I finished my "Winter Beer Tour" at Old Chicago (15 Winter beers) and got a sweet t-shirt:
I finished it off with a Paulaner Salvator Dopplebock, an excellent rich and malty gift from those wacky monks, and a Rogue Santa's Private Reserve, a great holiday offering from the Oregon brewery. It was fun getting going on my Winter beer drinking by plowing through their 15 picks. The shirt (with my name on it) is just a bonus.
Also of note in the local beer news... Diamond Bear has their Two Term Double IPA out but I haven't found it yet. I shall not rest until I do! Well, I'll rest, but not comfortably.
Here's some more beer linkage for ya:
* Here's a great story on Winter Beers just up on MSN. I haven't had all of their picks, but of the ones I've had Sierra Nevada Celebration is a must every holiday season and Victory Storm King Imperial Stout is actually one of my favorite stouts of all.
* Speaking of Winter beers, here's my 12 Beers Of Christmas post from last year if you're looking for something tasty to help you stumble 'round the Winter wonderland.
*Here's another great article that was in my last issue of Draft Magazine that's now online. It's a list of their top 10 beers without medals at the Great American Beer Fest and it sort of blows my mind as several of my favorite beers, like Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale, Rogue Dead Guy Ale and Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, are all included. How they've never won medals is beyond me. It's a good read.
* Scotland's BrewDog announced the release of the world strongest beer... a 32% abv brew. C'mon though, that's closer to liquor than beer. It's called Tactical Nuclear Penguin and although I love that name, I just think it's sort of silly. To each his own I guess. I would like to try it, but it doesn't sound enjoyable at all. Maybe interesting but not enjoyable. Here's a good article on it worth a read.
* Here's a neat beer quiz. See if you can beat my score of 5 correct.
* Lastly, Draft Magazine is doing their 25 Holiday Beers bit again and here's the link. They're only on the first one, Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale, so keep checking that link.
