Last evening, a few members of the Blue River Brewers Guild (sans Matt who is way too busy with year end projects at his work place and is in sore need of a pint or two for Christmas - take note Santa!) met around the dinning room table of one Dr. Todd Martin to break (liquid) bread before beginning the arduous task of bottling 10 gallons of IPA. And what was the ale of choice you may ask? As a Christmas gift to my fellow brewing brethren, I was able to return from an early Christmas celebration this past weekend with family in Nebraska with two growlers of fine seasonals from Upstream Brewing Company out of Omaha. One containing a tasty beer named Noel and the other, an equally quaffable beer named Ebenezer.
If you ever have the opportunity to be in the Omaha area, I would highly recommend Upstream Brewery, as I have yet to be disappointed with any of their beers. These two continue in that same vein. Both are a lovely dark brown to mahogany color and are very malty with the alcohol warming expected in Christmas beers. Both beers in fact seem to have the same malt profile and after much discussion and consensus by those around the table, probably are the same grain bill - the only difference being the noticeable spices added to the Noel - nutmeg and perhaps cinnamon? In either case, both are top notch beers and were wonderful for an evening of good fellowship with friends.
On a side note, after bottling the 10 gallons of IPA we rewarded ourselves with a Tank 7 from Boulevard Brewery - equally good. Check out earlier posts to see a review of Tank 7 by Matt.
This week is of course Christmas and M&B Brewing would like wish all a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. If you choose to celebrate the holidays with libation, please remember to drink responsibly - preferably M&B beers. Matt and I will be breaking the seal on the Blue River Brewers Guild's Grand Crue Belgian Strong Ale - a 10% ABV monster that has been cellaring for 6 months and is sure to warm the insides on a white Christmas night. Cheers to all!
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You two guys must be doin' to much drinkin' and not enuff bloggin'
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