Beer - 39 K-9 Cruiser, Flying Dog Brewery

Fun day today in the snow. The most snow we've had here in over 20 years. We all went outside to build a snowman and have a real snowball fight. I got one really good shot in on Corban. He peaked out of a playhouse right as my huge snowball found its mark on his forehead.

I decided to drink the K-9 Winter Ale in honor of the winter wonderland we've had around here, and the opening ceremonies of the 2010
Olympic games in Vancouver, BC. We have been anxiously looking forward to the winter Olympics.

Scene Setting: Hanging with the family watching the opening ceremonies. I think I could live in Vancouver. The scenery on the west coast of British Colombia is amazing. Maybe we will be able to go visit some friends that are starting a church there next month.

Verdict: Oh yeah. The perfect beer for today. Sometimes I wish certain beers weren't seasonal, but then again what would I look forward to. A sweet aroma yields to a fantastic malty beer with a mild hoppiness woven throughout. I wish I had more than one.

Beer 25 - Winter Welcome Ale, Samuel Smith

This beer is supposed to welcome the winter. "Brewed for the short days and long nights of winter," the story goes. You know, I think they're on to something. This sounds like an opportunity to catch up on some sleep. Give credit to Thomas Edison for being smart and generous with his knowledge, but we abuse his gift. With the simple flip of a switch we can now push our bodies well past their limits.

Wouldn't it be nice to see the sun setting and know that rest was forthcoming. So in the spirit of sleep with the help of old Samuel Smith, I Welcome Winter too.

Scene Setting: Sitting in my home office, pushing my body well past its limit. Reminiscing about Jos, Nigeria where I actually got a taste of the lifestyle I spoke of above. A three week taste that I will never forget!

Verdict: I think any Ale that advocates more rest and has an endorsement from Shakespeare on the label has to get a thumbs up from me. Fantastic winter brew with solid malt feel.

Beer 22 - Old Jubilation, Avery Brewing Company

Jubilation has been far from our thoughts the past week. I am mostly well, but everyone else is still in the thick of it.

Although I did find something. My son has been catching on to the idea of obedience. It's like a light has turned on. It makes me want to dance a jig when I say something and hear a "yes sir," and actually see some action behind the words, over and over again for the majority of the day.

Scene Setting: After tucking all in, and dishing out the medicine I recline for a while to unwind for the day.

Verdict: Old Jubilation also gave me something to jubilate!! It was very strong. I enjoyed what reminded me of a good brown. No spice, and minimal noticeable hops. A great malty beer that will not only warm you through the winter, but cause spontaneous dancing.

Day 8 - Merry Christmas Happy New Year 2009, Anchor Brewing Company

It's funny how your kids take on traits from both parents. The grin and side glance you throw to your spouse when you see a new one begin to emerge. There's nothing better (or more terrifying sometimes)! For example, my 4 year old Corban. Mostly, now especially, he is all boy and you don't have to look too far to recognize a resemblance in yours truly. Today, however, it was my wife's turn. He walked into the room as she and I were taking the ornaments off of the Christmas tree. A deeply saddened boy began to whimper and then crawled into his mother's arms for comfort. "I don't want Christmas to be over" he said. That was where the glance took place. Both she and I knew about her "Christmas Blues" that come as early as the week before Christmas every year. The boy loves Christmas like his mother does. It was written all over his face.

And that is where today's beer choice comes in. I stopped by my beer store (and if you live within two hours of Arlington, TX it should be yours too!!) Dr. Jeckyll's Beer Lab for a few bottles of inspiration. Pat, the owner, loaded me up with 12 recommendations. One of which is Anchor's 2009 Christmas Beer. I thought that one would be fitting since we were singing the Christmas Blues all day.

Scene Setting: Amidst a pile of boxes awaiting me to carry them up the stairs and into the attic. Tree still lit giving the room a warm glow that will be gone soon, only to be roused by the smell of turkey and dressing next November.

Verdict: Sometimes things just click. I poured some in a glass and as I brought the glass to my mouth (before I could drink any) I was taken back to my childhood. Every year when it gets cold outside my mom brews her special spiced tea. The aroma of the beer took me back to one of the spices I would smell while sitting in the bar stool watching her masterpiece come together. I finished the beer while I unplugged the lights on the tree for the last time this year. Who knows, maybe I will be drinking Anchor's 2010 Christmas beer when I plug them in again.

Day 6 - Frost, Spoetzl Brewery

What a day. Sometimes things just don't go how you plan them. All day long I looked forward to a certain beer that's been in my fridge waiting for me. After getting home, and doing several chores I felt like I would have been wasting that beer. It was late and the mood was gone. Great! Now I had to go to the store for beer because that was the only beer I had, and it couldn't be wasted. I still needed a beer for day 6.

Good thing I went. I found this seasonal ale from Shiner that I haven't seen yet this year. There was only one six pack of it left, and the name seemed fitting since we're expecting a little winter weather here soon.

Scene Setting: My couch (again) watching the weather channel, and the weather on demand with Accuweather.com genius Jim Kosek. I'm so tired all I can do is flip between weather stations and wonder what book I'm going to read tomorrow when the windchill is 3 degrees outside.

Verdict: There was some good flavor to this beer. I enjoyed the story of the origin, and the coal miners that wanted a beer when the whistle blew ending the workday. I must be a coal miner. It was crisp and refreshing but I have to be honest I had trouble tasting much after that boiling cheese in my taco scarred my tongue at dinner tonight. But you can be sure that the remaining bottles will be revisited tomorrow while I read next to the fireplace. Hopefully that combo will be enough to deal with the windchill of 3 degrees!!