Just like Frank Cotanza, who, after beating a fellow shopper, needed a new holiday instead of Christmas, I recognized that you need different winter seasonal craft beers to enjoy. This week’s beer review focuses on one of my favorite named and favorite tasting winter spiced brews. This weekend, a new brew, a Festivus Ale, for the rest-of-us is What’s on Tap!
As a small neighborhood of Philadelphia, Manayunk (pronounced Man-ee-unk) is a hub for great small restaurants and an awesome brewery that is producing some great seasonal brews. Festivus Ale is a great small batch spiced winter warmer. To me, the most interesting aspect of this ale is the fruit and spice combination. Even before the initial sip there is a distinct fruit quality to it; I get some cherries and plumbs which are mixed with typical winter spices like allspice and ginger. The taste of Festivus Ale, like the aroma, is a combination of biscuity malts, the plumbs, and the spices, nutmeg, allspice, and ground ginger. There is not much to the backend of this brew, maybe a touch of hops but nothing that takes away from the malty frontend.
If you are looking for a well-balanced winter brew that you can drink throughout the holiday season, Festivus Ale is a great choice. Tonight I am grilling a steak, a ribeye, but to help with the pairing I am melting some blue cheese crumbles on the steak just before I take it off the grill!
Cheers to the weekend, the feats of strength, and to Festivus Ale!
Beer Stats
Style: Winter Warmer
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7.0%
Bitterness (IBUs): 22
Color: Almost a deep red / brown
Beer Review Stats
Beer Advocate: 80
Rate Beer: N/A
