The Beer List for the WA Winter Beer Fest

Here it is. The long-awaited list of beers for the Washington Winter Beer Festival. Advance tickets for this weekend’s event are already sold out. There will be a few tickets at the door.

There is a lot of interesting stuff on the list this year. I am particularly interested to try the Breakfast Cereal Killer Stout from Big Time Brewery. It was brewed using (among other things) real breakfast cereal – Lucky Charms, Cheerios, Coco Puffs, etc. Of course Black Raven Brewing has some amazing stuff on their list. Also, Elysian is bringing a whole bunch of different beers. Not necessarily a winter beer, but Boundary Bay Brewing is bringing their Imperial IPA. Can’t go wrong there. So much beer, so little time?

So what piques your interest?

Airways Brewing, Kent


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Chocolate Mint Stout

Rich, dark chocolate and a hint of mint blended into a sweet stout base. 35 IBU 5.7% ABV


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Ol’ Wooden Hag

Our Sky Hag IPA aged on toasted American oak with hints of vanilla and wood. 99 IBU 7.8% ABV

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American Brewing, Edmonds

Winter Classic

A Strong Ale that is dark chocolate brown to almost black in color. Eight specialty malts contribute to its full-bodied sweetness. Piney flavors and aroma from the hops are evident but balanced with a complex malty caramel-chocolate sweetness. A longer aging process contributes to the deep richness of this ale. 80 IBU 8.2% ABV

Brave American Brown

An American Brown Ale that is a deep coppery-brown ale and has a toasty caramel flavor with an evident, but not overpowering, hop aroma. There is a well-balanced bitterness that doesn’t linger but transitions to a very clean finish with just a subtle hint of citrus from dry-hopping. 65 IBU 6.5% ABV

Breakaway IPA

This American Style India Pale Ale is a true Northwest IPA; a big, bold hop aroma with floral and citrus notes greets you. Its dark honey color is a bit hazy due to dry hopping. There is a medium intense hop bitterness that doesn’t linger and is well balanced with a citrusy (grapefruit), malty sweetness. Your senses score big time with this IPA! 90 IBU 7.2% ABV

 

Anacortes Brewery, Anacortes

Klosterbier

Originally brewed at the Anacortes Brewery under the guidance of the visiting Brewmaster of Kalt Loch Brewery in Bavaria, this beer is modeled after a dark lager brewed by Kalt Loch for the Engelberg monastery. Our version uses Perle hops and a portion of apple wood smoked malt. 1.056 OG 35 IBU 5.3% ABV

Noel Winter Beer

Noel Winter Ale – Brewed to celebrate the holiday season, this winter warmer uses various aromatic specialty malts and has a prominent hop character from mild American Noble varieties. 1.075 OG 45 IBU 7.0% ABV

 

Big Time Brewing, Seattle

Breakfast Cereal Killer Oatmeal Imperial Stout

Our Coffee Chocolate Oatmeal Imperial Stout brewed with 6 different breakfast cereals, Theo coco nibs and Stumptown Roasters coffee. Breakfast in a glass!  OG 22.4 Plato ( 1.089 ) 8.7% ABV

Yulefest Holiday Ale

This malty winter warmer is a real crowd pleaser. Features Galina and Mt Hood hops, brown sugar and lots of caramel malts. OG 17.4 Plato (1.070) 6.7% ABV

 

Black Raven Brewing, Redmond

Kitty Kat Blues – Blueberry/Vanilla/Catnip Nitro Pale

This pale ale was birthed out of a sleepless night. After being kept awake listening to a cat howling, the following workday was very tiresome. We had the blues ya’ll, the kitty kat blues. So this pale ale is a tribute to an annoying little gray cat. Despite the story itself, this blueberry, vanilla and catnip pale has a very sweet ending. 5.9% ABV

Bourbon Barrel La Petite Mort – Belgian Style Dark Ale

“La Petite Mort” means “a little death” in French.  What’s a little death if it comes in this form?  Well worth it we think.  La Petite Mort was released on July 14, 2012, Bastille Day, and quickly sold out.  Luckily the brewers racked some over into bourbon barrels and set it aside to become Bourbon Barrel Aged La Petite Mort. 8.8% ABV

 

