Does the holiday season stress you out? Are you doing last minute shopping? No one needs a coffee mug, crappy smelling candles or a pot holder from a discount dollar store. It is not the cost that matters but take a little time to put some love into it. Just getting together with family and friends can be enough. However, if you really want to make someone feel special a local craft beer is a great idea! I’ve created a gift guide to get you started and help you through some gifting decisions.
For the Norseman lovers, those who are attracted to warrior-like strength, or the fantasm of this god-like hero there is no other choice than Phantom Farms’ Elegant Viking. This 6.5% IPA is dry-hopped with Strata, Nectaron, and Galaxy. These hops provide a scent and flavor of sweet mangos and oranges with a slight bitterness of tangerine on the back end sip. Strong like a Viking in flavor, but easy drinking. Raise a horn full of this and say skål! The brewery is located in Cumberland in an historic mill. There are food trucks, music and trivia nights. Check out the event page and make a night of shopping and pints!
Do you have an investment banker, broker or financial advisor in your life? They spend their work days following market trends to provide others with financial wealth advice. I think they would appreciate a break from the cash and a gift of the craft.
Ain’t Broke from Origin Beer Project is a 5.4% ABV Czech Style Pilsner that has Pilsner Malt and floral hops on the nose. The front-end sip has flavors of crackers and sweet malt. It is bready and has biscuit undertones. The complexity and balance of flavors makes this a masterpiece. It may not bring your friend wealth but it is surely going to make them feel rich.
I am pretty sure we all have music lovers in our lives. Do you have any jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock and folk fans? If so, they are sure to like The Grateful Dead. There is a local brewery that has a showcase of GD tribute bands that play often in addition to a few beers that are named after a song or a word in the lyrics. Pivotal Brewing Company’s Shakedown Street is a Superdelic hopped New England IPA that chimes in at 6.9% ABV. The flavors of this unique New Zealand Hop provide tropical fruit flavor with a touch of resinous terpenes. This smash hit is sure to make your hippie music-lover sing. It may be gone soon after you read this, so don’t wait.
The star gazer is the person forever in love with the colors of the sky. You know this friend of yours. They may own a telescope and are following the phases of the moon. Twice a year the sun, moon and earth align to form a total eclipse. We can only see this rare and beautiful occurrence about every two-and-a-half years or so. Don’t make your astronomer buddy wait. They can enjoy this lunar phenomenon in a 750ml bottle at Proclamation Ale Company. The Bloodmoon Presence Single is an 11.5% ABV Belgian Strong Ale made from Proc’s Blue Moon Belgian Quad. It is conditioned on freshly crushed grape juice that ferments into red wine must (unfermented juice that includes stem,seeds and skin of the grape). It pours a deep ruby red color with banana and red grapes on the nose and front-end sip. There is a touch of figs and dates with a red wine-like character. This will bring celestial joy to the astrophile.
Do you have friends or have family members that are home or professional brewers? There are so many local beers you could give them. Collaboration beers are special and limited. Most are only made once. I am in the know of one of these paired masterpieces that will be released in time for your holiday shopping…
Pivotal Brewing Company and Proclamation Ale Company made an IPA with what I was told is whole-cone Cascade hops. They were the last hops of the season grown locally from Huntinghouse Hopyard. The beer-maker in your life is going to love that a whole cone hop was used. It is basically picked from the hop vine and unprocessed. This dried flower retains more of its natural oils. That allows it to be more aromatic, flavorful but smooth. It is more expensive and harder to dry hop with.
Brian Dwyer, head brewer of Pivotal was kind enough to share the process and tasting notes: “It is brewed with Pilsner malt, Oats, and Dextrin Malt.” The whole cone hop, as Dwyer explained, “Is used in three parts of the brewing process: the mash hop, boil aroma addition, and the hop back whirlpool. Strata, Nectaron,and Citra Cryo are added to the brewing and dry hop. The result is a 6.6% ABV hazy IPA with notes of candied berries, dank cannabis and a tangerine flavored smoothie.” The name of this beauty is Hop Spill Protocol. Dwyer told me, “The name comes from the use of so much whole-cone hops in several different stages of the brewing process. Because this is new for us we have to come up with a protocol for how to handle all these hops!” The process alone is sure to fascinate anyone familiar with brewing. I know what I am buying myself for the holidays!!
Horticulturists, farmers, and ground keepers have an art of making our world beautiful and bountiful. A little pay back for their green thumbs would be appreciated. It needs to be something fruity and earthy. One beer type that fits this description is a Farmhouse Ale, originally brewed in the 1700s with local ingredients to quench the thirst of farmers on a hot summer day. In my opinion, Buttonwoods Brewing made an excellent representation of this style. House, a 4.8% ABV Saison is made in the conventional process of a Belgian Saison. Poured from the bottle, it is golden in color with a foamy head. There are notes of lemon, citrus, and light malt on the nose to palate along with light clove, floral and a touch of pepper. It is crisp and approachable. Put down the potted plant and gardener shovel. This is a one-for-you, one-for-them type of gift.
Everybody needs a person in their life with a sanguine view. They are the person in your life who reminds you to focus on the present. Because this bright-minded individual remains optimistic and adapts to challenges they need nothing short of a glass half full. I know just the beer! Hope-FULL an 8.3% ABV Double New England IPA from Crafted Hope Brewing. Hopped with Callista, Tango, and Solero. This means that it has a tropical fruit aroma, and this follows through to the front palate. Don’t just take my word for it. I was able to ask Kyle Toste, co-owner, president, marketing director, event coordinator and head brewer, to describe this DIPA: “Packing a fruit full punch, this double is loaded with German hops that bring forth a wave of tropical and passion fruit, with a mix of black current and lemon. It clocks in at 8.3% so buckle up for a smooth ride on the hazy highway!” Can’t you see your positive friend cruising along with this pint?
There are so many more local beers that I could have included in this seasonal gift guide. Whatever you decide, everyone is happy when you support local craft breweries.. If you were wondering, I wear a size 16 ounce, 4 pack.
Be the bestower of all good cheer and holiday beer! Cheers to local craft beer!