‘Tis the season of giving, so if anyone happens to be in the spirit of things, here’s what I want…

Just kidding, of course, but as I have been browsing the brews at my local candy store recently, I have come across a variety of beers that I have never tried before. These beers have caught my attention but I have held off because I have been spending enough money on beers as gifts and feel that buying these typically higher priced beers for my self would be quite self-indulgent and not in the spirit of the holidays. Sure, I will eventually get around to them, but in the meantime, here are the top 5 beers on my Christmas List.

#5
Un*earthly Imperial India Pale Ale
by Southern Tier

Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops waft forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul.

I love hoppy beers and this IPA comes in at 153 IBU’s sounds like a screaming good time. 11% ABV

#4
Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
by Stone

…we crammed, forced, shoved and cajoled the OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale into itty bitty tiny little 12oz bottles. It did not go willingly. Some Stone peeps got hurt.

Read all of what Stone has to say about this brew on the back of the bottle.
I’ve had the Arrogant Bastard Ale before, in bottle and on draft. It is an excellent beer, even though Stone may not think me worthy. I’d love to know how the extra expensive Oaked version compares. 7.2% ABV

#3
Jah*va Imperial Coffee Stout
by Southern Tier

…a heady mixture of sweet sugar, dark roast, and complex flavor.

I love stouts of all kinds; this one sounds like one to sip by the fireside. 12% ABV

#2
Santa’s Private Reserve
by Rogue

Rogue’s annual holiday offering, Santa’s Private Reserve, is a variation of the classic Saint Rogue Red, but with double the hops–including Chinook, and Centennial, and a mystery hop called Rudolph by head brewer John “more hops” Maier!

Rogue has never let me down so this hoppy beer has to be a winner. I wonder what the Rudolph hop is…? 6% ABV

#1
by Weyerbacher
Double Simcoe IPA

Double Simcoe IPA is our incredible reward for Hopheads seeking over the top flavor in a Double IPA, without the harshness. Brewed exclusively with Simcoe hops…

The simcoe hop seems to popping up as the new, “in”, hop. I’m not sure if I’ve ever experienced it and I sure want to try. 9% ABV

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In case you are just wrapped up in that giving spirit, here is one more beer I ran across on the Rogue website but I have never seen before. Leave it to an Iron Chef to make a pilsner, imperial… very interesting. I don’t know where you can buy one of this, perhaps you will have to visit kitchen stadium.
Morimoto Imperial Pilsner
by Rogue

Imperial Pilsner is golden in color with a dry hop floral aroma and intense hop bitterness supported by a big malty backbone.

If there is a theme here, it would be “beers to be savored”.

(p.s. I’ve been good!)