The Twelve Beers of Christmas 2020

If ever there was a year to drink Twelve Beers of Christmas it would be 2020. With everything going on in our world it would be easy to drown sorrows instead of celebrating all that is the holiday season. Being the eternal optimist I choose celebration rather than damnation. Family, friends, faith, and relationships have all been strengthened rather than diminished during this COVID-19 pandemic. I am grateful for good health, a supportive family, stronger faith, new friends and acquaintances, a somewhat steady income, renewed vigor, and I am especially thankful for these Twelve Beers of Christmas 2020 edition. So starting on Christmas Day, with one new beer every day for twelve days, being a beer I have not drank before mind you, I give to you my Twelve Beers of Christmas 2020. 

Follow ole @bluesandbarbq through Instagram, Untappd, Twitter, and Facebook for each daily installment and drink along with me, celebrating your own Twelve Beers of Christmas. Start a new tradition! Cheers y'all, enjoy!

1. Russian River Sanctification

sanc·ti·fi·ca·tion

Learn to pronounce

noun

1. the action of making or declaring something holy.

   • the action or process of being freed from sin or purified.
   • the action of causing something to be or seem morally right or acceptable.
   • 
     

   This one has eluded me for several years. It has been on my wish list for a long time. Finally picked a bottle up in early March at Freedom Liquor in Colorado Springs, CO just as Corona was unleashed upon us. Brett ales are among my favorite styles due to their complexity and chameleon tendencies. This will be a great selection to kick off this year's selections and to celebrate Christmas Day.

Russian River brewers' notes:

Technically, this is neither an ale nor a lager. The base recipe is for a Golden Ale, but we do the primary fermentation with 100% brettanomyces. The brett gives it some sour notes but not as much as if it had been aged with lacto and pedio.

2. Great Divide Mexican Chocolate Yeti

Is there a south of the border cousin to our North American Sasquatch?

The truth is out there.

These Great Divide Yeti variants are all delicious. A spicy chocolate coffee Imperial Stout? Yes, please. This one is a big boy that will be shared. Dessert beer.

Great Divide brewer's notes:

A very special, and very limited, entry in our venerable Yeti Series, Mexican Chocolate Yeti is a sensory delight. We’ve added a variety of spices, vanilla and coffee to Yeti Imperial Stout to create our version of a traditional champurrado drink. Spiced chocolate drinks have been part of Aztec and Mayan cuisine and culture for centuries, but they have yet to be paired with a Yeti!

3. Central Waters Brewer's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Belgian Style Quad

The name of this beer is longer than a Welsh town name; a lot of descriptors. This 2016 vintage offering is by way of Beer Santa, my good friend PfoxyJohn, President Emeritus of The Wisconsin Beer Mafia. The man has impeccable taste in beer, and friends. Cheers Mister Pfister. Mmm, Bourbon barreled beer...

Central Waters brewer's notes:

Barrel aged Quad is brewed in the spirit of collaboration. We combine traditional techniques and ingredients like Belgian candi sugar with American innovation and experimentation by the use of bourbon barrels. Our Quad is amazingly balanced and smooth while maintaining the dark fruit notes that are the trademark of the style.

4. Une Annee Peche

Anyone who's bitten into a fully ripe, just-picked peach--hot from the summer's sun and ripe enough to be what the Masumotos call a 'gusher'--knows that the feeling is completely, thoroughly arresting. - David Mas Masumoto

Anyone who knows me well also acknowledges my extreme love and obsession for all things peach. It is a passion, a weakness, some would say a fetish. 

I also have a fondness for sour beers. This beer combines two of my great loves.

After visiting Une Annee Brewery near Chicago in December 2019, with the previously mentioned PfoxyJohn, Mister Pfister obtained this much sought after peach delicacy and sent one to me, knowing how I covet thy magical juicy pitted fruit. 

I will not share this one, it is my precious.

Une Annee brewer's notes:

American Wild Ale - 6.5% ABV. American Wild Ale brewed with fresh peaches for a tart effervescent sour ale that's packed with fruity goodness.

5. Blackberry Farm / Trillium Farm & Fury

Another peach ale? 

You're damn skippy.

Lou, why do you love peaches so much?

Because, peaches. What's not to love?

Thank you Jason, my young Tennessee beer brother, for gifting me this knowing we share a love for all things peach.

Blackberry Farm brewer's notes:

Brewed with Boston’s Trillium Brewing Co. This wild ale utilizes locally malted grains, as well as Massachusetts raw wheat, aged hops, and Trillium’s wild yeast culture co-fermented with our house yeast. The beer was then aged on locally harvested whole Flaming Fury peaches from Mountain Meadows Farm.

