This is a little bit of an odd week for the blog. Typically we post a Whatcha Havin’ post on Friday, but this is a short week, and people are all over the place, so here is our Holiday version of the Whatcha Havin’ post. It is Thanksgiving week, and in my household that means the annual look for a good bottle of wine to have with dinner. I typically buy some Chablis or a Riesling. This year I am headed to the Boise Co Op to see what beer might go well with dinner. I’ll be looking for a nice pumpkin brew. I’d love to find the Autumn Maple by the Bruery, but believe it or not they don’t carry it in Idaho! I can almost throw a rock and hit the state of California, but they don’t distribute here. So it will probably be something a little more local and available.
I’ve also been thinking about vatting some wheat bourbons to try and make something grand for the holiday as well. I ‘m thinking of Old Fitzgerald and Rebel Yell, perhaps with a touch of Van Winkles Lot B thrown into the mix to try and achieve something truly special. But, Just in case I’ll probably pick up a nice Riesling as well.
So tell us your holiday beers and whiskeys or wines you are planning to have on the big day of thanks. It is sure to be a mixed bag and interesting. Let us know! Have a tremendous holiday, and if you are travelling be safe we want you all back here next week too!
-Jim and Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
I’m still up in the air. I’m kicking myself for not loading up on the Bruery’s Autumn Maple earlier, but I got wind that there might be a couple of bottles locally. I’ll have to investigate further.
If not that, then it’ll be a last minute decision. I’m pretty well stocked, so I have options. Probably a strong dark ale of some kind, like a St. Bernardus Abt 12 or something barrel aged to add a little bit of an oakey, boozy flavor to the big meal.
Pretty sure my football-watchin’ recovery beer will be something bright and hoppy, like a Stone IPA.
It is tough sledding for Jets fans right now! Those sound like good choices Jim. I have a couple of barrel aged brews right now I STILL have the Bourbon County Stout that I haven’t drank yet, and I have a Sam L Smiths I might break into as well. We’ll see, it is a long weekend so the possibilities are limitless.
Bourbon County Stout…yum! I’m thinking that I’ll have a couple of homebrews for sure. I might even crack a pumpkin ale that someone sent (as much trepidation as I have about this). I also bought a bottle of Beaujolais Noveau for us to have with friends.
Nate:
That sounds like a great line up. You can’t go wrong with your own home brew, and cmon…Pumpkin Ale…Hello, its Thanksgiving! That’s a no-brainer. The Wine sounds very good as well. Have a great one!
I really need to nip this commenting as someone else thing in the bud.
OK…Mike, What I just said, but put “Mike:” in front! LOL
Peter at http://www.simplybeer.com clued me into a beer store that had the Bruery’s Autumn Maple in stock, so I went and bought 5 bottles, four for me and the family and one for my buddy Frank. It’s a Thanksgiving miracle!
And of course not one for your brother Don!!! 😦
Who da Man! 🙂
What did ya think of Amanti Vino? Tiny beer selection, Huh? But, it is actually very selective.
@ Simply Beer: You da man!
The beer selection at Amanti Vino was tiny, but what they had was good, if not a little dusty. Funny thing is that as I expressed my happiness that they had Autumn Maple, the nice woman at the register said proudly “we have a great selection, don’t we?” I smiled and said yes, but I really wanted to tell her to visit the Liquor Outlet.
Of course if they had a rocking beer selection, they’d be busier, and all the beer geeks would have already guzzled down all my Autumn Maple.
Thanks again for the tip!
I have a a whole bunch of Elijah Craig Bourbon sitting in an oak barrel. we’ll be drinking that after dinner, maybe before dinner too. I’m amazed at how much better I like the oaky bourbon!
I just love this picture!!!!
http://pic.gd/be789f
I can see why you love that photo – who wouldn’t want their own branded barrel of hooch?!
The big question is what are you going to put in that barrel once it’s empty, Peter?
Beer of Course! I’m just seasoning the barrel right now, But I might as well enjoy it too.
That is awesome! I’m thinking of doing the same myself. I love the concept of double oaked bourbon. It tends to bring out a lot more flavor in a short abount of time. You must really like oaky bourbon, because the EC is already oaky flavored with 12 years in the barrel. I know you just got the barrel (or at least I think that was you) Did you fill it all the way with EC, or are you rotating the barrel? Let me know the difference in the flavor profile of the EC once you begin to tap into it.
Don’t get too excited, bourbon boy. He’s just suffering through the whiskey to prepare the barrel for beer. 🙂
Still, I think I’ll have a nip or two of Elijah Craig 12 myself tomorrow. As I’ve learned more about whiskey, I think it fits perfectly with turkey Day.
I detected no suffering in his comment. Is a matter of fact I think i heard joy and elation at the fact that he gets to enjoy some double aged EC. And just because I’m your brother I’ll tell you that if you add ice and a little water to the EC you might enjoy it a little better. It will tame the burn and bring out more barrel notes like old leather and tobacco. Very very nice! Also I would back it with a good IPA. Those flavors are amazing together. Arrogant Bastard should do nicely. That is my Thanksgiving tip to you! Enjoy.
Don, I’ve already tapped into a couple of times. I enjoy the intense oak in the bourbon.
I’ve been rotating a 10L barrel with 2250ml of bourbon To expensive to fill this puppy up. But they do have much smaller barrels.
Yeah, I’m following a friends blog where he got a 5 liter barrel to rebarrel some Very Old Barton 100 Proof. His took 6.5 750ml bottles. So you would be looking at about 13 to fill yours! That is a lot of bourbon. What is your thoughts on rotation and time in the barrel to condition it?
Jim, did you clear out the stock of that????? Please tell me you left one bottle and will let me know where this secret store is!!!! I…want…to…be…a…yam…man…too.
As to the post, hopefully I’ll be having something very strong as family events are rather stressful for me.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
It was at Amanti Vino in Montclair and I think they had 11. I took five, so there should be six left.
I’m actually amazed that you’re interested in this beer, as it is like a cousin to a pumpkin beer, and Don has made it quite clear how you feel about pumpkin beers!
But it’s a goodie, so I’m glad you’re interested. Good luck and have a great holiday, Scott.
I’m a little disappointed that my local store doesn’t have Sierra Nevada Celebration in yet. I had it last year for Thanksgiving. I’m thinking about having the bottle of Rogue Yellow Snow that I got the other day. That or one of the remaining bottles of Stone 090909 I have.
Hey Mike, don’t be disappointed, you have great choices there! Yellow Snow sounds great, and it is hard to go wrong with Rogue, and the Stone Vertical is a great choice too, but you may want to lay a couple of those down for a few years so they fully age. You may want to go to your store and see if they have any Autumn Maple from the Bruery. Supposed to be very good holiday brew. Whatever you choose, have a great day!
-Don
Yeah I want to age those 090909’s I might just pick another up from the store since they still have some.
Unfortunately the Bruery does not distribute down here yet or I would get that.
Helped a friend pick up a 5 gallon of Sierra Celebration Ale last night – so will be starting with some of that tomorrow. Then a bottle of Pinot over dinner – haven’t gone digging yet but will report back once a choice is made. Then depending on how the Giants play – will either be back over to beer or on to whisky – lots of it 🙂
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
Hey Jeff thanks! And the same back at you. I guess with a Pony Keg of Celebration Ale it is time for the Celebration to begin!! Hope he has a Kegerator to keep that puppy going through the holidays. I’ve been hoping the Giants put the breaks on their slide as well. Good last week, hopefully this week they can get past Denver. Break out a little. Have a great Thanksgiving!
-Don