Tried Green Flash's Le Freak today. For a good beer, it's meh. No surprises, just a well-made american hop / belgian yeast combo. Good when it warms a little.

You should try the Palate Wrecker, if you have not. I'm not going to say it is any better than Le Freak, but it is a pretty insane hop bomb.
I think Le Freak lives on its reputation, and it was a ground breaking beer for its time. Now, there are a plethora of Belgian IPA's that are equal or superior to it.

Probably right. There was nothing wrong with it at all, but time reveals that there's some cache with being the first (or close to it) to do a style. Also explains why the classics like hefeweizens and kolsches and such keep enduring... because they're just great, balanced beer styles.

I have yet to have a beer from Green Flash that I thought was better than mediocre. They have a good reputation out here but I don't get it.

Recents:

Jolly Pumpkin "Noel de Calabaza"

This is a Belgian Christmas Ale aged in oak barrels. I had a bottle from their 2011 bottling. Dark Brown in color and 10% ABV. Some raisins, figs, and spices on the palate with a little tart sourness on the finish. Really nice.

Hair of the Dog "Adam"

This is a recreation of a German Old Ale. It's 10% ABV - boozy, dark, some heft to it with smoky, burnt caramel flavor. A sipper for sure. I really like Hair of the Dog but this wasn't really my thing.

Lagunitas Brown Shugga

This is Lagunitas holiday beer. It's brown sugar laced but not super sweet, and deceptively strong at 10%. It's a pretty easy drinker for that level of booze and overall pretty good. They haven't made it for several years. I liked their substitute for this from last year (Lagunitas Sucks) a lot more.

Eagle Rock Jubilee Ale

This is Eagle Rock's Christmas Winter Warmer. It's base is an English Ale with Gingerbread Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Molasses) added. It's pretty good and much lighter than most of the Christmas beers.

De Struise Brouwers "SVEA" IPA

A belgian style IPA. Very earthy, herbal bitter with some citrus and much lighter on the hops than West Coast style IPAs. Delicate but complex – I’m a big fan. Try it if you can find it.

Got a mo-fuckin growler of Dragon's Milk from my bro in law for Christmas as well as a gift card to Hop City. FTW!

Also, maybe more germane to the Homebrewing thread but I tried his take on a Christmas Ale and it was really good (and I'm not usually fan of that style). That kid might be on to something over there.

I splurged today and bought a 12 oz bottle of Weyerbacher Rumpkin for $15, though I saved $2.50 on it because they give 15% off a mix six. Anyone ever had it? The 18.1% abv kinda scares me.

You know what's really fucking good this year? That 21st Ammendment "Fireside Chat". Sixpack of cans, 8% abv (I think), and a great recipe. Delightfully english caramel/malty body, the usual holiday spices are in just the right proportions (for me), so it winds up being allllmost poundable and yet special. Super happy surprise. I'm usually so-so on their stuff.

This was some damn good stuff. Not that I should be surprised, as it is Sam Smith's, but it went down real smooth and had just enough chocolate flavor to kick my ass, but no so much as to overwhelm the beer. Just awesome. And I am not a fan of flavored/infused beers or lambics and such.

Totally. Had that in a bar a couple of weeks ago. Damn good. Even FemDerris liked it. I've actually come around on those guys. I feel like they make "Lifestyle" craft beer. For instance, I don't find their Hell or High Watermelon a "special" beer but damn if it doesn't taste good while on a float in a lake. Same with this one. Just tastes better in the cold weather with, well, a fire going.

I've been digging this year's Festive Ale from Sweetwater. Out of that Winter Warmer spiced ale style but much less on steroids like, say, a big Pumpkin ale is. Can barely taste the booze at 8.6% and a steal at $4 for a bomber. I've already gone through 4 of them in the past couple weeks.

Last night I had Innis & Gunn's winter seasonal, Treacle Porter. Looks nothing like a porter. More like a pale ale in color and to me, tasted like most other Innis & Gunn beers. Tasted like a boozy scotch ale almost. Wasn't balanced very well IMO. Might make for a good after dinner brew on a cold night but even then, I might reach for something else. Meh. Was going to put one in a sampler I'm making for my sister-in-law but have now decided against it. Would be a bridge too far for her.

Also, thoughts on this winter sampler for my sister in law. When we were last with them she had some Guiness Extra Stout and some Duck Rabbit Milk Stout and commented on how much she liked them. I'm trying to give her some things that aren't too far outside the box but still pretty good.

Here is what I have so far:

Bell's Winter White
Sweetwater Festive Ale
Young's Double Chocolate
Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

Was thinking of throwing another stout in there and maybe a Fireside Chat or New Belgium's Snow Day. Also was thinking maybe a Porter? Founder's Porter.

my buddy in PDX has been raving about this one as well. we don't get 21st Amendment here, but i did get to try Bitter American at GABF and remember liking it. he's going to smuggle some out here when he visits in Feb.



i'm still sore about this one. it's ok, but Two Below was sooooo much better. do you get Deschutes out there? Jubelale is probably my favorite Winter Warmer. also Great Divide Hibernation and Avery Old Jubilation

No Deschhutes here. The Abyss has been on my bucket list for some time though.

Love Hibernation Ale but thought it might be juuuust a bit too "big" for the novice. Have not tried Old Jubilation yet but the guy at my local store raved about it.

Yes yes yes on Founders porter.

Also, is Sierra Porter still pretty good? It used to be a favorite back in the day when it had the blue label but that was...back in the day.

Old Jubilation is fantastic.

Tried the Ninkasi Sleigh'r last night....pretty meh. Bready for sure, a bit bitter for my tastes though others seemed to like it. I'm not much into the altbiers so take my review with a grain of salt I suppose.

The Delirium Noel as always came through and hit the spot though...and made me sleepy.

mmmm

Re: 21st Amendment: I'm a fan. I've yet to have a bad one. The watermelon really isn't my speed--but Monk's Blood is a big favorite. Had it on draft here and it was pure heaven.

Speaking of 21st Amendment, this sounds really fucking interesting:

I got a can of that the other day, only because I'm not sure I wanted 4 cans of oyster stout. I can't even get regular stouts to be drank by anyone but me around this household.

I picked up a 4 pack of it, today. I figure if I don't like it, I can pawn it off on unsuspecting holiday guests. Or, it can be the palette cleanser at this year's Stout Fest.

Update: I thought it was a pretty good stout, though not particularly "oyster-y". I wanted more brine.

I'm also stoked that Founders Imperial Stout is out: I actually like it more than Breakfast Stout.

Friendly reminder that I read somewhere that Hopslam may be making appearances in the next 2-3 weeks.

Check your local listings.....

I'm probably too late on this, but I dig 21st Amendment's Black IPA (and I normally hate IPAs). Do you get Great Lakes in ATL? If so, their Porter, the Edmund Fitzgerald, is fucking tight.

I don't think we get it here. I've heard of Edmund Fitz before though.

Ended up going with all of the above with the Founder's Porter and NB's Snow Day to round out the sixer. I even included a companion documnet with it with info on style, taste, and availability. I figure if they like even one of them it'll be a success.

They've slowly gotten away from their strict Coors regular regiment over the last few years and I've even found some Sweetwater in their fridge the last couple of visits.

the "Banquet Beer" is often my go-to "day beer". At least they don't have a fridge stocked with Bud Light Lime

And by "found" you mean pounded after coming home from a night out, right?