We’re ready for the holidays. With that in mind, let’s do the Twelve Days of Sonoma County Craft Beer.
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, a partridge in a pear tree ...
Honor the first craft beer brewed for the season with an Anchor Our Special Ale. With a recipe still kept secret by the brewery and one that changes subtly every year, Our Special Ale is roasty with notes of pine and spice.
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me, two turtle doves ...
The second has me thinking double, or Belgian Dubbel. This rich, malt-forward beer is great with the dishes of the season, especially anything braised. Look for spiced seasonal varieties or a bottle of the classic blue-labeled Chimay Grande Réserve to warm your winter night.
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me, three French hens ...
The French know how to make a delicious beer, rustic in character. There is no better example than the Bière de Garde from Castelain, St. Amand’s French Country Ale. Lighter than a dubbel, this beer is meant for long conversations with friends and family.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, four calling birds ...
While they now do their business in Santa Rosa, Henhouse Brewing still has a lot of love for its Petaluma roots and vice versa. You can grab a four-pack of their new IPA cans, but you will have to wait for a new batch. Petaluma Market reportedly sold 25 cases in one day when the last batch landed. Checking with the brewery directly may extend the window of availability.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, five golden rings ...
Just like the verse of the song, this one is a bit different. Be sure to visit your local pubs, and here are five stops, in a ring, perfect for a Christmas Crawl. Start at Taps, Petaluma’s oldest craft beer bar, then venture next door to Dempsey’s the oldest brewery in town.
Cross the river and you’re at Speakeasy’s for a quiet beer, then to Jameson’s Roaring Donkey for a not so quiet beer (try one off of their impressive bottle list). Finish with a stop at the newest spot in town, Brewsters, and you’re a block and a half away from where you started.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, six geese a laying ...
Once upon a time this was an easy one: Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout. But now, this Anhueser-Busch-owned brewery rubs some the wrong way. Drink local and keep an eye out for Lagunitas’ upcoming High-Westified Imperial Stout release. Six Packs are set to land in December.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me, seven swans a swimming ...
Swimming in hops! Time for another classic, and this is Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale. Made from the first hops of the harvest, Celebration Ale is a bold IPA, no spice, and ready for anything the holiday season has to offer.
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, eight maids a milking ...
Initially I thought a milk stout would be a good way to go here, but they are simply too hard to find. One that is readily available in the area is a newcomer to California in 2016, but a highly regarded classic around the country: New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk. Aged in bourbon barrels, this decadent brew is a sipper that goes great after dinner or with a cigar.
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, nine ladies dancing ...
Every year The Bruery of Placentia releases their own addition to the Twelve Days of Christmas and this year’s edition is Nine Ladies Dancing. Inspired by a slice of tiramisu, this beer will stand out as a dessert. Find one at your local bottle shop.
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, 10 lords a leaping ...
Ten is for 10 percent, or the ABV of the famous Lagunitas winter release, Brown Shugga. Technically 9.8 percent, Brown Shugga was born from a mistake but survives as one of the brewery’s most popular beers. Get it fresh and while it lasts, or stash a six-pack for next year to see how this brew ages (hint: wonderfully).
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me, 11 pipers piping ...
Eleven brewers bottling! Eleven of our local breweries are putting their beer into bottles and getting it to local retailers on a regular basis. Gather one of each, but this may take more than one night to drink unless you have help: Russian River, Third Street AleWorks, Fogbelt, St. Florians, Bear Republic, Ruth McGowan’s, Petaluma Hills, Lagunitas, Barrel Brothers, Shady Oak and 101 North.
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me, 12 drummers drumming ...
While she wouldn’t send 12 drummers drumming, the pounding inside my head after this week plus session should suffice. As always, this should be a reminder to drink responsibly, and perhaps grab 12 ounces of water in between a holiday season filled with frosty pints. Cheers to everyone!
(Mario Rubio lives in Petaluma and writes the beer blog, BrewedForThought.com. He can be reached at mario@brewedforthought.com.)
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