6. AleSmith Port Barrel Aged Wee Heavy (2016)

Recent updates to my DNA origins suggest I am of 25% Scottish ancestry with previous indicators a much lower percentage. Given my affinities for the bagpipes and Scottish Ales, especially the "Wee Heavy" style, I can confirm it must be factual. My kids still do not want me to wear a kilt though, at least publicly. Aye.

Thank you to local beer friend Todd for this ale which has been cellared for some years now, waiting for it's place on the Twelve Beers of Christmas list.

AleSmith brewer's notes:

This aged version of our traditional Scotch-style ale is matured in Port wine barrels to impart added layers of complexity to its already rich, malty flavor profile. Notes of sherry, dried fruit, vanilla and red wine tannins from the wine-soaked oak combine with the beer’s caramel and toffee character to create a truly unique and splendorous offering. Savor it now or age for years to come.

7. Yazoo Funk Fest 2020

Sadly there was no Funk Fest in 2020 in Nashville. COVID saw to that. Still able to get my hands on few bottles of the beer that was brewed specifically for that event. Yazoo Brewing's Embrace the Funk Brewmaster, Brandon Jones, is a wild ale funkmaster genius. His elixirs and concoctions are widely sought-after and highly regarded. Brandon is also a pizza enthusiast and barbeque connoisseur, which extends his genius to Jedi levels. 

This one will be my New Year's Eve celebration choice. 

This is the way.  

Yazoo Brewing brewer Brandon Jones' brewing notes:

Our yearly creation to celebrate Funk Fest! Imperial Saison that underwent maturation for 18 months in red wine puncheon style oak casks with our house mixed culture. Re-fermented on Passion Fruit and dry hopped with Galaxy and Nelson Sauvin.

8. Yazoo Never Say Never Again

Since 2020 was such a stinker, this aptly named brew will grace my New Year's Day festivities. Another gem from Brandon Jones and Yazoo, this barrel-aged selection comes from Nashville Food Blogger/ Beer pairing guru @bakerandthebeerd (Joe), who is a must-follow on Instagram.

Yeah, I love Yazoo Embrace the Funks brews, that is why they have been included on so many of my Twelve Beers of Christmas lists. Check out the past year's posts at the bottom of this page to see just how many.

Yazoo Embrace the Funk brewer's notes:

A sour Belgian Dark Strong ale aged in Sherry casks before a double barrel extended rest in Port, Bourbon, Merlot and TN Whiskey barrels.

9. Westbrook Fruit/Wood/Time Raspberry

Raspberry, bramble fruit of the genus Rubus (family Rosaceae). Raspberries are an economically significant crop throughout much of northern Europe, as well as in the United States and Canada, and are thought to have evolved in eastern Asia. Raspberry fruits contain iron, vitamin C, and antioxidants and are usually eaten fresh, often with cream or ice cream, as a dessert fruit. Jams and jellies are also popular, and the fruit is commonly used as a pastry filling and as a flavoring for certain liqueurs.

 

And beers.

Yes indeed, another sour fruited ale, from another stellar brewery.

Picked up this jewel while working in Spartanburg, SC. Should be fantastic.

Westbrook brewer's notes:

A blend of 33% dry sherry cask matured mixed fermentation saison and 67% oak foudre aged sour beer. It was blended and refermented with black raspberries for three months in second use 500 liter marsala puncheons.

10. Calfkiller Tree City Whiskey Barrel Brown

Calfkiller Brewing is located near Sparta, TN on the Calfkiller River, thus the unusual name. Owned and operated by the very cool and friendly Sergio brothers, this small brewery produces some fantastic brews. It is a great day trip and a scenic drive along the Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee. This barrel aged brown ale came to me by way of young Jason, again. That guy. He's always got the good beers. And he's to big too argue with so I let him give me this beer. True story.

Calfkiller brewer's notes:

Our new barrel aged beer “Tree City Whiskey Barrel Brown” is finally out! It is a fantastic brown ale aged in a George Dickel whiskey barrel for 6 months before it was bottled. YUM!!!!

11. New Glarus R&D Vintage 2017

Thanks to PfoxyJohn I have tried most of New Glarus' beers. They are considered one of the top breweries in the United States. Quality unsurpassed, every New Glarus offering I have tried has been delicious. I consider them one of my top five favorite breweries. I am already looking forward to this. Thank you very much John.

If you know you know.

New Glarus brewer's notes:

Naturally occurring spontaneous fermentation creates this American Gueuze. Coolship brewed and Wild cave aged. Dan's masterwork blend of three years brewing is sour, citrusy, horsey and vintage worthy.

