt. Hood. It smells of thick, decadent caramel coupled with notes of raisins, molasses and dark fruits. First sip brings a sweet caramel-raisin infused maltiness that carries hints of dark fruits, cherry and sourdough. This is followed by a nice wave of piney, citric, herbal hop bitterness causing a nice interplay between the sweet and bitter aspects of the craft beer. It’s self-gratification at its best.
