So, how about a quick look at this season’s winter offerings?

My palate is starting to turn with the weather, although most of this month was nearly worthy of breaking out the hefe-weizen again. I stepped outside the other day to see what my 10-year old son wanted to do for lunch. He’s standing there in the driveway with mesh shorts and sneakers on – no shirt! I think he may have actually been into the hefe-weizen - either that or he was headed for a Green Bay Packers game. I was absolutely speechless. I seriously think that in about 25 years there will be alligators in Sebago Lake and palm trees in Deering Oaks. The jaguar will have crept as far north as Nebraska, and all the mountains in Maine will be owned by the American Mountain Biking Company. Thank (your deity here) we still have winter for now, at least, kindasorta – so, I’m starting to reach for the porters and stouts, reds and browns – anything in a growler will do as well. Here’s what I’m seeing on the shelves and tap boxes.

And this list is not meant to be complete – anything you want to add, correct or refute, fire away.

Shipyard Brewing Co. – Portland, Maine.
Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale
Shipyard Winter Ale
Shipyard Prelude Special Ale

All worthy of being selected by you regularly this winter. The Winter Ale gets kind of overshadowed by the Longfelow and the Prelude for me, but it’s good. There’s a Shipyard Honey Porter coming in January (can’t wait, love something new).

Gritty McDuff’s – Portland, Maine.
Gritty’s Christmas Ale has been my favorite choice so far this season. Didn’t really stick with it last year, but something about this year’s batch has me, I’m choosing it left and right and loving it.
Gritty’s Scottish Ale usually comes out in January. This is one of my favorite Maine brews. Can’t wait.

Sebago Brewing Co. – now brewed in Gorham, Maine
Slick Nick Winter Ale is a fine ale for a cold winter’s night.
Midnight Porter is also a nice cold weather offering. Slightly more ‘drinkable’ for me, and I’m not sure if it’s going to be available year round or not. Porter, in my opinion is a hugely under-consumed style of beer, and this is a good one. I prefer Andrew’s (see below) by a slight margin, but Sebago is really putting out some fine beers of late. I go to their Runabout Red and Frye’s Leap IPA regularly. Their Hefe-Weizen also became a regular for me over the summer. You're getting it done Sebago - keep up the good work!!

D.L. Geary Brewing Co. – Portland, Maine.
Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale is solid and a standard. I haven’t really gone there much this season, but no disrespect intended. Fine ale, and a Maine tradition. It’s actually available year round now, but I still seem to want to mention it with the winter choices.
Geary’s Winter Ale – a hearty IPA and a great choice. Love this beer.

Andrew’s Brewing - Lincolnville, Maine
Andrew’s St. Nick Porter – not a winter selection per se, but this is one of the best beers brewed in this state (as is Andrew's English Pale Ale), and I anticipate getting my hand around one every fall/winter. If you like porter you must go to RSVP (the only place I know of that has it) and get yourself six of them (they conveniently package all six together for you, it’s great). You’ll be back for more.

Allagash Brewing – Portland, Maine
Allagash Grand Cru – a wonderful offering for a festive Holiday event.

Casco Bay Brewing – Portland, Maine
Casco Bay Winter Ale (Old Port Ale) – Loved this last year. Haven’t tried this year’s batch.
Carrabassett Winter Ale – Carrabassett beers were some of the state’s best offerings back in the days of Sugarloaf Brewing Company. They’re still great, I just don’t see as much of them.

Sierra Nevada Brewing – Chico, California
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale - leaving town and heading for the other coast here, but this is a good Holiday party choice.

Long Trail Brewing – Bridgewater, Vermont.
Long Trail Hibernator - I like many of Long Trail’s offerings, but I admittedly don’t go for this one very often. It’s a Scottish Ale (which is not the problem for me, Gritty’s Scottish Ale is one of my all-time favorite brews, and I’m eagerly awaiting the January 2007 release. Aye.).

Magic Hat Brewing – South Burlington, Vermont.
Magic Hat Roxy Rolles– I grabbed a six of this at RSVP a couple weeks ago and thought it was pretty darn good. I hardly ever select Magic Hat. I love their gig - the funky, smart, top-quality marketing and packaging, etc. The beer is also pretty good, but here’s my problem. I never know what the heck I am buying. I really need my beer to tell me it’s an IPA, a Scottish style, a wheat, etc. I blow right over the Magic Hat packages because I still to this day, have no idea what style some of their brews are. Yeah I know. It’s like when my wife says six months later that she hasn’t set up the voicemail on her new cell phone yet, and I’m like “just take 5 minutes and figure it out will ya’, it’s a one time thing, you won’t have to worry about it moving forward”. It’s just the way it is with Magic Hat for me, haven’t stopped to figure it out yet.

Well, there you have it. Some fine brews for you to enjoy this winter season. So, when the occasion arises this winter - take a quick break from your regular selections and give some of these a try. These breweries make them just for you, just for the season, and you owe it to yourself.

Dear Reader - Don't hold back: let me know what your favorites are (or aren't)!

Slainte,

Scott Dutton

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