12. Epic Big Bad Baptista

This Utah brew is the second Mexican themed beer in this year's Twelve Beers of Christmas. Another haul from Freedom Liquor in Colorado Springs. Coffee and cinnamon additions to this ale are most intriguing. This brute will finish my dozen for 2020 and may just finish me if not shared. 

Epic brewer's notes:

Big Bad Baptista is inspired by traditional Mexican coffee, Café de Olla, which is served with cinnamon and piloncillo, an unrefined sugar. The Cinnamon adds another layer of complexity and accentuates the earthy character of Mexican Coffee, but more importantly, it captures the essence of a place and its culture.

I present the Twelve Beers of Christmas 2020. Sour and fruited ales, barrel aged brews, big bold beers, offerings from friends, my work travels and my favorite breweries. Hope you enjoy these as much as I will. Try your own Twelve Beers of Christmas. It is a fun way to celebrate the holidays, try new beers, and maybe you will find a new love. 

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays to all y'all. Cheers!

The Ghosts of Christmas Beers Past...

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2008
1. Anchor Our Special Ale (2008)
2. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
3. Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel
4. Great Lakes Christmas Ale
5. Bison Winter Warmer
6. Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock
7. Delirium Tremens
8. New Glarus Apple Ale
9. Corsendonk Pater (Abbey Brown Ale)
10. Corsendonk Agnus (Abbey Pale Ale)
11. Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Imperial Stout
12. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale (2008)

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2009
1. Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs Christmas Ale
2. Goose Island Christmas Ale
3. Tommyknocker St. Nicks Cocoa Porter
4. Avery Old Jubilation Ale
5. Rinkuškiai Missing Elf
6. Fort Collins Double Chocolate Stout
7. Ken Schmidt / Maui / Stone Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter
8. Rochefort Trappistes 6
9. Rogue Santas Private Reserve Ale
10. Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza
11. Cantillon Iris
12. Lurgashall Christmas Mead

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2010
1. Spaten Optimator
2. Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine
3. Ass Kisser Double IPA
4. Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA
5. Terrapin Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout
6. Depot Street The Limited Maple Pecan Porter
7. AleSmith YuleSmith – Summer
8. a. Oskar Blues Gordon / b. Oskar Blues Gubna
9. Maredsous 10
10. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
11. Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Fritz & Ken Ale
12. Victory Old Horizontal

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2011
1. AleSmith Yulesmith – Winter
2. Brew Kettle White Rajah
3. Brooklyn Black Ops
4. Capital Eternal Flame
5. Dogfish Head Miles Davis' Bitches Brew
6. Founders Backwoods Bastard
7. Hoppin' Frog DORIS The Destroyer Double Imperial Stout
8. Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball Ale
9. Odell Mountain Standard '09
10. Olde Hickory Bourbon Barrel Aged Bardstown Ale
11. Ommegang Brasserie D'Achouffe Gnomegang
12. Three Floyds Dark Lord Imperial Stout

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2012
1. De Ranke Pere Noel
2. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
3. Hopworks Organic Abominable Winter Ale
4. Lompoc C-Son's Greetings
5. Midnight Sun CoHoHo Imperial IPA
6. N'Ice Chouffe
7. Ninkasi Sleigh'r Dark Double Alt
8. Oakshire Ill-Tempered Gnome
9. Pelican Bad Santa
10. Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper
11. Samuel Adams Merry Mischief Gingerbread Stout
12. The Bruery 5 Golden Rings

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2013

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2014

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2015

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2016

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2017

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2018

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2019

The Twelve Beers of Christmas 2019

“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.”
― Abraham Lincoln

It's that time again, time for the annual festive celebration of barley, hops, water, and yeast, and a few adjuncts here and there. This is the Twelfth Twelve Beers of Christmas I have celebrated, a dozen dozens, how fun is that?  Let's start on Christmas Day and follow the traditional twelve days of Christmas shall we? Follow along at home with @bluesandbarbq on Instagram, Twitter, and Untappd as we enjoy these special elixirs.

1. Mikkeller Berserker 2

Berserkers were a special group of elite Viking warriors who went into battle without traditional armor. Instead, they wore animal pelts, typically from bears or wolves. The word "berserker" derives from the Old Norse "serkr," meaning "coat" or "shirt," and "ber," the Norse word for "bear."

Mikkeller Berserker 2 is a Flanders Red Ale with Balaton cherries aged in Port barrels weighing in at 7% abv (alcohol by volume). What's not to like about this? Thank you to my West Coast SoCal beer buddy Carlos for sending me this fantastic offering. Can't wait for Christmas Day so I can drink this one.

