Tasting Notes: Home for the Holiday Ale

For the past few years, I've had a great holiday party that centered around tasting the season's special beer offerings to look forward to. My friend Chris, who I met through the Black Star Co-op, is  an outstanding homebrewer, and host, opening his home up to other zymurgist and drinkers alike. 

Shiny.

This year there were some standouts from the usual suspects of well respected seasonal specialties. This is one of those parties where guests dip into their reserves and bring out something special, well aged, and appropriate or the occasion. I brought a New Glarus Raspberry Tart, my last, to share with these fine people. The taste I had of the 2002 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale, may have been one of the best beers I had that evening. Stone's Bitter Chocolate Stout was very nice as well. Someone was kind enough to bring a magnum of Anchor Christmas from 2005, and was doling out the glasses of this sprucey, spricey seasonal rather generously. 

Blurry tart.

Proof  he was near!

Sweet.

Of course, there was plenty of homebrew on tap. Chris' amazing kegerator had a variety of beers to offer. He had brewed a delicious holiday ale, which I really enjoyed, and there were two versions of a Black Star beer, Cul Sec, that were fermented using different strains of yeast. I like them both, and if I had to chose a favorite, it would be the "b." As usual, the label maker was floating around, and we were all having fun making up names for each other. Unfortunately, I don't seem to recall any other than my own. I was dubbed Fidel Garcia, the label now attached to some Food and Wine mag in my house. The food that was available was very good as well. I ate the hell out of some sausages and cheese. Yes, please. I can't wait until next year!