This year's holiday brews, Ghost of Christmas Present

Every year I try to reach into my bag of beer related tricks and present you with the best beers of the season here in Indy. You can check out what we drank last year here. I'm really excited about 2013. We have some great brews for you to try. If you are looking for some great holiday brews to bring to a party this weekend, you've come to the right place. Tis the season for some awesome and super creative spiced brews. Show your friends you know your craft beer and break out something exciting. This year we have some new stuff to the area on Santa's wish list. I hope you find something perfect to get you and yours in the spirit.


There's been a local holiday delight that I haven't gotten around to trying, so this year I decided to give myself a present and pick up Naughty Claus by New Albanian. It poured out a nice amber color with almost no head. It smelled like cinnamon, nutmeg and dark fruits. There were tons of added flavors in this brew. All in, I wish it had a little more from the base beer. A bit more malt, would help balance out the crazy holiday spices. Not bad, but definitely not my favorite this season. I give it a 2.5



Every year in November, Three Floyds descends from Munster with a sack full of their Xmas Porter. This is a big black porter with a nice coffee flavor, but like all things FFF does, they smack you in the face right afterwords with some really big citrus hops. It gives it a super unique flavor that's somewhere between holiday porter and IPA. Like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, this has become a true holiday classic. I give it a 3.

Who wants to drink a Christmas tree???? I do!!! Last year I was lucky enough to do a vertical of Our Special Ale by Anchor Brewing. This year, I had to go pick up the 2013 edition. It pours out dark with amber highlights and smells like ginger, oranges and pine resin. The flavor matches the nose pretty damn well. There are some nice roasty notes in the malt that blend well with the hops and the added spices. Theres a big bittter front end with a nice smooth nutty spicy finish. It's a really good Christmas brew and I think it'll age nicely. I give it a 3 this year, but I'm guessing that will only go higher the longer I wait.


Southern Tier is a new brewery that we just started seeing here in Indy this summer (just started seeing again here in Central Indiana. Apparently they used to distribute here regularly and still distribute up North) . I've been very impressed with their beer so far, so I was excited to see that they had a Christmas style bomber, Krampus. I was even more excited when I found out that it was an imperial helles lager. There wasn't anything spiced, nothing changed, just an old school German style amped up with a little more alcohol. It was a wonderful malty beer. Perfect for the season without being spiced by non beer flavors. This is a clean crisp classic. Big abv but well balanced all around. I give it  a merry 3.5

Jolly Pumpkin is one that I haven't really tried enough of. They've been here in Indy for a bit, but they haven't really hit my radar. Everything these guys do is sour, so I'm really not sure how it took me this long to get on the Jolly Pumpkin bandwagon. Their holiday beer is Noel de Calabaza, and this is a nice dark sour beer with just a hint of holiday spice. Its got big tartness and dark fruit, like cherries plums and winter berries upfront with a really nice dry bret finish. These guys have really mastered the mix of wild yeast strains, which isn't easy. I give it a puckering 4


Like many Hoosiers, I spent Thanksgiving out of town with my in-laws. Lucky for me, my in-laws live in the Chicagoland area, and that means Revolution! I got my hands on a few six packs of Revolution's Fistmas. Fistmas is a spiced red ale that has all the flavors of Christmas packed into a delicious 12 oz can. It is perfectly spiced though, not too little not too much. El Duque had issues with the pumpkin beers because they're all so heavily spiced. This brew is the perfect blend of spice and base beer. Well done Revolution. If you can get up North pick up a sixer. Hell, get one for me too. I give this beer a 4.5


I'm a huge fan of the Prairie Bomb, so when I heard that Prairie had put out a wax topped Old Ale Christmas beer I had to go try it for myself. I love the big abv beers, especially if they can figure out how to balance them out. I wasn't disappointed. This thing was incredibly tasty. There was almost no hops, with a great malt bill that's perfectly spiced. Big dark fruits that verged on being a bit sour, played on top of a nice roasty malt flavor. The spices were really light and well balanced. Everything compliments the malts nicely. I believe that this is in fact the beer that will save Christmas for all of us! go get it while you can! I give it a joyous 4.5 and this was my favorite Christmas beer this year!

