On the 11th and 12th Days... 12 Holiday Beers

Both beers from one of my favorite local pubs, Rubicon. 

This is one of their special beers called the 1850 London Porter. Perfect for a cold day.

I love this red head. Rubicon's Irish Red which is one of their seasonal beers.

I have to admit for the first time... ever... I am so relieved Christmas is just about over. I enjoy Christmas and the holidays but the holidays are also very very exhausting. 

I hosted Christmas in my apartment this year and I almost had a panic attack that all 15 of us weren't going to fit but it all worked out well. I turned my desk into an appetizer table and brought in extra chairs and amazingly we all had a seat. 

Merry Christmas! Enjoy this rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas sung by that famous old hippy.

On the 9th and 10th days... 12 Holiday Beers

Life and Limb. So good, so strong. This beer is an east coast-west coast collaboration (kind of like a Biggie and Tupac collabo). Two of the most popular brewers in the country, Dogfish Head (from Maryland) and Sierra Nevada (from California) got together made Life and Limb. This is a good winter beer. It's dark, malty with a sweet finish.

Moylan's Hopsicle

I don't remember what this tasted like. I may have already consumed one too many at this point. This is not a seasonal beer.

It's almost Christmas time and after is when the diet begins. Cheers.

On the 8th day... 12 Holiday Beers

Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (I don't know if it is a black IPA or a porter, but it is good)
Stone Brewery

This is what I am drinking while I watch Dexter (still on season 5). I can't watch Dexter without dreaming about it. Two nights ago I had a dream that I was looking for a rapist to bring to justice and wake up with an uneasy feeling sometimes the feeling is more extreme like the feeling of impending doom.

If you ever pick up a bottle from Stone make sure to read the back of the bottle because the stories are so cleverly written.

"When you're good, you're good. And when you do something great , the least you can do is acknowledge it. Others benefit from knowing."  

-Excerpt from the back of a Sublimely Self-Righteous bottle

On the 7th day... (I quit) 12 Holiday Beers

I stopped by BevMo today only to be disappointed by their poor selection of holiday or seasonal beers. I didn't want to spend more than eight dollars a bottle so I walked away with a non-seasonal beer.
I really hate not finishing things so I'll post up to 12 beers some holiday and some not depending on the day.

New Belgium's Ranger (IPA)

I used to drink a lot of New Belgium Fat Tire and I still like that beer. A lot of people refer to New Belgium Brewery as the brewery that makes "chick beer" and perhaps it is because the founder and CEO is a woman. I personally do not like to genderize things (like calling cars "she") but this New Belgium beer's got some cajones. It's pretty hoppy.

On the sixth day... 12 Holiday Beers and Brussels Sprouts

I've reduced the number to 12 because there is no way I can do 25 otherwise I will never get anything done at home because I would be drunk and asleep by 8 p.m. every night (and I already do that at least once a week).

Grizzly Brown Ale by Snowshoe Brewing Company

Not too malty, I can taste the hops. I like it.

For dinner I microwaved Brussels Sprouts. I know that sounds unappetizing but I feel like I need to make up for the way I have been eating lately (tons of pizza, bags and bags of potato chips to name a few) and for the first time in a really long time I have heartburn.

The Brussels Sprouts I cut in half, doused with Bragg's Liquid Amminos (which is like a better tasting soy sauce), Garlic Pepper Seasoning and Slat. I microwaved for about 3-5 minutes, the first 3 minutes with a wet paper towel over the sprouts. I enjoyed them, but I really like brussels sprouts. I am sure this would also be good with butter and bacon bits.

On the fifth day... 12 Holiday Beers

Anchor Steam Brewing's 2011 Holiday beer.
I didn't actually drink it tonight because my stomach isn't feeling too good. I just ate an entire box of Mary's Gone Crackers. I guess I don't feel as guilty about eating these crackers because they are oil free, dairy free and are made of whole grains. I know that sounds terrible and that you'd rather eat cardboard but they are tasty and very addicting.

That mulled cider scented candle smells like Christmas.

I'm only on my 5th Holiday beer and it's already Dec. 8th. Maybe on a night my stomach is feeling better I'll do 5 days worth of beers in one night.

On the Fourth Day... 12 Holiday Beers

I got this beer at Cost Plus (World Market) today and I was disappointed I didn't shop as long as I did because I had to go to the bathroom (sorry guys!) so I cut my shopping time and went home. This is what I managed to grab from the beer section.

Bad Elf Winter's Ale
Ridgeway Brewing UK

I didn't realize I had already gotten a Ridgeway Brewing Christmas Beer (Warm Welcome) and I remember thinking that one was just ok and so is this.

I had kind of an annoying day and what's more annoying is not being able to take my time to shop.

Now I need to figure out how to fit 15 people into my apartment for Christmas dinner, which I am apparently hosting this year. Maybe I will make it "Japanese" theme so people sit on the ground.

On the third day... 12 Holiday Beers

Port Brewing's Santa's Little Helper.
Imperial Stout
Delicious
10% alc. so this is guaranteed to give you a good time, or at least make everyone else in the room look ten times better so you shamelessly hit on every single person.

Cheers.

On the Second Day... 12 Days of Holiday Beer

This is one of my favorite beers. If I can drink this all year I would. 

Beer: Shiner Holiday Cheer

Alc. ? but it is pretty low. I am guessing between 4-5%

Brewer: Spoetzl Brewery (from Shiner, TX of course)

Description: Brewed with peaches and pecans.

I love the vintage style label.

This holiday beer can be purchased at Whole Foods or BevMo.

I also love the regular Shiner Bock. That is a good lower alcohol stand by.

12 Days of Holiday Beer

I enjoy a good "X Days of..." (e.g. 30 days of a plant-based-diet or 30 days of a photo a day). I am going to do "25 Days of Holiday Beer." I'm going to feature one holiday beer until Christmas. I figure I will give myself a head start

On the First Day...

Beer: Warm Welcome Nut Brown Ale
Brewer: Ridgeway Brewing, UK
6% Alc.

Description: This beer is malty, toasty and nutty. I would rate it a 6/10.

Since I like to judge things by their cover, I also like the fun label and the cute bottle cap.

One down, 24 to go...

Cheers!

p.s. I am calling it Holiday beer because there are also other beers that I think I want to try that are Fall/Holiday and not specifically Christmas.