Next Round: A beer for the Hanukkah holiday
After nearly two decades of producing He'Brew brand Jewish beers, Shmaltz Brewing Co. has finally brewed a special beer for Hanukkah.
Shmaltz opened its own brewery in Clifton Park, N.Y. just last year but has been making and marketing its beers since 1996.
This new Chanukah Beer is made with eight different hops, eight malts and carries a hefty 8% alcohol level -- all a nod to the eight nights of the holiday, which begins Tuesday night.
But you don't have to celebrate Hanukkah to enjoy it. Any hophead would appreciate the strong ale's pleasant dry bitterness.
In addition to a four-pack, the beer is part of a gift pack with candles to build a beer menorah after you drink the eight different He'Brew beers inside. One of them is the latest annual release of its Jewbelation 18, a sweet, rich, boozy barleywine.
You can taste the Chanukah beer at a local bar; check Shmaltz's events schedule online.
Winter and the holiday season brings a wave of seasonal beers to choose from. Here's a few others that I've unwrapped already:
-- Bell's White Winter Ale (12 oz. bottles and draft) from the Kalamazoo, Mich.-based brewer delivers a hint of banana aroma and a bite from the spicy yeast - recommended for hefeweizen lovers.
-- Upslope Christmas Ale (16 oz. cans). A Belgian twist on the winter warmer style, this sweet malty brew weighs in at 8.2% ABV with hints of dessert spices.
-- The Boston Beer Co. has an impressive list of holiday beers including the yeasty and fruity White Christmas Belgian white ale (12 oz. bottles), which can be found as part of Samuel Adams Winter Favorites 12-pack, which includes my favorite Old Fezziwig, a sweet brown ale. Gingerbread lovers should seek out the smooth Merry Maker Gingerbread Stout (22 oz. bottle, 9% ABV).
-- My personal longtime seasonal favorite,Sierra Nevada's Celebration Fresh Hop IPA (12 oz. bottles and draft), has a solid piney bitterness that will help cleanse the palate after a round of sweeter holiday brews.
Next Round takes a regular look at new and recently released craft beers. If there's one on your radar, or if you have suggestions or questions, contact Mike Snider via e-mail. And follow Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.