Boundary Bay Brewery, Bellingham

Barrel Aged Old Bounder Barley Wine

A rich full-bodied barley wine with a smooth caramel sweetness. Aged in Dry-Fly Distillery barrels for nine months. Hints of bourbon, oak and vanilla. It has subtle hop character. 1.100 OG 9.6% ABV

Cabin Fever Winter Ale

Specifically brewed and bottled for the Pacific Northwest winters, this winter warmer’s dark red brown color and rich malty flavor will complement any rich, hardy meal. However, It’s cold conditioned, smooth and dry hopped flavor, it is very satisfying all by itself. 1.072 OG 7.2% ABV

Imperial IPA

A full-bodied, copper colored India Pale Ale with a fairly strong alcohol content and an aggressive fresh hop quality. 1.086 OG 9% ABV

 

Brickyard Brewing, Woodinville

Kiln Warmer

Full bodied and toasty – British Malt, Special B, and Chocolate Malt accentuated with the things that make you warmer in the winter – whole peppercorns, vanilla bean, orange peel and aniseed. 7% ABV

 

Chuckanut Brewery, Bellingham

Chuckanut Schwarz

Schwarz Bier is a black beer similar to an Irish stout combining bitterness with dry coffee like roasted flavors on a medium to light frame. Smooth and clean with a crisp finish, this is a real winter beer. OG 12.5 plato 25 IBU 5% ABV

Chuckanut Smoke Porter

Chuckanut makes a smoke porter that carries the roasted malt and smoky flavor with grace and a clean smooth finish. Bitterness is nicely balanced against malt flavors and sweetness. At less than 5% ABV porters are not nearly as fearsome as they appear and are particularly seductive on chilly evenings, especially when they use smoked malts! OG 12.5 plato 30 IBU 4.8% ABV

 

Diamond Knot Craft Brewing, Mukilteo

2012 Ho!Ho! Winter Ale

A robust ‘winter warmer’ ale, ruby brown in color with a slightly sweet, fruity nose. Very hoppy, yet balanced with a sturdy malt foundation. OG 17.5° P 60 IBU 8.5% ABV

2011 Ho!Ho! Winter Ale

Last year’s version of this robust ‘winter warmer’ Ale. Try them side by side.

 

Elysian Brewing, Seattle

Valhalla Red IPA

Fill your horn with this hoppy red IPA of pale, Special B and just a pinch of roasted barley, bittered with Sorachi Ace and finished with rare Citra hops.  70 IBU 7.5% ABV

Bifröst Winter Ale

Strong, hoppy and smööth. Brewed with pale malt and small amounts of Munich and Crystal malts. Bittered with Simcoe and finished with Amarillo, East Kent Goldings and Styrian Goldings hops. OG 18.4° Plato 7.6% ABV

Arboreal Chestnut Brown

Brewed with Pale, Crystal, Munich, Carahell, Cara-vienne and chocolate malts, and 12% chestnut flour in the mash. Bittered with earthy Fuggle hops.  OG 14.1° (1.057), ABV

Elk Frost

Brewed with Maris Otter pale, Crystal 77, Crystal 45, Black, and Cara Red malts. Bittered with Magnum and finished with Amarillo and Styrian Goldings. 8.1% ABV

The Dread Imperial Stout on Cask

Brewed with pale, C77, chocolate, roasted barley, black and flaked rye malts with fifty lbs of sugar. Bittered with Magnum and finished with Chinook hops, oak aged, then conditioned on Buffalo Trace Bourbon soaked vanilla beans. OG 23.1°, 75 IBUs 9.6% ABV

 

Fish Brewing, Olympia

Fish Tale Organic Winterfish

With a snappy hop character, this isn’t just another brown beer masquerading as a seasonal. This is hearty fare brewed for the season of celebrations. Enjoyed at ease with friends and food, Winterfish will put a glow in the cheeks and warmth in the veins. 70 IBU 7.5% ABV

Leavenworth Bakke Hill Black Lager

It has an opaque, black color and a full, chocolaty or coffee flavor with a hint of vanilla. It is a light to medium-bodied, malt-accented dark brew, very opaque and deep-sepia in color, with a chewy texture and a firm, creamy, long-lasting head. In spite of its dark color, it comes across as a soft and elegant brew that is rich, mild, and surprisingly balanced. 25 IBU 5% ABV

