Is there a better month of the year than December? From Holidays to extra time away from work, there’s lots to be excited about. All of the festivities meant lots of opportunities to try new beers which means lots of options to pick from for my list of the Best Craft Beer.
On top of all this, my wonderful wife created a 12 Beers Of Christmas for me. Each of the 12 days leading to Christmas, I was surprised with a new beer. I was truly impressed at the beers she selected for me and a few have made my list for this month. Want to see what she gave me? Check out my Instagram profile, I have a Story Highlight saved of that shows all of the 12 beers!
If you want to keep up with what I am drinking in real time, make sure that we connect on Untappd. Click that link or search for craftbeerjoe.
Don’t forget to take time to review your check-ins and think about what would make your list of the best craft beer. I’d love it if you sent me a message or chatted on social media about the best craft beer you had in August. Or better yet, tag/mention me on social media when you post about the beer you’re enjoying and we can chat about it there.
New In 2019!
For those that have been following my Best Craft Beer list for a while, I want to let you know that I’m making a change in 2019. Instead of a new article every month, I will be compiling a Best Craft Beer Of 2019 list as we go through the year.
It will be one article that I add to each month. Check it out here!
This new format will make it easier than ever to keep up with my favorites and see the entire year’s picks at one time.
Here’s the Best Craft Beer I had last month:
Sour Saison
Brewery: New Belgium
Style: Sour Ale
ABV: 7% IBU: 18
Description
This intriguing Saison took years to perfect. Our Brewers worked tirelessly to brew an exquisite French-style Saison, while our industry leading Wood Cellar Team worked to mature the perfect Sour Golden Ale in large, French oak barrels called Foeders. The best of both worlds is brought-out with this Sour Saison – a traditional barrel-aged sour ale artfully blended with a rustic, champagne-like Farmhouse Ale. With over 20 years of barrel-aged sour experience and the largest Wood Cellar in the United States, we’re proud to offer Sour Saison as our first ever year-round, traditional sour ale that’s so uniquely New Belgium, it can’t be replicated.
Why it made the list?
I’ve come to really love sour beers. From tart fruit forward Berliners to traditional barrel-aged sours, each has a unique flavor that draws me in. So I’m always interested in trying a sour beer.
When my 12 beers Of Christmas started out with this one, I had a feeling it was going to be great. The blend of the Saison and Sour Ale create a beer unlike what I’ve had before. The Saison brings earthy, herbal, and tart flavors while there is a foundation of firm sourness holding it all up.
And this is a year round offering which means it isn’t a sour that is hard to find or costly. I can see myself enjoying this quite often in the coming year.
Stellarest Mix
Brewery: Brink Brewing
Style: New England IPA
ABV: 6.6% IBU: 25
Description
A New England style IPA focusing heavily on New Zealand hops. Light in color, rich in body, this NEIPA brings out a sweet, tropical flavor with low bitterness creating a pillowy juice bomb!
Why it made the list?
It’s hard for me not to love Brink Brewing . . . they are award winning and just minutes from my house. On top of that, their beer is some of the best I’ve ever had. So when the head brewer said this was one of his best yet, you know I had to check it out.
This New England IPA tastes like sweet pineapple-orange juice. Multiple people that that actual juice had been added but it is just the hops doing amazing things.
What I loved the most about this one is the sweetness didn’t seem over the top or forced. The fruit flavors were just as strong in aroma as in flavor. And it finished easy. I also appreciated the reasonable ABV as many NE IPAs are at or above 8%.
Bushido
Brewery: Evil Twin Brewing
Style: Berliner Weisse
ABV: 4 % IBU: N/A
Description
Berliner style weisse ale with yuzu and chili added.
Why it made the list?
I can’t say it enough, I loved my 12 Beers Of Christmas. As someone that has his beer fridge memorized, it was great to be surprised each day with a new beer. And this one was a surprise in a number of ways.
First off, the label really caught my attention when I opened it. It wasn’t a beer I had heard about but the style and flavor profile had me intrigued. It poured a very inviting bright yellow-orange and the aroma was soft but had some sweet citrus with just a touch from the chili peppers.
The flavor intensified as I drank it. While it started out easy and subtle, the yuzu (citrus) and chili flavors got strong as it warmed up. It was margarita’ish in flavor and was one of the most unique beers on my Best Craft Beer of December list.
Leggo Beast
Brewery: Fretboard Brewing
Style: Barrel-Aged Stout
ABV: 12% IBU: N/A
Description
Imperial Stout Aged In Bourbon Barrels With Maple Syrup And Coffee Added
Why it made the list?
If you are anything like me, then you love barrel-aged beers . . . especially stouts. But I know that some have been disappointed from time to time when they buy one that claims to have additional flavors in it. Maple syrup if a flavor that isn’t always as strong as we’d like it to be.
That isn’t the case with this one. From the moment the can is opened, there is a strong maple syrup presence throughout. In addition, there’s a nice sweet coffee flavor. The barrel characteristics aren’t as strong in this one but I didn’t mind as it delivered in every other area.
Slushy XL Strawberry Blueberry
Brewery: 450 North Brewing
Style: Berliner Weisse
ABV: 8% IBU: N/A
Description
Fruited sour conditioned on over 1,000lbs of Strawberry and Blueberry.
Why it made the list?
Every month, it is hard to decide which beers will make this list. And most months, a beer from 450 North is included. This brewery is all in on the latest beer trends which makes it a ton of fun to drink their beer.
And when I see a Slushy XL on their list of releases, I know I’m in for a treat. These beers have an insane amount of fruit in them. And the pairing of strawberry and blueberry is one of my favorites yet.
These two fruits blend perfectly creating a sweet, slightly tart beer that many may not even consider to be a beer at all. But I’m a huge fan.
Lump Of Coal
Brewery: Ridgeway Brewing
Style: Stout
ABV: 8% IBU: N/A
Description
This 8% bittersweet chocolate stout is the best you could hope for in these dark times. Actually, come to think of it, considering how bad you’ve been, this little coal-black gem is more than you deserve for Christmas this year.
Why it made the list?
I often comment about how a beer can taste even better when it is added to the right situation. That was my exact experience with this beer.
Lump Of Coal was the final beer in my 12 Beers Of Christmas that I mentioned earlier which means I drank it on Christmas day. And my wife fully embraced the Christmas theme with this one. The label even says “More Than You Deserve This Xmas” which is probably accurate for most of us.
In addition to the theme of the beer, I appreciated that this was an English style Stout. So it wasn’t over the top with roast or sweetness. There were notes of dark chocolate bitterness that played perfectly with the bready malt character. This is a fun beer and a great Christmas gift.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, December was a great month in terms of what beer I was able to enjoy. And of course, there was was lots of Christmas parties with family and friends. All in all, I am blessed and am looking forward to 2019.
Remember to check out my Best Craft Beer Of 2019 and continue along my craft beer journey as I try new beers and let you know which are the best of the best.
Sound off in the comments below or send me a message to let me know what beer you’ve had recently that was great or to let me know what beer you are looking forward to this fall.