December 4 - Firestone's Wookey Jack

Why we picked it:  Firestone Walker is a great brewery and this beer rated very well.  Plus I like the name "Wookey."  Similar style to yesterday's beer except this is a Black Rye IPA.  I'm going to guess a lot of people will like this one more than yesterday's beer.

About Firestone's Wookey Jack:  A riff on the familiar Black IPA style, Wookey Jack is gnarly on the outside yet refined on the inside. Malted Rye and a dash of Cara Rye impart a spicy grain quality to the palate, while double dry-­hopping with Citra and Amarillo hops brings a citrusy dimension to the aroma profile. The brewing team also claims to have incorporated a bit of “Wookey Dust” into the recipe. The beer is black in color, but if you close your eyes and taste it, you’ll say it’s a true IPA. Wookey Jack is unfined and unfiltered to retain its woolly natural texture and character.

Beer Advocate Score: 94

Style: Black Rye IPA

Malts: Pale Malt, Malted Rye, Dash of Cara-Rye, Midnight Wheat from Briess, De-Bittered Black Malt (Weyermann - Germany/Patagonia malting - Chile), Dash of Wookey dust

Hops: German Magnum (bittering), Citra & Amarillo (flavor/aroma and double dry-hopped)
Fermentation: 100% Stainless Steel

Color: 45SRM

ABV:  8.3%
IBU:  80

Case Cost:  $70 ($13 for a 4 pack)

*website: http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/wookey-jack

December 3 - Mendocino's Black IPA

Why we picked it:  No specific reason for this one.  We are trying two beers from this brewer.  This beer got mixed reviews...a 79 and an 89 on the beer advocate site.  Thought a Black IPA wouldn't be a bad choice.  If I was nervous about any of the beers this year, this would be the one.  While it says seasonal on the front, it's a summer seasonal, not a winter seasonal.  This should be interesting...

About Mendocino's Black IPA:  A tantalizing twist on a unique style! This ale has a seductive ebony hue, with an aroma that is bold, full of fresh floral and citrus hops, with just a pinch of pine. The rich aroma blends delightfully into the enigmatic body of rich roasted malts with chocolatey, nutty flavors. Then ensues the tang of refreshing orange peel and a citrus hop finish that lightly lingers and then beckons you to revisit this most enjoyable seasonal ale.

Beer Advocate Score: 79 and 89

Style: Black India Pale Ale

Malts: 2-Row, Vienna, Munich, Wheat, Crystal Rye, Chocolate, Pale Chocolate

Hops: Summit, Pilgrim, Cascade
Serving Temperature: 45-50º F

ABV:  6.0%
IBU:  44

Case Cost:  $38

*website: http://www.mendobrew.com/home.html

December 2 - Saranac Immortality

Why we picked it:  Tommy picked it...Tommy picks good beers! It's a limited release as well. 

About Saranac Immortality:  Saranac Imperial Amber ale brewed with a portion of locally grown heirloom hops, this beer showcases big citrus and herbal hop character with a firm, resinous bitterness. German specialty malts provide a bold amber color and lend a balanced maltiness.  Available only on February 15th and October 1st.

This amber nectar is worthy of the gods, but it's all too human: people played a big part in making this beer. Several varieties of hops were used from this year's Hop Harvest at Wrobel Farms.  Notice the earthly notes from the heirloom varieties, balanced with a splash of floral and citrusy hops.

Beer Advocate Score: 87 and 89

Color: Medium Amber
Aroma: Floral and Citrusy
Mouthfeel: Medium
Style: Imperial Amber Ale

Malts: North American 2-Row, Vienna, Carastan

Original Gravity: 18° Plato

Hops: Centennial, Cascade, Brewers Gold,Heirloom

Food Pairings: Spicy fare, grilled meats, Mexican and Thai dishes

ABV:  7.5%
IBU:  75

Case Cost:  $42

*website: http://www.saranac.com/our-beers/high-peak-series/

December 1 - 21st Amendment's Toaster Pastry

Why we picked it:  It got a decent rating, it sounded interesting, and oh yeah...it's a 19.2 oz can of beer.  Let's start this 24 DoB off with a big guy! 