Spire Mountain Spiced Apple Cider

Spire Mountain Spiced Apple Cider is the perfect way to toast the flavors of Fall and transition through the Holidays. Made from ripe, zesty apples grown in the state of Washington, this holiday favorite is brewed with spices like cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. 5% ABV

 

Fremont Brewing, Seattle

Bourbon Abominable

Lovingly referred to by Fremonters as the B-BOMB, this bourbon barrel-aged edition of our winter ale has a warming spicy aroma and rich caramelly notes of bourbon, wood and vanilla added to dark roasty chocolaty malt flavors and subtle hopping. 9.5% ABV

Abominable Winter Ale

Dark, roasty, chocolaty malt flavors balanced by Noble hop aroma and subtle hoppy spice. Warm up to it. Don’t be scared to be Abominable.  8.0% ABV

Infused Dark Star Imperial Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout infused with Tony’s Coffee, smoked peppercorns, hazelnut, and medium toast oak. 8.0% ABV

 

Hale’s Ales, Seattle

Whiskey Wee Heavy

Blended American strong ales aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels. 7.5% ABV

Merlot Wit

Wheat beer fermented with a Belgian wit yeast aged in French merlot barrels. Tart & dry, with a bready merlot aroma and lingering oak tannin finish. 4.7% ABV

Cascade Mist Fresh Hop Extra Pale Ale

3lbs per barrel of fresh Amarillo hops, super limited session beer, we saved a wee bit to compliment this celebration of Washington’s winter beers. 4.6% ABV

 

Harmon Brewing, Tacoma

Steep and Deep

Five different malted barleys, combined with four different hop varieties to create this winter warmer ale. Flavors and aromas of bitter chocolate and hops come through to create a smooth and satisfying medium to full bodied brew. Steep and Deep finishes crisp, clean and dry just like the cool mountain air. 70 IBU 7.2% ABV

Pt. Defiance IPA

An IPA is brewed with 4 different malted barleys. Centennial, CTZ and Zythos hops provide the big hoppy flavor. Dry hopping with Amarillo hops provides this beer’s hop aroma. 70 IBU 6.1% ABV

 

Hood Canal Brewery, Kingston

Lilliwaup Dopplebock

A dark, semi-sweet lager with a big malt character and smooth, subtle caramel complexities. At 10% ABV, it is very drinkable. This is a limited edition winter seasonal. Get it while it while you can! 10% ABV

Zelatched Point Ale

Mix Dabob Bay IPA with Hood Canal’s delicious Breidablik Barley Wine and you get Zelached Point Ale, made special just for this occasion. Aromas of carmel, ripe fresh figs, pears, over-ripe apples, honey, and toasted nuts entice you before the first taste. Prominent hop and supportive malt flavors make this ale a great multi-dimensional beer with a thick and creamy body. 8% ABV

 

Icicle Brewing, Leavenworth

Chumsticke Alt

Like the mysterious highway that weaves and winds its way from Plain to Leavenworth, this full-bodied ‘secret’ alt will twist your taste-buds with a balance of hop bitterness and smooth chocolate, then bank flavors of roasted malt off your cheeks and finishes as fine as flannel. 8.5% ABV

Dark Persuasion German Chocolate Ale

Delicate dark chocolate with a whisper of coconut…You know you want it, go ahead and indulge. You can finally have German Chocolate cake and drink it too. There’s no need to be nervous, it’s just wickedly deep and full of flavor and desire. 6.5% ABV

Fist Full of Quarters Porter

When Donkey Kong isn’t trying to mash Mario, he’s homebrewing. Beer in barrels… wine not? We took our already award winning Priebe Porter and aged it in cabernet sauvignon barrels from 37 Cellars winery. A Robust American Porter that captures princesses AND palates with its rich aroma, strong malt character, and firm hop presence. 6.5% ABV

 

Iron Horse Brewery, Ellensburg

Mocha Death

Irish Death + espresso + cocoa. 7.0% ABV

Cozy Sweater

Vanilla Milk Stout 5.0% ABV

 

Issaquah Brewhouse, Issaquah

Frosty Frog

Our Winter beer brewed with 1 gallon of molasses and 1 pound of raisins per barrel. OG 18.9°P 94 IBU 8.5% ABV

