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 three Christmas season beers with the Froggy Fresh “Christmas” video. Originally known as Krispy Kreme, Froggy was forced to change his name after the doughnut corporation called him glazed and confused. Froggy Fresh raps what’s on his Christmas list next to his mute friend, Money Maker Mike, dressed as a hulking teenage Saint Nick. The list is mostly John Cena merch, but it’s definitely worth a view while drinking the suggested holiday beers in Peaks and Pints To-Go Christmas Beer Flight: Froggy Fresh.
Peaks and Pints To-Go Christmas Beer Flight: Froggy Fresh
Hellbent All Spruced Up
7.5% ABV, Campfire Crowler fill
Hellbent Brewing’s All Spruced Up Winter Ale is a traditional winter beer, dark in color, yet has a mild malty richness. The hops — Citra, Chinook, and Cascade — along with fresh spruce tips add a citrus floral and “candy-like” aroma. Expect smooth caramel and spice up front, with spruce on the finish.
E9 Fuzzy Claus
9.5% ABV, can
What a naughty beer, aren’t you? E9 Brewing Fuzzy Claus gets you in trouble — delicious, fast trouble. The Christmas Blend, a cuvée is you will, of the Tacoma brewery’s Sekiu Barleywine, Dark Passenger Imperial Stout, and Holy Diver Belgian Strong Dark Ale rings in at 9.5% with notes of chocolate plum cordial, if there is such a thing. Full disclosure: Fuzzy Claus, the jolly fella on the can, use to pour beer at Peaks & Pints.
Dieu du Ciel Solstice d’Hiver
10.2% ABV, bottle
Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!, the tiny brewpub at the edge of Montréal’s city center, is a common exclamation, meaning “God in Heaven!” more or less, which is undoubtedly the most polite oath you are likely to hear in Montréal — a city with a well-known penchant for turning religious sentiments into profanity. The brewery’s holiday Solstice d’Hiver barleywine is delicately sweet and liquor-like with a hint of burnt caramel coming from the malt and a prolonged boiling time. It is a very bitter beer with aromas of hops and alcohol, and flavors reminiscent of red fruit brought by the English-type yeast we use to ferment it. The aftertaste is accentuated by the wonderful flavor of hops.
