Weyerbacher Riserva Vertical

A vertical tasting is trying a selection of the same beer from different years.  It is a great way to see how a beer changes over time.  It is especially exciting when done with wild ales because the flavors imparted by souring bacteria can greatly change over periods of time.

 

 

This vertical was between a 2009 and 2010 bottle of Weyerbacher Riserva.  This American Wild Ale with raspberry puree has a wonderful tangy tartness and mild levels of funk.

It is amazing the difference a year can make.  The 2010 was much sharper with the flavors hitting you in distinct steps while the 2009 was much more rounded and allowed the tastes to gently flow together.  The 2009 finished drier and invites the drinker to take another sip while the 2010 makes you pucker a little and prepare yourself for another taste.

It will be very interesting to see how this beer changes over the next few years.

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - 1

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - #1

Ayinger - Celebrator Doppelbock

When I think of Christmas this is the beer that comes to mind.  Strong, sweet and beautifully complex.  There are wonderful notes of raisins and cherry with a thick malty body.  As if this beer was not enough of a treat it comes with a small plastic ram on each bottle.  Each year I treat myself to a case of this and enjoy drinking them while I decorate the Christmas tree with all the rams that come with the beer.

In this segment, "The Twelve Beers to Christmas" I will be sharing a beer each day leading up to Christmas.

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - 2

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - #2

Corsendonk - Christmas Ale (2009)

A dark ale with fruit and spice flowing all over the place.  Pours great and has a wonderful aroma.  This bottle has been aging for more than a year and is a real treat.

A special thanks to Colin from Wooltown for donating this bottle.

In this segment, "The Twelve Beers to Christmas" I will be sharing a beer each day leading up to Christmas.

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - 3

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - #3

Rodenbach - Flemish Red Brown

Christmas has a lot of sweets associated with it, cookies, rum cake, egg nog and candy.  With all this sweet we need to balance it with some sour!  Aged in oak for more than two years this beer is actually a blend of older Flemish ale and young ale.  The sourness is mild and fruity with a slight acidic finish.  Wonderful to drink. 

In this segment, "The Twelve Beers to Christmas" I will be sharing a beer each day leading up to Christmas.

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - 4

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - #4

Port Brewing - Santa's Little Helper

You may be dreaming of a white Christmas this year, but Santa's Little Helper adds a darker side to the holidays.  Rich and velvety with thick roasted notes of toffee and caramel, this Imperial Stout would make jolly old saint Nick... well, jolly.

A special thanks to Colin from Wooltown for donating this bottle.

In this segment, "The Twelve Beers to Christmas" I will be sharing a beer each day leading up to Christmas.

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - 5

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - #5

Anchor - Christmas Ale 2010

Thirty-six years, that's how long anchor has been brewing Christmas ales.  Each year is different and it is only available from mid November to mid January.
It is a great spiced and fruity beer with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, plum and chocolate.  I can't help but thinking of Fritz Maytag, considered by many to be the father of American craft brewing, as he worked to create his first Christmas beer more than 35 years ago.

A special thanks to Chad for donating this beer.

In this segment, "The Twelve Beers to Christmas" I will be sharing a beer each day leading up to Christmas.

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - 6

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - #6

Stoudts - Winter Ale

A wonderful amber/red ale with a nice amount of hops.  Two years ago Stoudts released a new winter ale and this being the second year, I have to say, it is growing on me.
It is a wonderfully hoppy beer with a nice malt foreground. Stoudts changes the recipe every few years and it is always a treat to try their new winter ales.

In this segment, "The Twelve Beers to Christmas" I will be sharing a beer each day leading up to Christmas.

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - 7

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - #7

Tröegs, Mad Elf

A true Christmas beer.  This brew packs a punch at 11% ABV with cherries and honey.  Sweet and warming with a pleasant fruity and spiced aroma.  Pared with one of the best holiday albums ever, James Brown Funky Christmas, you can't go wrong. A few of these and you too can be a funky mad elf; get down with your bad self, Aaaaawwww.

In this segment, "The Twelve Beers to Christmas" I will be sharing a beer each day leading up to Christmas. 

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - 8

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - # 8

Stone, Arrogant Bastard Ale

This bottle epitomizes what so many craft beer drinkers think, "This is an aggressive beer. You probably won't like it." And many would not, so the label continues with its bold assertiveness and tells the reader that maybe they should just stick to their, "tasteless yellow fizzy beer."

Arrogant Bastard is a strong beer with bold and complex flavors.  It has a solid malty base with  blasts of hops from all directions; aroma, bittering and flavor.  It sets the bar high by being so conceited a beer, but in the end we all know that it's only arrogant if you can't back it up.

In this segment, "The Twelve Beers to Christmas" I will be sharing a beer each day leading up to Christmas.

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - 9

The Twelve Beers to Christmas - # 9

Schoolmaster Brewing, Nierra Sevada

Sierra Nevada is one of my favorite beers, so I decided to brew a clone of it.  My beer, Nierra Sevada is a close match.  It has a very similar malt profile and while the hops taste correct, there need to be more of them.  I'm happy with my first attempt at a clone brew and already have my second attempt fermenting in the secondary.  I submitted this beer to competition and used the BJCP score sheet to modify the recipe.   It is a great beer and very drinkable.

In this segment, "The Twelve Beers to Christmas" I will be sharing a beer each day leading up to Christmas.