Once again, we had a blast putting together our annual Craft Beer Advent Calendar!! We've thoughtfully chosen twenty-four of the best beers to enjoy in December 2021, and wrapped them up together as the best advent calendar ever: one that surprises you with a new, limited, seasonal beer every day!

We've represented many of the best cans and bottles coming from our amazing local craft beer scene, alongside some ancient, traditional brews from across the planet, and even included some new and unexpected flavors and styles as well. With an array of IPAs, a smattering of sours, some crisp clean lagers, some way more obscure and nerdy lagers, plus all the roasty malty dark beers you could possibly want to keep you cozy throughout this holiday season... this year's selection is sure to delight any craft beer drinker, from novice to connoisseur.

We thank you for joining us for our second annual Beer Advent Calendar, and invite you to sip along with these daily tasting notes that we’ve put together for each individual beer. Once again for your convenience we saved the heaviest-hitters - those with alcohol contents over 7% - for the weekends. We sincerely hope you enjoy these selected seasonal offerings as much as we really do too!!

Cheers to you, cheers to craft beer, and cheers to the 2021 holidays!
Kim, James, Kelly, Jules, Jessica, Kathryn, Ashley, David & Pamela

Bruery Or Xata

Placentia, California - 7.2% abv

*contains lactose*

Since it’s now our first weekend of December, we wanted to turn up the volume a bit. As you’ll soon find out, the Bruery does not make shy beers. And their Or Xata is quite true to their style, with a medley of baking spice flavors coming together to make a seasonally appropriate confectionary blonde ale. Previously releasing these over-the-top beers with multiple culinary ingredients only as 750mL bottle exclusives, it’s fun seeing these old favorites available in 16oz cans. We think of it as nothing short of a Christmas miracle!

Upon pouring this golden-hued delight, we get unmistakable aromas of graham cracker, vanilla, and cinnamon. On the palate, the cinnamon is certainly present but pleasantly restrained, leaving room for more flavors to show through, like raisiny dark fruit. With a full body and a rich, velvety mouthfeel, it’s like the most delicious creamy rice pudding ever, in your glass. The flavor and mouthfeel mask the 7.2% abv, but with so much going on it just feels right to slowly sip and enjoy this sweet treat, while dreaming of all the holiday goodies in the next few weeks.

pmenschDecember 3, 2021KimComment