Season’s Greetings from San Diego Beer and Wine Tours!
The holidays have barreled down on us like a freight train and suddenly, it’s almost 2015. Are you prepared for the parties and gifts? How about dinners with family and friends?
Prepared or not, there’s very little that can’t be improved with the proper application of delicious wine and beer, so here are some of our suggestions to help you add to your holiday spirit. Enjoy!
First of all – what do your winter holiday plans entail? If you’re looking for last-minute gifts, the following beers are timely and delicious. If you don’t celebrate (or are just boycotting the holidays this year) we think that the best thing you can do is treat yourself, whether it’s celebratory or “just because.” The best way to do that, in our opinion, is to sample some of the many legendary San Diego beers – and try the seasonal brews!
Port Brewing Company has a classic Christmas beer called Santa’s Little Helper. This imperial stout is brewed to pair with this season’s sweet treats, with notes of roasted coffee and dark chocolate to play off the fruitcake your coworkers got you. Try the barrel-aged version, too – it adds depth and complexity with a twist of sweet bourbon. So delicious!
Speaking of fruitcakes, we can’t get enough of Hess Brewing Company’s Ficus. This small-batch beer is incredible, and if you do decide to have a holiday feast, it’s the perfect pour to pair. It starts out a dark Belgian ale, great in its own right, but what really takes it over the top is the addition of locally-grown San Diego figs, over 10 pounds a barrel. Those add a dimension of complex sweetness to something that was already wonderful to begin with.
If you’re a little chilly but don’t feel like just pouring a belt of Kahlua into your cup of hot chocolate, go the beer route with Mother Earth Brew Co.’s Fuggin’ Cocoa Stout. This award-winning American Stout is thick with notes of chocolate (of course), cinnamon, and vanilla. And it’s so good!
We’d also like to give a shout-out to the really excellent breweries that don’t offer holiday-themed brews but are great all year round anyway. Pick up a bottle of something from Council Brew (Pirate’s Breakfast!), Automatic Brewing Co. (you can find their beers, and many other great ones, at Blind Lady Ale House in Normal Heights), or the teeny-tiny – but still incredible – Cold Bore Brewing Company out of Jamul.
We just made ourselves thirsty, so we’re going to stop there for now. But more ideas are on their way. Until then, drink up and enjoy the holiday season of America’s Finest City!
Cheers!
Brooke B., Saison’s Greeter