When you're getting set to go to a holiday party this weekend, take a little extra time in the beer aisle. Pass by some of the brews that you have all the time, and look for something festive. We have so many great breweries in town and even more great breweries who've started distributing here. Above are the beers that I really loved this season, go out and find what you love. Cheers!

CANvitational

This past weekend we went to the CANvitational hosted by sun King on Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis. Last week I got to sit down and talk with Clay from Sun King and learn a little bit about the event, so we had a pretty good idea of what was going to be going on. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the crowd was awesome.

In addition to the breweries represented, there were awesome food trucks (shout out to Taco Lassi and Mac Genie). Even the DJ spinning tunes was pretty solid.

There were a lot of breweries that don't distribute to Indiana, so it was great to see them. I'm sure if you follow someone who was there on Untappd, you saw just how much there was to try. It was kind of crazy seeing all the check-ins. You've already seen Owen's shout out to Tallgrass, and I would definitely echo that sentiment. Velvet Rooster was amazing, and I may have scored a can or two to take home. Revolution from Chicago was there, and the Oktoberfest was outstanding. I went back to their spot to try something else and they'd run out of samples. A little disappointing, but kind of awesome for them. Plus I know we'll go back next time we're in Chicago.

The highlight of the show for me was definitely the Coconut Porter aged in bourbon barrels from Great Crescent. They're an Indiana brewery, though not totally local, so I'm sensing a Pilgrimage sometime soon. We've added several other breweries to that list as well: Half Acre, Morgan Street, and West Sixth are just a few.

We couldn't have had a better day for the event. It was sunny, it was warm, and everyone was in a great mood. I'm sure the beer helped with that last part a little bit. All in, this was a great event and I'm definitely interested in going again next year!

The Big Guy: Damn that was fun! I've had to do a ton of trading just to get a few beers from some of the awesome breweries that came to CANvitational. This was a much easier way to get the brews with a ton less freight. It was also cool to see how many different operations are rocking the can. The beers were outstanding, and everything was served from a can. If you ever had someone who said no good beer comes from a can, you have to send them to this!

My favorite beers were:

1. Automnal Mole Stout by Ska out of Colorado
2. Coconut Porter by Great Crescent out of Indiana
3. Jai Alai IPA by Cigar City out of Florida
4. Ten Fiddy by Oskar Blues out of Colorado
5. Zombie Monkie by Tallgrass out of Kansas

All of the breweries really seemed excited to show Indy what they had to offer. They were all friendly and totally interested in getting people excited about what they brought. Each one of them took some time and talked about the different beers that they brought as well as what they do in their local markets. The coolest part for me was how genuinely interested all the brewers were about getting to know us in addition to getting us to try some of their beers. We made some friends with the guys working the show, and even got a couple full cans to take home.

Sun King CANvitational: An Interview with Clay Robinson

Image provided by Bohlson Group Events

In preparation for this weekend's CANvitational, I had the opportunity to talk with Clay Robinson one of the co-founders and brewers at Sun King. Typical Wednesday morning, right? I took full advantage of this interview to find out all about the event and what we can expect to see on Saturday. You're going, you know you are. Below are the questions I asked and the (paraphrased) responses Clay provided.

What should people know about the event: It's going to be great. Clay and the team at Sun King had been thinking about doing this event for a long time, but actually put everything together in just 3 months. Attendees will get to spend their time meeting the people who actually make the beer. Several brewers are driving and even flying to be there in person. The number of tickets has been kept low intentionally to avoid long lines and to make sure that there's a relaxed, casual atmosphere. There will be "tons of space and tons of great beer." It's not going to be a festival where you're trying to drink as much free beer as you can in a few hours, it's really about trying something new. A few of the breweries are bringing new seasonal releases that will be tapped for the first time at the event. They haven't even been showcased at home yet!

