Make the most of winter with seasonal foods, satisfying dishes, and gear for getting cozy.
Wintry Brews: Beers Perfect for the Season
James
Wine, Beer & Liquor Buyer
16th & Madison store
Winter brings chilly air, deep grey skies, long dark nights, and seemingly interminable rain. My favorite way to combat the lack of sunshine and warmth is to cozy up with a loved one and bottle of winter warmer ale.
Originating in soggy old England, this beer style is characterized by rich, roasted malt, a full mouthfeel, robust alcohol (usually between 6 and 10 percent), and a lingering, festive finish. Some are done in the “wassail” style with added spice, and many of our favorite breweries produce a Pacific Northwest style with extra hops for robust bitterness and brightness.
Whichever style suits you best, these fine brews are an aptly named source of solace for the winter blues. Beer lovers, I invite you to hail the return of the sun with one of our winter warmers. Here are some of my favorites:
Peddler Brewing Company Snow Beer'd Winter Ale 8% | Ballard, Seattle | 22oz Born in the frosty depths of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, this winter warmer forgoes experiments with fruit and spice for an avalanche of dark roasted malts and northwest hops. This beer will stand up to even the iciest winter maelstrom. |
Pelican Brewing Company Bad Santa Cascadian Dark Ale 7.5% | Tillamook, OR | 22 oz A truly Cascadian take on the winter warmer, at 75 IBUs this beer will appeal to those of us enraptured by the hoppy IPA. The hops are well balanced with a hefty dose of malty richness, creating a well-rounded black IPA. |
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Reuben’s Brews Roasted Rye IPA 7% | Ballard, Seattle | 22 oz Another classic PNW style winter warmer, with an elegant balance of hops and malt. The astute drinker will be delighted by notes of chocolate, roast, and caramel, replete with a warm mouthfeel and a pleasant, lingering finish. |
St. Bernardus Christmas Ale 10% | Watou, Belgium | 750 ml This is one of the first beers with which I ever fell in love. Blacker than a cloudy January night in Seattle, with a creamy head, velvety mouthfeel, and fruity notes in the bouquet, this is a crowd pleaser that will ferry you through the dreariest days of winter and impress even the most skeptical of beer nerds. A classic winter ale from one of the world’s top breweries. |
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Three Magnets Brewing Wreathing Havoc Imperial Red Rye Winter Ale 9.4% | Olympia | 22 oz Clad in one of the best beer labels I’ve ever seen, this imperial red ale packs a wallop of rye, is pleasantly sweet without being cloy, and finishes with subtle notes of spiced rum and toffee. |
Picks From Around the Co-op
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Sharon Wellness Manager 16th & Madison Stacking Mugs Gaia Herbs
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April Front End Clerk 6th Avenue It Tastes Raaw
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Tim Grocery Manager 16th & Madison Keep It Real Food Co.
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Sean Produce Clerk 6th Avenue Leeks Elephant Garlic
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Shelby Produce Manager 16th & Madison TDE Tangerines
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Wayne Meat & Seafood Manager 16th & Madison Salmon Creek Pork Tenderloin |
Date: Tuesday February 02, 2016
Category: In The Co-op
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