Goose Island Christmas Ale

BEER REVIEW: Goose Island Christmas Ale by Goose Island Brewing Co

The Christmas Season officially arrives with a fresh batch of Goose Island Christmas Ale.  Available only during the months of November and December, Goose Island Christmas Ale is a Brown Ale that changes every year.  Simply meaning that the recipe of Goose Island Christmas Ale is altered just a bit each Christmas Season by the Brew Masters at the Goose Island Brewing Company.  The amount of Hops and the amount of Bitterness are the main ingredients that fluctuate.  When I first started drinking Goose Island Christmas Ale, it was known as a Scotch Ale.

As for the 2009 version of Goose Island Christmas Ale, you can expect the familiar mild spice aroma and brownish-red shade when you pour.  The best part of any version of the Goose Island Christmas Ale is the taste.  It is well paired with any Holiday Feast and goes down great on a snowy winter night as you relax while watching your favorite Christmas movie.

One of the bigger changes that occurred with the 2009 version of Goose Island Christmas Ale is how you can purchase it at stores.  No longer can you buy the usual beer bottle size of Goose Island Christmas Ale, it now comes in the larger, Pint Size bottle.  There is nothing wrong with a bigger bottle, but now it makes it harder to show up to a Christmas Party when you only have 2 Pint Size bottles versus a 6-pack.  Other than that, Goose Island Christmas Ale never disappoints.

Goose Island Christmas Ale is Very Recommended by Gonzalo

Anchor Steam

BEER REVIEW: Anchor Steam by Anchor Brewing Company

The real San Francisco treat is Anchor Steam Beer. Here is a beer that is pure Californian.  Not only is it brewed in California, but it also uses an old style of brewing that is representative of 19th Century California.  This old style of brewing produced what came to be known as "steam beer."  Now a days, the Anchor Brewing Company has trademarked the term "steam beer" and advertises it as "California Common."  Steam beer sounds cooler though.

On my recent trip to San Francisco, I happily drank Anchor Steam at every drinking occasion presented to me: at the San Francisco Giants baseball game, lobby bar of the Ritz, San Francisco Airport, in the park out of a brown bag, etc.  Speaking of the San Francisco Airport, they actually have the awesome Anchor Brewery Company Restaurant in Terminal 3.  Not only do they have fresh kegs of all the great Anchor Brewing Company brews, but they also have first-class food.  The Crab Melt was outstanding.  It tastes even better when you pair the Crab Melt with a fine brew from Anchor Brewing.  The Anchor Steam Beer is a logical choice, but if you are looking for a little more "zest", I recommend the Anchor Porter.  The rich, smoky, malt flavors of the porter give the Crab Melt a little more of a rustic backyard taste.  Either way, you won't go wrong.

The great news is Anchor Steam Beer and the many Anchor Brewing Company products are not just found in California, but also throughout the world!  In Chicago, you can find Anchor Steam at a decent amount of bars throughout Chicagoland, but the enthusiast in me says to go drink Anchor Steam at Twin Anchors Restaurant.

Anchor Steam Beer is Very Recommended by Gonzalo