What brewery are you most excited to introduce to Indy's craft beer drinkers: So many of the breweries coming don't really have a wide reach outside of their local areas. What's exciting is to bring those great beers to a new audience. You could almost consider the whole list of participating breweries the answer to this question. Some of the stand outs are Surly, Half Acre, Revolution, Marble, SanTan, Tallgrass. One of the things that makes Tallgrass interesting is that they used to bottle and have made the switch to cans. There will be close to 70 beers available at the event that you can't get in Indy. What's equally exciting is to show off Indy's appreciation for craft beer. So many people are surprised to hear that we have a strong craft beer scene here.

How did you decide to can at Sun King instead of bottle: This question can spark some interesting debates among brewers and beer drinkers alike. Bottling can be a complicated process, and it's certainly time consuming. Both Clay and Dave, the other founder, had can collections so there's always been an appeal. What's also nice about cans is that they provide a "perfect permanent seal" for the beer. Two of the things that will cause a beer to degrade are light and oxygen and a can protects from both. Another benefit for those breweries that choose to can is the overall low weight that cans add. You're spending fewer shipping dollars on container-related weight and more on actual beer. Not only is there less fuel needed to ship beer in cans, but most cans now are made with over 50% post-consumer materials and can continue to be recycled using much less energy than bottles. The freshest way to drink your beer is on draft, since the beer goes from the tank into the keg and doesn't see light until it's in your glass. It's not an exact duplication, but a can will help maintain that same freshness longer.

What about the growth in the craft beer industry? Do you see it as exciting or is there more concern about potential market saturation? It's more exciting. Sure there's concern about saturating the market but really the market can sustain so much more. Craft beer overall was only 2% of all beer sold in the US 5 years ago. Now it's between 5-6%. Even with that growth, there's a limit to the amount of craft beer that can be produced and sold. Craft beer won't be able to make up even 10% of all beer sold in the US without expansion and that means the addition of more breweries, and there's definitely room for more. It's exciting to show people new flavors and  open people's palettes to new things. It's a good mirror for what's happened in the food industry. There's an interest in creating something new and different and plenty of people are willing to try it. Opening up a brewery is really chasing the American Dream. It's great to be able to do something that you love to do. Of the new breweries that are planned there will be some shake out, there always is, but there's so much that can be added to the craft beer scene. It's the people and their passion for the beers they make that sparks this excitement. It's easy to see when you stop into the small breweries that are popping up locally and in other places around the country. "Craft beer has soul."

Favorite Sun King Brew: Top of the list of Sun King's own brews is Osiris, but one of the fun things about brewing is that you get to make what you like. That's where most of the ideas for the seasonal line up come from.

Favorite non-Sun King Brew: Bell's Two Hearted, Rodenbach Grand Cru, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, 3 Floyds Zombie Dust. It's always fun to try new beers while travelling and lately there have been a lot of really enjoyable session beers, things like Founder's All Day IPA.

The Big Guy and I will definitely be at the event. Hope to see you there!

About the CANvitational:  In 2009, Sun King Brewery brought Indianapolis local beer for the first time since the Indianapolis Brewing Company closed its doors in 1948. On Saturday, Sept. 28 history will be made again when Sun King hosts the inaugural CANvitational, the Midwest's first-ever canned craft beer festival. The Sun King CANvitational will bring more than 30 craft breweries representing 16 states to Georgia Street and Pan Am Plaza from 1 - 5 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.canvitational.com -- $50 for general admission, $75 for early entry. This event is ages 21+ with a valid ID. Music will be provided throughout the event by DJ Helicon and DJ Action Jackson.

About Sun King Brewing Company: Sun King Brewing Company is the brainchild of Dave Colt and Clay Robinson. With the help of family and friends – Omar Robinson, Andy Fagg and Steve Koers – the first keg of Sun King beer rolled out the door for delivery in July 2009. Now available on tap and in cans at over a thousand locations throughout Indiana, Sun King has grown into the second-largest beer brewer in the state. The company's commitment to handcrafted seasonal and specialty beers has been rewarded with multiple medals at the Indiana Brewers Cup, Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup competitions. Visit www.sunkingbrewing.com for more information.

