FOLIO
by THE JAX BREW-BITCH
Ellen DeGeneres summed it all up when she said, “Nothing says holidays like a cheese log” …and the holidays, they are upon us! Her tongue-in-cheek comment mirrors what many Americans have come to regard as the Thanksgiving-to-New-Year’s segment of our calendar– maybe with good and ample reason.
So, how do YOU look at the holiday season? With an undefined sense of foreboding? With increasing emotional pressure? With disappointment, acknowledging all those forgotten resolutions from nearly a year ago? Buying gifts is the one single holiday activity which causes more aggravation than any other. Beginning with THIS holiday season, consider taking a different approach to your shopping.
Remember this:
THE GIFT OF BEER IS THE GIFT OF CHEER!
It is THE slam-dunk gift for beer lovers, of course. But how about those who are unfamiliar with craft beer? They will enjoy it, as well, if for nothing else than the experience of trying something new. The holidays are a great time to try things for the first time! The following is a collection of holiday seasonal beers, activities and gift ideas from establishments within the Greater Jacksonville area.
Now, get out your calendar and pad of paper–prepare to take notes. I’ll give you a couple of minutes to find something to write with…(*tapping fingers on desktop*)…(*humming “100 Bottles of Beer on the Tree”*) … You back and ready to write? … You sure? … I can talk a dog off a meat-wagon, you know … Let’s go!
Wondering about what type of beer to buy?
Pumpkin-flavored Beers
Due to the arrival of Fall and the passing of Halloween, there is a plethora of pumpkin-flavored and pumpkin-influenced beers already on the shelves. Some of the brands can have an understated pumpkin-influence–like a “roasty” taste of the pumpkin itself–straight from the patch. Others can have that “this tastes just like a sweet pumpkin pie” in-your-face wallop of flavor.
For instance, Brooklyn Brewery Post Road Pumpkin Ale has that garden-fresh natural influence of pumpkin without any noticeable spice. On the other end of the spectrum is Southern Tier Brewing Company Pumking – especially when you order it on draft at Kickbacks Gastropub, where they rim your glass with honey, graham crackers, brown sugar and cinnamon – Grandma’s Pumpkin Pie in a glass!
Winter and Christmas Holiday Seasonal Beers
Ho-Ho-Ho! I love the taste of ‘O’ Tannenbaum’ in the morning! You can find some yuletide beers which do seem like you are drinking a Christmas tree, if you look for them. However, many Winter Seasonal releases were developed for you to curl up on a comfy couch with a blanket and sip during the cooler months–without the taste of pine or spices.
For those of you unfamiliar with craft beer, it is distinguished from those beers you see advertised on television–especially during the Super Bowl. Not that there is anything wrong with a Bud Lite or Miller Lite – but those are “everyday” beers, or as I have heard others refer to them, “Lawnmower beers” or “McDonald’s beers.” Craft beer normally has a higher alcohol content by volume, and since they are creations by highly inspired brewmasters, are unique in flavor and mouthfeel. Consider the following list of flavors which have all found their way into certain craft beer formulations: Chocolate, Coffee, Anise, Lavender, Honey, Strawberry, Cherry, Wine, Blueberry, Oatmeal, Bacon – yes, bacon!, Oyster, Peanut Butter, Habanero pepper, Jalapeno pepper, Datil pepper, Pumpkin and Watermelon.
We are blessed with having several microbreweries located right here in the Greater Jacksonville area! Most microbreweries offer what they call growlers, jugs or jars of either quart or gallon sizes. No half-gallon growlers are allowed in Florida though, oddly enough. Growlers are unique in that you can refill them. So, once you buy it full the first time, refilling it from then on is often half the cost you paid the first time. In essence, you are buying the glass growler on your first visit.
Consider a growler as a gift – keep in mind the “life” of the beer is limited in growlers, so unless the one you are buying for plans to have a group over, it might be better to consider a couple of quart growlers filled with different beer styles for your special someone.
Riverside Arts Market to Extend Shopping Hours
Riverside Arts Market is excited to announce HOLIDAZZLE! – a festive new holiday event and shopping opportunity for the entire family. On Saturday, December 8th, RAM is extending its hours until 9 pm to provide an all-new nighttime experience for its visitors. Winter brews, wine and holiday cocktails (think eggnog and peppermint schnapps!) will be available for the grown-ups with hot chocolate and other treats for the kids. Shoppers may take advantage of gift-wrapping stations, with proceeds supporting RAM and select non-profit community partners. We suspect that Santa might pay us a visit as well! As always, a variety of dining options, live entertainment and street performers will complete the festive experience visitors will find at North Florida’s largest open air market. Admission and parking are always free.