About 21st Amendment's Toaster Pastry:  Our first beer out of our new brewery is an homage to its former life as a toaster pastry factory.  Biscuit malts give the beer a slightly nutty, crust-like flavor, while pale and dark Crystal malts create the mouthfeel and flavors reminiscent of strawberry jam. Calypso and other experimental hops give this ruby ale a welcome bite, plus a few more in the hop back for a toasty-sweet aroma.  Toaster Pastry won a Silver medal in the Double Red Ale Category at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival

Beer Advocate Score: 89

Color:  Deep Amber
Flavor Hops:  Centennial, Ahtanum, Amarillo, Mosaic
Malts:  Two Row, Baird 70-80 Dark Crystal, Weyermann Munich 2, Weyermann Carafa III, Castle Biscuit
Bittering Hops:  Warrior
Yeast:  American Ale

ABV:  7.6%
IBU:  74

Case Cost:  $106 (usually sold as singles for about $5 each)

*website: http://21st-amendment.com/beers/toaster-pastry/

Making Greatness!!!

1,152 beers!  We organized and created a case of awesomeness for 48 people.  Can't wait until December 1st!

The List of Beer

Here's the list of beers and the order to drink them in.  December 1st will be here soon and we will start our beer tasting adventure.  I hope everyone likes the selection!

1. 21st Amendment - Toaster Pastry, 7.6% ABV
2. Saranac - Immortality, 7.5% ABV
3. Mendocino - Black IPA, 6% ABV
4. Firestone - Wookey Jack, 8.3% ABV
5. Eggenberg - Samichlaus, 14% ABV
6. Ayinger - Celebrator Doppelbock, 6.7% ABV
7. Union - Balt, 5.5% ABV
8. Schlafly - Black Lager Schwarzbier, 5% ABV
9. Tröegs - Blizzard Of Hops Winter IPA, 6.4% ABV
10. Ballast Point - Habanero Sculpin, 7% ABV
11. Great Divide - Titan IPA, 7.1% ABV
12. Anchor Steam - Christmas Ale, 5.5% ABV
13. Deschutes - Jubelale, 6.7% ABV
14. Mendocino - Eye of the Hawk, 8% ABV
15. Flying Dog - Nice, 8.3% ABV
16. Flying Dog - Naughty, 9% ABV
17. Ommegang - 3 Philosophers, 9.7% ABV
18. Samuel Smith - The Famous Taddy Porter , 5% ABV
19. Bells - Expedition Stout, 10.5% ABV
20. Anderson Valley - Barney Flats, 5.8% ABV
21. Chaos Mountain  - Cocoborealis, 6% ABV
22. Duclaw - Devils Milk, 11.5% ABV
23. Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale, 5% ABV
24. Hardywood - Gingerbread Stout, 9.2% ABV

Welcome to the 5th Annual 24 Days of Beer Christmas Edition

Thank you all for joining in our 5th annual 24 Days of Beer Christmas edition!  We have set up this Blog so that we can have a central location to banter about our beer tasting journey.  At this blog you will be able to see what beer to drink each day, post comments, read others' comments and inevitably there will be witty comments and some trash talking.

I know not everyone on this list knows everyone else, but everyone here is friends of friends and you can be assured that we all have at least one thing in common.  Everyone assembled here loves beer.  The end goal is for everyone to get to try 24 different beers that they otherwise would have never tried and have some fun doing it.


Our 24 Days of Beer participants are:

1. Tony Woskobunik
2. Mark Bolter
3. Tom DeMott
4. Todd Barlow
5. Joe Garcia
6. Megan Garcia
7. Phil Evans
8. Cassandra Evans
9. Bill McNary
10. Ro McNary
11. Steven Calle
12. Dempsey Hamilton
13. Joe Maurelli
14. Chris Schulz
15. Kevin Boardman
16. Jon Liles
17. Kyle Herchert
18. Eddie Herchert
19. Ryan Simmons
20. Monika Jones
21. Jamie Lang
22. Dan Kostka
23. Kevin Talley
24. JP Lang
25. Kraig Thompson
26. Mike Marshall
27. Ron Zabko
28. Chad Molnar
29. Lars Juul
30. Todd Molnar
31. Brian Tallman
32. Chris Tatem
33. Harold Tran
34. Ravi Singh
35. Pat McGown
36. Chris Weathers
37. Ryan Wolff
38. Frank Giachini
39. Dave Diaz
40. Wali Spanta
41. Jeffrey Carpenter
42. Ben Stokes
43. Andrew Brodeur
44. Dave Opdahl
45. Jeremy Rueter
46. Scott Shepherd
47. Brad Winslow
48. Steven Howarth