- Thanksgiving weekend positively ruled. And I hope yours did, too.
- In 19 days, my pudgy brew belly will be sprawled out on a beach towel in Kauai.
- Approximately 35% of my gift list is complete.
- The Carpenters Christmas Portrait album.
- Seasonal beer.
- Seasonal beer.
- Seasonal beer.
When a really, really good beer is available only once a year, it's a pretty big deal when that beer makes its annual arrival. But when it's released only once in a lifetime? That takes a whole new level of planning, especially when it comes to issues of storage space, consumption and your willingness to share with others.
The Bruery created a series called The 12 Beers of Christmas. Every year, for 12 years, a new beer is brewed for the corresponding gift given in the song. They kicked off the series in 2008 with Partridge in a Pear Tree. In 2009, it was 2 Turtle Doves, brewed with cocoa nibs, pecans and caramel malts (mmm...turtle candies.)
For the 2010 holiday season, my true lush gave to me:
Holy sweet tidings.
Those Bruery folks can brew no wrong.
(Har? Fine, no har.)
(Har? Fine, no har.)
But seriously, this stuff is fantastic.
Sadly, I never had the opportunity to sample the first two in the series, not by choice but by lack of distribution in this area. Therefore, I plan on securing the nine remaining gifts and cellaring them in a safe, dark place until 12 Drummers Drumming is released in 2019. That, my friends, is going to be a very merry Christmas.
Looking for a cool gift idea for the ale lover in your life? Here you go. Start with a bottle 3 French Hens and, chances are, he or she will most likely covet the entire collection going forward. That takes care of one person on your list for the next 9 years. Beats giving a one year membership to the Jelly of the Month Club.
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I am completely jealous of your fabulous trip plans. I have no fabulous trip and my gift list is 0% complete. Now I think I need a beer!
ReplyDeletejealous of your beach trip, how absolultely lush for xmas!
ReplyDeletei am not a beer drinker nor am i a fan of xmas music (unless it's a heavily eyeliner'd George Michael lamenting about losing his heart last xmas...) but the fact that you love the Carpenters makes you awesome. For Life. my love for them rivals my love for Voltron.
Wendi - I think it's time for you to start making some fabulous trip plans of your own, lady. The gift list can wait.
ReplyDeleteAngry Asian - Karen's voice is like dark chocolate for the ears. The Carpenters could have put out an album of Lamb Chops Play-Along song covers and I would swoon. Rainy Days and Mondays <3
Aloha Ali! Wait until J gets a load of this series (you guys have created a monster)! We've only just begun... ;) 19 days baby! We'll be rockin the pudgy brew belly right alongside you, sister! xoxo
ReplyDeleteSo excited and jealous for your Kauai Christmas. That's gonna be awesome.
ReplyDeleteHow did the turkey on the grill turn out? Any pics??
I loved the Autumn Maple you guys gave me - I have definitely become a Bruery believer. Where'd you snag the 3 French Hens?
Manda - come to think of it, I believe you were the one who first got me into the Carpenters. I used to listen to that tape nonstop in elementary school. I'll save you a seat on my towel, assuming there's room. xoxo
ReplyDeleteLiam - Misty decided to go the roasting route but the beer malt glaze was delish. Glad you enjoyed the Autumn Maple! Both WF and Total carry the Bruery line (including Mischief.)
This beer sounds fabulous! Hope I can find it at my local Bev Mo!
ReplyDeleteOh what a nice list of things you have, have fun on the beach...I have a "wine" belly myself! I call it a barrel belly. ha
ReplyDeleteThe Bruery is pretty amazing, i am sitting on a bottle of 2 turtle doves and enjoyed a few last year. really awesome stuff. I did my first pairing dinner at Freshcraft and featured The Bruery's Autumn Maple. i love the balance of that beer with the many ingredients they used. Still haven't seen 3 French Hens in CO yet...hopefully sooon! good to see east coast getting some west coast love!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great blog Ali!
p.s. if you want a bottle of the Bruery's 2nd Anniversary Coton, i can still get it out here for $22 a bottle. lemme know!
I wonder if the Whole Foods here in Santa Barbara carry that one... We kinda miss the selection of beer that we had in Huntington, but the WF here is pretty good.
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, I still have that hippo you got for me back in the day from Kauai! Well, it's at my parent's house, but still got it! :)
Kathleen - I hope so, too. Let me know if you get your hands on some :D
ReplyDeleteJennifurla - yes! :high fives monitor:
Matt - hey guy! Thanks for commenting :D The Bruery really took off over here, especially at home. I fell in love with Saison de Lente and Mike was constantly restocking our fridge with Mischief. Good times. Send me your pairing menu sometime - I'd love to see what you put together!
I just got back from Kauai and had a FABULOUS time! the best beer we (hubby and I) had there was from the Maui Brewing Co. Their CoCoNut Porter is ah-ma-zing. The IPA and Ale are pretty good too. Most the bartenders we spoke with there said that there aren't any decent beers brewed on Kauai, but there is a micro brew, Waimea Brewing Co., that we didn't get to check out. Also, if you like mead, you should try to find Nani Moon Mead. It's made on the island and is delicious. If you don't want to track down a bottle the Oasis on the Beach (in the Outrigger Waipouli Resort) serves it. They have great food too and Happy Hour is from 4 to 6pm. The best food we had there though was at the Hukilau Lania. Hope you have a great time!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious, where did you find that Bruery beer?
I sent over the Pairing menu on facebook, Have you all had there Saison Rue?? One of my favorite beers at the moment. From what i hear the 2 year of that beer pours fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHanny - I'm sure between WF and your new gig at the brewpub, you guys will have plenty to keep you satiated :) I cannot believe you still have that hippo. Michael Steinclub for LYFE.
ReplyDeleteStacy - it's always nice to get some enthusiastic beer feedback...loved your comment! I've heard so many great things about that CoCoNut Porter but unfortunately for us here in Northern VA, we don't get to see any of the Maui Brewing stuff. Needless to say, I'm now beyond excited to go back to Kauai to try that porter. I just jotted down Nani Moon Mead and, Oasis on the Beach and Hukilau Lanai, too. Huge thanks for the heads up. Glad you had a great time over there! Such a beautiful island...
P.S. I found 3 French Hens at my local Whole Foods :)
i just happened upon your blog and I LOVE it! I am all about xmas music... Joni mitchell has been my favorite, maybe due to love actually.
ReplyDeleteI am going to be reading from now on!
You SO deserve a drink! We all do. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had an awesome TDay and hope you have a fantastic trip!
Claire - welcome! And thanks :D Funny you should mention that movie...check back here tomorrow ;)
ReplyDeleteMs. Meanie - 'tis the season to toast with some beer (or wine or eggnog, which I'm *still* trying to acquire a taste for.) I hope you had a great T-Day, as well :)
Fantastic! We just got back from Oahu and Maui and it was AMAZING. You're going to love it, get a great tan!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say that I finally got around to going to my favorite obscure beer/wine store (The Wine Source in Baltimore, MD) and they had The Bruery Three French Hens. I bought it to give to my husband for Christmas, but I have to admit, it's pretty tempting to try it myself. I hope I can hold out till the 25th... And hopefully he'll share... ;)
ReplyDeleteStacy - awesome, you found it! Pretty bottle, huh? Good luck waiting until the 25th. That's precisely why I had to buy a second bottle. Enjoy it (assuming your husband will share, lol.) Have a great Christmas!
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