BEER: 30 (1271 King St, 388-0033)
Arrived Nov 16 – check to see if they have any left!
Black Xantus, Bison Gingerbread, Blue Point Winter, Southern Tier 2xmas, Southern Tier , rampus, Anchor Christmas, Lagunitas Brown Sugga, Lost Coast WinterBraun, Sierra Nevada , Celebration, Pere Noel, Woodchucks Winter, Shiner Cheer.www.beer30jax.com, www.facebook.com/Beer30jax
BOLD CITY BREWERY (2670 Rosselle St, 379-6551)
Christmas gift ideas abound! Bold City swag is a great idea! They have an online store, and items can also be purchased in the tap room along with gift certificates. Take a look at the shirts and caps available from this, Jacksonville’s first microbrewery. Bold City Brewing’s selection of tasty creations would be a popular addition to the dinner table for Christmas, New Year’s, Kwanzaa, holiday parties, etc. Bold City Brewing is also releasing for the holidays a Bourbon Barrel-aged 1901 Red Ale. The Imperial Cream Ale and the Spice Pumpkin Ale will be on tap, too. On December 5th, Bold City has scheduled a “Pint Night” at JP Henley’s in St. Augustine, from 7 to 9 pm. Pumpkin Spice Ale, 1901 Red Ale, Dukes Cold Nose Brown Ale and a special cask will be featured that evening in America’s Oldest City.
www.boldcitybrewery.com/index.php, www.facebook.com/pages/Bold-City-Brewery/54391921191?ref=ts
ENGINE 15 BREWING COMPANY (1500 Beach Blvd, Jax Beach, 249-2337)
The talented team over at Engine 15 Brewing will be tapping the “12 Beers of Christmas” beginning December 13:
Day 1 (Dec 13th) – Pear Kolsch – Kolsch Style Ale with pears
Day 2 – Pecan Chocolate Caramel Alt
Day 3 – General Von Cliest’s German Alt – Classic German Altbier
Day 4 – Black IPA – Ramming Speed
Day 5 – Golden Strong Ale – Belgian Golden Strong Ale
Day 6 – Goose Egg Cream Ale
Day 7 – Belgian Witbier – Belgian White Ale
Day 8 – Milk Stout
Day 9 – 9% Oatmeal Cookie Imperial Stout – Oatmeal, Brown Sugar, cinnamon and ginger
Day 10 – Imperial IPA – American Imperial IPA
Day 11 – Smokejumper – Smoked Porter
Day 12 (Dec 24th) – Christmas Quad – Belgian Quadruple with Brown Sugar and Dried Plums
WooHoo! Taste the Season! You can make this an early Christmas present for your friend or loved one by taking them by Engine 15 each day to enjoy their holiday creations! While you are there, look over their tempting food menu, as well.
www.engine15.com. www.facebook.com/pages/Engine-15-Brewing-Company/428033335437
INTUITION ALE WORKS (720 King St, 683-7720)
Intuition Ale Works sells gift cards out of their tap room, as well as through their online store: http://intuitionale.myshopify.com. They also have a lot of fun merchandise for sale in their tap room right now, including t-shirts, caps, growler bags, glassware and more. The amazing folks at Intuition Ale Works think six-packs or growlers always make a great gift. If you opt for the growler, you purchase the glass growler and a gift card for the amount of a fill, so the recipient can redeem the fill at their convenience.
