We promised that we’d have something even better than the fantastic Generous Gin, and we do. It’s a strange one, which we guess is the niche high-quality gin is fine falling into. It is, however, a wonderful gin that is unlikely to be akin to something you’ve had before in your G&T.
The Mad Elf: 5.5 – Has a bit of an ESB style beer to it, but it’s overall a very unique Christmas style ale – leaning heavily on the cinnamon and clove and other spices. The bit of cherry to this is what makes it a little more than just a pure xmas spice beer – though it still suffers from the fate of really only wanting like 1 of these a season.
Price Average: $18 for 6-pack
Website: https://troegs.com/
Earlier in the year we had tried the other side of this coin in the Song of Ice whiskey, and it was (thanks to a rusty nail) well received, and we wanted to make sure to grab a bottle of this to tell people what to buy before this is likely gone. However not everyone can win the game of thrones, and this is by far the weaker of the two.
Straight To The Noggin: 5.0 – Make no mistake, you know why you bought this beer – or why you would. It’s because the idea of an eggnog beer is quirky enough to try – regardless of what we’ll say. What we say is that it very much feels like a combo of nutmeg, eggnog, and a white ale. What we’ll also say is that while that combo is true – it just feels wrong. Not in the ‘oh chocolate is so bad for I’ll have another piece though’ more in the ‘your brewers were so busy thinking if they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should’ kinda way.
Price Average: $9 for 4-pack
Website: https://shipyard.com/
As we head into Week 2 of Gincember? (working title) we have some confusion – so to simplify this. New Amsterdam has decided to label both of their gins under the moniker ‘Stratusphere’ with a version that is called ‘The Original’ and this ‘London Dry Gin’. A London Dry typically involves a slightly different process, and a higher proof. There is something slightly odd afoot though because at first blush this seems more like the old version (with a bit of kick)
DDH Light Speed: 6.0 – That bit of citrus really helps a lot here because this is one hoppy bastard. It thankfully leaves with an aftertaste of said orange citrus in your nostrils, but ther overall bitterness from the double dry hopping is a step too far from it being great.
Price Average: $14 for 4-pack cans
Website: https://www.tgbrews.com/
Le Seul XVII: 7.5 – Pineapple and watermelon – well sure, but don’t for a second think this wild ale will be like other beers that state things like pineapple and/or watermelon on the bottle. This thing is bonkers tasting, and sure you certainly get more pineapple like it’s coming out of your ears, but this truly tastes unlike any other ‘fruit + beer’ combo than you’ve likely had, and for those that care for it – a dream.
Price Average: $14
Website: https://www.uneannee.com/
So as we get close to Christmas time we decided to do some further reflections on gin, so this will be week 1/3 in gin reviews, and the spirit of the season has graced us with something excellent. Beyond that and we truly mean this as well – as good as this is – there is another. (#StarWarsTLShype)