2. Bearded Iris V. Latte W/ Yukro Coffee Roasted by Crema

A bearded iris from our front yard in Tennessee

An Imperial Oatmeal Stout with vanilla beans, cocoa nibs, lactose, and roasted Yukro coffee beans that is 9% abv.  From a great brewery in Nashville, this beer was gifted to me by my younger local beer brother Jason, Keeper of Many Cellared Beers, Foster Parent to little dogs.

Wake up and smell the coffee dammit! This will probably be my wife's favorite...

3. New Belgium La Folie Grand Reserve: PX

A la folie literally means to (the) madness, in French. It generally translates to English as like crazy, and is used primarily to intensify the expression of love. ... To tell somebody in French that you love them to death would usually be Je t'aime a la folie, or literally I love you to madness.

Pedro Ximenez Sherry barrel-aged sour brown ale with Tahitian vanilla beans. Bottled on nitro. Bought this gem on my spring visit to the Asheville, NC New Belgium facility. It was very tempting to drink it right away but this was purchased for the sole purpose of gracing this year's Twelve Beers of Christmas. High expectations indeed. 

4. Funky Buddha Last Buffalo In The Park

The Last of the Buffalo

Painting by Albert Bierstadt

The Last Buffalo in the Park is a Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Porter. Pitch black and viscous according to the brewer, made with coconut and fresh roasted coffee, aged in Bourbon barrels for months to accentuate the vanilla and coconut notes. This one was purchased at the brewery in Oakland Park in South Florida. Could not pass up a Bourbon barrel-aged coconut Imperial Porter.

5. Avery Raspberry Truffale

She wore a

Raspberry beret

The kind you find in a second hand store

Raspberry beret

And if it was warm she wouldn't wear much more

Raspberry beret

I think I love her

"Raspberry Beret" by Prince

Avery Raspberry Truffale is a 14% abv Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout with chocolate and raspberries. This was obtained while working in Reno, NV in October 2019. Another barrel aged beer in the dozen because I like big barrel-aged beers in the winter. Keeps me warm.

6. Yazoo Funk Fest 2019

Brandon Jones

Wrangler of Funk, beer blender, barrel fixer upper at Yazoo Brewing in Nashville (Madison), Sour, wild and funky website Embrace the Funk

From Yazoo's Embrace the Funk brewer and wild ale genius Brandon Jones:

This Belgian style Tripel base was fermented with our tropical brettanomyces & yeast blend then aged in peach brandy & vanilla bean bourbon barrels for one year. Thoughtfully blended to celebrate our annual festival of all things funky, sour and wild. 

My God, this one is aged in Bourbon AND peach brandy barrels. A great beer to help close out 2019; I'm already drooling.

7. New Heights Navel Gazer Aged in Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Barrels

In a literal sense, navel-gazing is the practice of mediating by intently staring at one's own navel. The term is rarely used in this fashion. The expression navel-gazing is used as an idiom to mean being absorbed in one's own thoughts, feelings and concerns, to the exclusion of all others.

This Navel Gazer Imperial Stout has been aged in Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Bourbon barrels for 24 months and is 10.1% abv. I won this beer through an Instagram #giveaway from @tncraftbeermag Tennessee Craft Beer Magazine in late 2018. It has purposely been saved for my Twelve Beers of Christmas 2019. Some full on Tennessee love right here.

8. Tyranena Anniversary Series TWENTY 

The legend of Tyranena began long ago, in a time before history was written. Legend tells of a foreign tribe that built a series of stone structures and effigy mounds on the edge of the lake called Tyranena.

Today, these structures lie preserved deep under the waters of Rock Lake. No one knows for sure who built them, the purpose they served, how and why they are now submerged, or even the meaning of the word Tyranena.

TWENTY is a 13.9% abv Double Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout... more specifically, the fine Imperial stout base was aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for about 6 months, then transferred again, with roughly 80% aged in Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrels and 20% aged in Madeira fortified-wine barrels, for another 6 months or so.

Thank you to my good friend and Wisconsin Beer Guru, PfoxyJohn, Beer Santa, for this lovely beverage, to be enjoyed on the first day of the new year 2020. TWENTY on 2020.

9. Bottle Logic Fundamental Observation 2018

"How Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stouts Came to Dominate the Craft Beer World"

- Gear Patrol

Another fantastic, highly coveted beer from my good friend Big G, Carlos.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Vanilla Stout: Our chart-topping ''liquid brownie batter'' was aged in a medley of Buffalo Trace, WL Weller, Heaven Hill, and Four Roses bourbon barrels with multiple additions of Madagascar vanilla beans. 13.2% abv

10. The Rare Barrel Soliloquy

so·lil·o·quy

/səˈliləkwē/

Learn to pronounce

noun

1. an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play.