www.intuitionaleworks.com, www.facebook.com/IntuitionAle
GREEN ROOM BREWING (228 3rd St N, Jax Beach – 201-9283)
Soon, the “Christmas-tree flavored” Holla Ray, made with Nugget Hops and Pennsylvania Spruce tips will be tapped. I was fortunate enough to be invited to help in the brewing of this festive brew a couple of weeks ago with Scott Russell and Ray Carr from North Florida Sales. Join the creative team at Green Room Brewing for one last party before the world ends on December 21! They will be tapping their newest beer: Quetzalcoatl, the Flying Serpent. Brewed with a massive amount of malt this Imperial Mayan Red utilized Cassava Root in the mash, Poblano and Serrano peppers in the boil, and was conditioned on Chocolate and Vanilla. Firewater Tent Revival will be rocking out all night! 2 Food Trucks out back! – Bottle sales while they last! For gifts this season, Green Room suggests their Hoodies ($40), Green Room gift certificates, and growlers filled with your favorite Green Room Brewing beer! Join Green Room Brewing every Saturday at 2 pm for our weekly Bottle & Homebrew Sharing meeting. Bring a bottle (or can) of your favorite craft beer and join us! For more information on the Bottle Sharing meeting, visit www.jaxbrewbitch.com or email regina@jaxbrewbitch.com www.greenroombrewing.com, www.facebook.com/greenroombrewing
DAHLIA’S POUR HOUSE (2695 Post St, 738-7132)
Always a good place to stop for a beer, Dahlia’s has 85 taps available. This season, Dahlia’s is offering the following specials: Happy Hour ($4 anything) 4 pm-2 am Christmas and $10 off Gift Certificates for $100 or more. www.dahliaspourhouse.com, www.facebook.com/pages/Dahlias-Pour-House/312695632089849
BIRDIES: JAX (1044 Park St, 356-4444)
Birdies is a neighborhood bar, and even though they have bands or parties, there is never a door charge or cover! In lieu of seasonal beers, Birdies offers hot toddies during the holidays which are whiskey or spiced rum served with hot cider. In support of our local breweries, they also carry both Intuition and Bold City beers on tap. Birdies is currently planning a Christmas party as well as a New Years Eve party with decorations and drink specials. Check with them for details! Birdies also offers some wonderful gift ideas: gift cards, Birdies shirts, Birdies underwear and Birdies cooler bags so you can keep your beers cold during your picnic in the park, all made from recycled materials. www.facebook.com/birdies
TOTAL WINE & MORE (4413 Town Center Pkwy, 998-1740)
Total Wine will receive a large amount of Westvleteren 12, the king of rare beers. These will be on sale Dec 12. First come, first serve, one six pack per customer. The gift packs are $84.99 a six-pack, including two glasses and are the perfect gift for that special beer lover. www.totalwine.com, www.facebook.com/TotalWineAndMore
EUROPEAN STREET CAFE (various locations)
This is a great place to eat and share a beer or two with your friends and loved ones. European Street will offer a $5 signature wooden token with every $25 gift certificate purchase throughout the holidays starting November 23. Their “Beer Around the World” gift box is always a superior unique combination, and you can make your OWN “Beer Around the World” or “Mix a Six” in San Marco and at the Jax Beach locations. Right now, at the San Marco location, they have mini kegs of Bell’s Two Hearted, sour beer boxed sets and will continue to offer special limited-edition seasonal beers while supplies last. europeanstreet.com www.facebook.com/estreetcafe
BREWER’S PIZZA / PINGLEHEAD BREWING COMPANY (14B Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, 276-5159)
Ambitious Monk is new on tap! 10.3% of pure Belgian goodness. Join Brewer’s Pizza every Sunday at 2 pm for weekly Bottle & Homebrew Sharing meeting. Bring a bottle (or can) of your favorite craft beer and join us. The game will be on, cold drafts, fine bottle selection and the best pizza in Jax! For more information on the Bottle Sharing meeting, visit www.jaxbrewbitch.com or email regina@jaxbrewbitch.com For that special gift, their talented staff recommends gifting growlers and other Pinglehead Merchandise (t-shirts, hats, glassware, stickers) if a plain old gift card won’t cut it. www.brewerspizza.com/home, www.facebook.com/BrewersPizza
Whew! What a lot to digest–literally and “literaturally”–but you can see there is a LOT you can do this holiday season! Remember to get your gifts early, and most importantly, be sure and relax, take some time for yourself and reflect on the blessings of friends and family. My wish is that each of you will enjoy the next few weeks to the fullest and that you, your friends and loved ones will all have an exciting, memorable and most blessed holiday season!
I also hope to see you out all and about soon during my self-indulgent Jax Brew Bitch Prowls and I would be honored if you would stop to say hello or introduce yourself if you happen to see me. By the way, if you are uncertain it’s me, I’ll be the one cheerfully totin’ around the cheese log. Happy Holidays!
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