Beantown Brews: A Boston Beer Blog

In my previous post Holiday Season Beers Part 2: All-Grain Winter Warmer, I predicted that there would be a time this winter season where you might want to have a strong holiday beverage on hand.

Enter the Blizzard of 2010 – at least that is what all the local news stations are calling it.

Nor’easter: check

24-hours of snow: check

Mythical Yeti: …check?

After shoveling out my apartment, and then going to work in the family small-engine repair shop for the day,  I was indeed “cold, tired and sore all over,” and ready to  ”collapse in a heap on the couch and rest.” Luckily, I’d started my winter warmer about a month before I posted the recipe since I wanted to have it ready for Christmas.

Terrible weather we've been havin'!

The recipe turned out very well indeed. It was everything I wanted out of my warmer – it was malty, very well spiced, and had a generous kick without any overly alcoholic taste. Two glasses later, I was warm and relaxed to the point of nearly snoring. (read snoring)

So if you have some winter warmer fermenting away in the basement, whether it is this recipe or not, I can assure you that it will be worth it when the next storm hits.

If you don’t have any on-deck, that doesn’t mean that you have to brave the next storm unprepared. There are many fine examples of this style available. Here is a list of a few local examples that you might like -

Cabin Fever Ale - Berkshire Brewing Company (One of my personal favorites)

Old Fezziwig Ale - Samuel Adams

Prelude Special Ale - Shipyard

Tremont Winter Ale - Shipyard

Old Port Ale - Casco Bay

Celebration Libation - Cisco Bay

Winter Warmer - White Birch Brewing Company

Geary's Winter Ale - Geary's Brewing Company

What’s your favorite?