From guess who? Yep, Carlos. Damn that guy can get some great beers. Thank you so much Big G.

Soliloquy is a golden sour beer aged in oak barrels with rose hips and orange peel. Fermented with Brettanomyces and Saccharomyces yeast and soured with Lactobacillus and Pediococcus bacteria, this sour beer features aromas of citronella and jasmine with flavors of fresh squeezed orange juice and lemon zest. Right in my strike zone.

11. Prairie Artisan Ales Bible Belt

Picked this one up while working in Oklahoma City on a visit to Prairie Artisan Ales OKC. Great brewery in the heart of America. Been on my wish list for a long time; an Imperial Stout aged on coffee, vanilla beans, chilies, and cacao nibs with and abv of 13%

12. New Glarus R&D 2019 Sour Blackberry Ale

The 'Marion' cultivar or Marion blackberry, marketed as marionberry, is a blackberry developed by the USDA ARS breeding program in cooperation with Oregon State University. It is a cross between the 'Chehalem' and 'Olallie' blackberries.

From New Glarus:

Dan's 2019 Sour Blackberry Ale is spontaneously fermented in the Lambic tradition using our coolship and oak tank aged. Oregon Marion berries dominate this sour ale fermented in the bottle you hold.

Another beer from PfoxyJohn, this one being from my favorite brewery thus saved for the last one. Fruit beers from this brewery are unequaled. This shall be a magnificent treat from a dear friend. Many thanks John.

There they are; the Twelve Beers of Christmas 2019. So many from great friends and my extensive travels this past year, heavy on barrel-aged stouts, fruited, and sour ales because they are my favorites. I encourage you to start your own tradition of Twelve Beers of Christmas, Holiday Beers, or whatever motivates you to save and drink great beers with friends and family celebrating all that is wonderful in life. 

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays! Cheers y'all with much love from Tennessee.

The Ghosts of Christmas Beers Past...

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2008
1. Anchor Our Special Ale (2008)
2. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
3. Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel
4. Great Lakes Christmas Ale
5. Bison Winter Warmer
6. Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock
7. Delirium Tremens
8. New Glarus Apple Ale
9. Corsendonk Pater (Abbey Brown Ale)
10. Corsendonk Agnus (Abbey Pale Ale)
11. Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Imperial Stout
12. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale (2008)

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2009
1. Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs Christmas Ale
2. Goose Island Christmas Ale
3. Tommyknocker St. Nicks Cocoa Porter
4. Avery Old Jubilation Ale
5. Rinkuškiai Missing Elf
6. Fort Collins Double Chocolate Stout
7. Ken Schmidt / Maui / Stone Kona Coffee Macadamia Coconut Porter
8. Rochefort Trappistes 6
9. Rogue Santas Private Reserve Ale
10. Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza
11. Cantillon Iris
12. Lurgashall Christmas Mead

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2010
1. Spaten Optimator
2. Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine
3. Ass Kisser Double IPA
4. Stone 14th Anniversary Emperial IPA
5. Terrapin Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout
6. Depot Street The Limited Maple Pecan Porter
7. AleSmith YuleSmith – Summer
8. a. Oskar Blues Gordon / b. Oskar Blues Gubna
9. Maredsous 10
10. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
11. Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Fritz & Ken Ale
12. Victory Old Horizontal

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2011
1. AleSmith Yulesmith – Winter
2. Brew Kettle White Rajah
3. Brooklyn Black Ops
4. Capital Eternal Flame
5. Dogfish Head Miles Davis' Bitches Brew
6. Founders Backwoods Bastard
7. Hoppin' Frog DORIS The Destroyer Double Imperial Stout
8. Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball Ale
9. Odell Mountain Standard '09
10. Olde Hickory Bourbon Barrel Aged Bardstown Ale
11. Ommegang Brasserie D'Achouffe Gnomegang
12. Three Floyds Dark Lord Imperial Stout

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2012
1. De Ranke Pere Noel
2. St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
3. Hopworks Organic Abominable Winter Ale
4. Lompoc C-Son's Greetings
5. Midnight Sun CoHoHo Imperial IPA
6. N'Ice Chouffe
7. Ninkasi Sleigh'r Dark Double Alt
8. Oakshire Ill-Tempered Gnome
9. Pelican Bad Santa
10. Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper
11. Samuel Adams Merry Mischief Gingerbread Stout
12. The Bruery 5 Golden Rings

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2013

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2014

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2015

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2016

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2017

Twelve Beers of Christmas 2018