Frosty Frog, Barrel Aged

Our winter beer, Frosty Frog, aged in Rogue’s Dead Guy whiskey barrels. OG 18.9°P 94 IBU 8.5% ABV

 

Laht Neppur Brewing, Waitsburg

Waitsburg Winter Warmer

Our spiced Amber Holiday Ale. Sweet orange peel, cloves, cinnamon, allspice and honey spread warmth and merriment. 8.2% ABV

Holiday Hefeweizen

This is our very popular Peach Hefeweizen married with a hint of honey and just a touch of spice. At 5.2% ABV why not have a whole mug and enjoy the celebration.

Laughing Boy Stout

Rich and robust is what this Russian Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels is all about. At 9% ABV it’s guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.

 

Naked City Brewery, Seattle

Bing Spiced Cherry Ale

An English Style Old Ale brewed with Lyle’s Black Treacle Syrup and aged on a blend of Washington Bing and Tart Montmorency cherries, cinnamon, and cloves. Mmmmmm, Christmas in a glass. 9% ABV

The Kentucky Dude

Our Big Lebrewski Imperial Cream Stout aged for 10 months in Heaven Hills Bourbon barrels. Rich, creamy mouthfeel and intense flavors of chocolate, whiskey and oak. 11% ABV

 

New Belgium Brewing, Seattle

Snow Day

Pleasantly hoppy, Snow Day carries the subtle chocolate and caramel flavors of a new brewing malt known as Midnight Wheat. The Styrian Golding, Centennial and Cascade hops bring the backbone of hoppy bitterness to complement the roasty undertones. This beer is the deep garnet of a roasted walnut and presents a creamy tan head, floating artfully atop. 55 IBU 6.2% ABV

Lips of Faith-Chocolate Coffee Stout

This is dark and rich, strong and roasty, and packed with Cafe Richesse espresso. Brewed with roasted barley and Midnight Wheat, the extra dark color is partnered with a firm pillow of mocha colored head. This malty imperial stout is spiced with fair trade cocoa nibs after fermentation for a nice chocolate flavor, and the coffee brings a pick-me-up zing for a full bodied and bold addition to the Lips of Faith series. 39 IBU 9% ABV

 

No-Li Brewhouse, Spokane       

Winter Warmer

Winter Warmer is brewed exclusively with locally grown Inland NW hops and barley sourced from within 300 miles of our brewhouse. This ruby red ale is lush and aromatic with a rich, malty flavor and contrasting spicy hop finish. 7.5% ABV

 

Born & Raised IPA

Copper colored ale showcases sweet malt profile contrasted against a substantial hop presence. Five kettle additions and Dry Hopping in the fermenter creates a full compliment of hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. The hop varieties used create a unique hop signature not found in most IPA’s. Grist: 2 Row Pale Malt, Carmel Malt and Munich Malt. Hops: Chinook, Cascade, Columbus. 7.0% ABV

 

Paradise Creek Brewery, Pullman

Paradise Spice

This rich brown colored ale with notes of maple, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, licorice and a hint of pepper will challenge your taste buds to a level not easily attainable yet robustly supported by a 10% ABV.

Over the Hop IPA

Our flagship IPA using the best Northwest malted barley and Yakima hops. This well-balanced beer showcases the products that the Northwest is known for. A hoppy but easy drinking IPA. 70 IBU 6.8% ABV

Blow-UP Blonde

Formally known as our Dirty Blonde, A hint of malty sweetness bounces right off a slightly hoppy start. 6.7% ABV

 

Pike Brewing, Seattle

Pike Auld Acquaintance

Festive and flavorful with delicious hints of orange peel, coriander, cinnamon and nutmeg. 5.0% ABV

Honey Moon Suite, Belgian Honey Ale

Brown in color. 150 lbs. of Honey from the Fairmont Hotel. 50 lbs. Dark Candi sugar. Bittering hop-Nugget, flavor and aroma hops-Aramis and Mt. Hood. Yeast is from the Westmalle Abbey (same as Monk’s). Low bitterness, honey flavor, esters from the yeast and a slight cocoa/coffee note from dark malts. 27 IBU 6.4% ABV

 

