Perhaps my favorite part about the experience of drinking beer is that there is a nearly inexhaustible variety to choose from. There is a beer for every mood, for every gathering, and yes, for every season. Most people are giddy with anticipation for the holiday/winter season because of things like gifts, time with family, childhood memories, Christmas. Me? Well, I love its arrival every year because of the beer. Most American Craft brewers will crank out a hearty ale during this time of year and that’s a lot to look forward to.

Deschutes Brewery ranks as one of my all time favorites and the anticipation with their seasonal holiday brew is heightened because the recipe changes every year along with the artist whose art they choose to have adorn its label. The brew itself is a brown ale. However, it is far from the prototypical brown ale Newcastle. True to Deschutes form this is an excellent beer, a true craft and art. Being a brown ale, there is a considerable malt presence in the palate. The beer, however, is balanced well with hoppy presence, most assuredly with a varietal from the great northwest. Don’t get me wrong, this beer is bitter (IBU 60), but the bitter is wed in perfect form to its malt companion. Yes, it’s a match made in, well, your mouth.

A personal side note is that I’ve found this beer pairs well with other wintry delights such as beef and stewed carrots. It truly is full bodied but if you can savor more than one you can relish in the full flavor that much more.

ABV: 6.7%

Grade: A