Lafayette Brewing’s Winter Warmer, 2011

Greg and company with a lot of volunteers put on another perfect evening of tasting to benefit Laura’s Kids. An instant sell-out. More good winter ales than ever before.

Christmas ales and the like at the Lafayette Brewing Winter Warmer (and nearby) – the short, short list.

• People's Ardelle Xmas – Thick xmas spicing. 6%.
• People’s Aberrant Amber – Same hop recipe as their IPA but in an American Amber. 5.4%.
• Sun King Buffalo Tipping – 9.7%
• Dogfish Head Olde School Stout (the first table upon entering the Warmer set the tone with a 15% stout.
• Bloomington Brewing Ole Floyd’s Belgian Dart Strong Ale
• Figure 8 Brewing Jumbo Love – 10%
• Upland Strawberry lambic 1009. Now heavy on cinnamon.
• Upland Bourbon Barrel Warmer
• Tippecanoe Homebrewing Circle Apple Imperial Stout
• THC Tam’s Dram Scotch Ale
• Half Moon Reggiewig’s Wee Winter Warmer
• Barley Island Christmas Ale – Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg.
• Lafayette Brewing Big Boris Barleywind – you pick the year.
• Brugge Brasserie Peach Kitty

The annual Keg Hold contest was won by Forrester 2:02 and for the umpteenth consecutive year, Linda Swihart with a 2:38.

  

And a panorama of course (click to biggify).

Lafayette Brewing's Winter Warmer 2010

And a good time was had by all.

Brad (not pictured here) won the Keg Hold men's division at 1:54.
Jessica Johnson took Linda Swihart's throne in the women's at 1:55.

Clay Robinson shows off a prototype for the Sun King cans to come.

Unfortunately none of Upland's Bourbon Barrel Aged Teddy Bear Kisses
made it past the jockey box due to an internal leak.

Going around the room we found lots of reasons to be at the Winter Warmer.

• Alcatraz Super Sledge - Plenty of alchol and plenty of floral. Maybe the Tanquery of beers.
• Power House Scottish – Smooth, chocolaty, and strong.
• Back Road Number 9 Barleywine – Served in a pin by a handpull. Pure essence of Barleywine.
• Brugge Brasserie Thunder Monkey – Spiced Belgian while the snow still falls.
• Broad Ripple Brewpub – Hopcicle – Quaffable. 7.7%. Lots of Summit. And still quaffable.
• Mad Anthony's Old Crippled Bastard – A colder and smoother Barleywine than #9. Married.
• Dogfish Head Palo Santo – 10%. 10,000 gallon rare South American vat. etc. etc.
• Lafayette Brewing Marley's VSOP – Another smooth and potent brew. Malt, Malt, Malt, Balance.
• Upland Banshee Strong Scotch Ale – Roughneck kilt-wearing malt liquor. 7.9%
• Sun King Tipping Point Belgian Dark - All but this 5 gallons is back in Indy aging in Buffalo Trace casks for an April release. Slow buildup to a bright brittle malt candy then a quick descent to the dark side.
• People's Brewing Mr. Brown – Brash 7% American Brown.
• Tippecanoe Homebrewers' Circle had many member's beers for tasting. Linda Swihart's Dos Diablos Damnit is a Triple with gobs and gobs of pale malt until the whole thing turns spicy.

Along the way, more IPAs, Barley Wines, Smoked Porters, and even a Gose.

The traditional brewer's picture