Anti-Hero

I was introduced to Revolution Brewery on a trip up to see my in-laws earlier this year. I was stoked to try their stuff because, like Sun King, they can their standard releases. I picked up a couple six packs and a few bombers of their stuff, but Anti-Hero really stood out for me. I've been trading for a bunch of beer lately, and over the summer I kind of went IPA crazy. I fell in love with Jai Alai by Cigar City and Grapefruit Jungle by Sun King, but haven't found much to compare.

Revolution describes it as an "American hop assault," and I would let this beer storm the beaches of my taste buds any day of the week. Anti-Hero totally stacks up to some of the best IPAs I've had. It has quickly become one of my favorites. It's 6.5% ABV and 70 IBUs, and pours out a very light orange with a nice white head. It smells like a citrus hop bomb blowing up in your face with big bright citrus and floral notes and just a hint of sweet malts.

The flavor is outstandingly bright and refreshing. Up front you get some huge, chewy, citrus hops with hints of grapefruits, pineapple and a little orange. There's a great caramel and biscuit malt flavor that follows up the hops. It helps mellow out the huge hop flavor on the front end and adds a great compliment of sweetness. The beer finishes off appropriately bitter. So many IPAs end up being nothing but hops or just a big bitter finish. Anti Hero is the real deal. Its well balanced and all the flavors marry well together.

On top of them making an awesome brew, when the Little Lady and I went to the brewery we were able to get this bad boy on cask. The UBC (Union Brewing Company right here in Indy) has turned me into a huge fan of cask beers. I try getting them everywhere we go. Anti-Hero on cask was equally outstanding. The cask mellowed the hops out just a little bit, but it added that amazing smooth character that only comes from natural fermentation. It went down silky smooth and really helped to elevate the recipe. I would recommend anyone who stops by the brewery to try whatever they can on the cask.

I give both beers a solid 4. Well played Revolution.

Pilgrimage: Revolution Brewing Company

The Big Guy and I had the opportunity to spend some time in downtown Chicago last weekend, one of my all time favorite places. One of the things that I love about the city is that there are so many great places to eat and drink. You can basically pick a street at random to walk down and you're bound to find something good. Sometimes though, you know exactly where you want to go.

That's how we were with Revolution Brewing Company. I had tried a few of their brews before this, specifically Anti Hero and Rosa and was definitely interested in trying more. They had a great selection on tap, and I went with their El Hefe Loco, a hefeweizen, and was really glad that I did. Delicious brew, great banana and clove flavor with a very smooth finish. I also tried Cat Herder (a golden ale) and E. Norma Gene (a bourbon barrel aged imperial porter) while we were there. I love porters and I'm no slouch when it comes to bourbon so the combination is pretty much always a winner for me. The Big Guy had a few others as well.

We had a fantastic bartender who made some great recommendations and helped us work our way through their beer list. That always makes a big difference in my experience. I know just enough to be dangerous or extremely boring in a bar. I know what I like and I tend to stick to it, or I try something completely outside my wheelhouse which doesn't always go the way I think it should. Having a bar tender who's willing to take the time and make recommendations based on a combination of my preferences and theirs is awesome.

As you're sitting at the bar you can see the brewing equipment through the windows in the back. There's a mix of old school classic style and a strong contemporary industrial feel in the décor. Totally up my alley. The bar is front and center as you walk in with oversized versions of the Revolution fist holding things up. All the taps are fists as well with different colors corresponding to different beers. 

We didn't get there in time to try their food menu, late night partying like we do, so we'll have to go back again. I'm sure I'll really have to twist the Big Guy's arm to make that happen. We heard some really good things about their brunch so maybe we can convince my parents to meet us there.

All in, the people and the atmosphere were great and the beer was outstanding. It's one that I'll be keeping on my list so we can go next time we're in the city!

The Big Guy: When you have good beer and a great space, the only thing that can elevate a bar or brewery to the next level is the staff. Our bartender was outstanding. He explained what they had on tap, and for the most part I just let him decide what I was drinking all night. They had a couple ferkin beers on cask, and they were running them through a beer engine. I love it when a brewery gives you some options. I had Anti Hero off a standard keg and off cask. Tomorrow, I will let you know what I thought. Cheers!