Port Townsend Brewing, Port Townsend

Winter Ale

Our Winter Ale is made of a

blend of pale, caramel, and chocolate malts with each contributing an interesting Malt character reminiscent of a traditional English Old Ale. We then add a NW twist by aggressively hopping this ale to provide contrast to the malty body. 65 IBU 7% ABV

Hop Diggidy

A classic NW style IPA, Hop Diggidy has a smooth pale malt background and a full round hop profile. Dry hopping insurers an aromatic and lasting hop finish. Our best selling ale. 70 IBU 5.9% IBU

Death Don’t Have No Mercy Imperial Scotch Ale

An exceptionally strong Scotch Ale brewed with the touch of heavy peated malt from the motherland. Cheers to a bad day gone worse! 25 IBU 9.7% ABV

 

Ram Brewery-Northgate, Seattle

Ol’ Mallwalker

A festive strong ale – also pouring a barrel-aged version aged in Dry Fly Whiskey barrels. 9.5%

DawgSled

A smooth and malty winter warmer, balanced with just enough hops. 7.0% ABV

S’no Angel

Our holiday weizenbock, rich and malty with hints of fruit and spice and everything nice. 6.8%

 

Redhook Brewing, Woodinville

Winterhook 28

This is the 28th consecutive year of an always-changing winter warmer. With loads of Munich malts and 12 hours of slow dry hopping, we’ve created a rich, dark amber ale that is slightly naughty and always nice. 2012 GABF Bronze Medal; 2012 GIB&CC Gold Medal. 45 IBU 6.0% ABV

Double Black Stout

Double Black is back and better than ever! This robust, creamy stout is brewed with Farm Direct Caffe Vita coffee, roasted and caramel malts, and plenty of hops. So dark, nobody will know what’s in your mug. 40 IBU 7.0% ABV

 

Reuben’s Brews, Seattle

Imperial Oatmeal Stout

Chocolate, coffee, smooth creaminess, complex roastiness. 8.4% ABV.

Imperial Rye IPA

Intense citrus, smooth bitterness, rye spice. 8.4% ABV.

 

Schooner EXACT Brewing, Seattle

Hoppy Holidays 2011 Vintage

A rich, malty beer with an assertive but balanced hop character. This beer greets you with hints of chocolate and dark fruits on the nose. Rich dark malts with chocolate undertones play over your tongue with a prevalent, earthy hop finish. 7.5% ABV

Hoppy Holidays 2012

A rich, malty beer with an assertive but balanced hop character. This beer greets you with hints of chocolate and dark fruits on the nose. Rich dark malts with chocolate undertones play over your tongue with a prevalent, earthy hop finish. 7.8% ABV

Hoppy the Woodsman

This bourbon barrel-aged beer gives off an aroma of malty-sweet chocolate with vanilla and oak undertones. Months spent aging in used bourbon barrels smooths this complex beer into waves of rich malt, dark pit fruit and vanilla oakiness. 9.5% ABV

 

Silver City Brewery, Bremerton

Winter Bock

A blend of five different German and domestic malts lend a deep, rich color and mild roast character to this classic lager. Silver City stores Winter Bock for five weeks at near freezing temperature, allowing it to mellow and become more refined with each passing day. 7% ABV

Old Scrooge Christmas Ale

Silver City Brewery is proud to present this limited bottling of our very own British style barley wine ale. Old Scrooge is a rich and malty ale with all the character of a fine wine. Intriguing notes of apple, cherry and apricot occur naturally as a result of its unique fermentation and extended aging. 8.5% ABV.

 

Two Beers Brewing, Seattle

Infused 20:20 Blonde

Our Blonde infused with dried currants, elderberry, lavender, and rose

Infused Evo IPA

Our IPA infused with a blend of 3 peppers, dried peaches, and dried mango.

Infused Jive Espresso Stout

Our Stout Infused with 3 different types of cacao nibs.

 

Wingman Brewers,  Tacoma

Rye Barleywine

Spicy Rye Malt makes for a delicious winter treat. 10% ABV

COCONUT+COFFEE+P-51 PORTER

Ya it’s good. 8% ABV

Sour Bourbon Cherry Stout

Cherry Stout soured with lactobacillus in a Woodinville Whiskey Barrel. 7.6% ABV

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