Peaks and Pints Six Pack 10.30.18: Ho Ho Ho
A card. A card, with a nice family snapshot, maybe a short personal note. The perfect thing. Times have changed, wildly and fast and obviously. Then again, maybe not so much. Of course lots of people still send out real holiday cards, pose the family either awkwardly or — in the case of a few of our more heroic relatives — tremendously cleverly and sweet. Many no longer mail holiday cards. Some deliver a six-pack of holiday craft beer. If that’s you, Peaks and Pints picked you a six. …
CELEBRATION ALE, Sierra Nevada Brewing: In the midst of the many big and malty winter ales, Celebration Ale provides a comfortable winter home for the season’s displaced hops. A little darker than the average American IPA, this ale has a citrusy, piney and resinous hop character and a medium body. 6.8%, 12oz
COZY SWEATER, Iron Horse Brewery: The Ellensburg brewery pokes fun at ugly holiday sweaters with its delicious vanilla milk stout. Full of holiday cheer but a little lighter on the alcohol this brew wears a dark and chocolaty beer foundation. Then comes the lactose adding a smooth and round mouthfeel, plus a touch of sweetness with vanilla beans. Expect a sweet latte flavor mixed with some other tastes of roasted malt and a little bit of vanilla. 4.5%, 12oz
HOLIDAY GOSE, Reuben’s Brews: With one eye on the turkey and the other on the mistletoe, Reuben’s unleashed its new Holiday Gose. This cranberry-orange variation of its award-winning gose is fermented with its house lactobacillus culture and includes 10 pounds of fresh cranberries per barrel, sweet orange zest, a touch of coriander and a hint of sea salt. 4.3%, 12oz
OUR SPECIAL ALE, Anchor Brewing: The San Francisco brewery brews a slightly different Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (a.k.a. Our Special Ale) every winter. It’s dark brown in color, full-bodied and 2018’s batch, the brewery’s 44th version, is spicy, piney and dark. 6.7%, 12oz
SNOWCAVE: A WINTERTIME ALE, Crux Fermentation Project: Snow Cave gives a nod to all winter beer styles with a heavy dose of wheat malt, spice character from Belgian yeast, seasonal dark fruit and ending with a touch of chocolate. 8%, 16.9oz
SPRUCE TIP ALE, Wolf Tree Brewery: Wolf Tree’s address is Seal Rock, a small coastal community between Newport and Yachats, Oregon. But the brewery is actually 6 miles inland, in a barn on the Hitselberger family cattle ranch. This crisp and malty unfiltered American brown ale is packed with spruce tips and a light citrus flavor. 6.5%, 16.9oz
