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Beer Advent Calendar – Day 30: Redhook Saturnaleia presented by Ryan and Jen

@thirstynobeard
Redhook Saturnaleia Tap

Beer Advent Calendar – Day 30: Redhook Saturnaleia presented by Ryan and Jen

To celebrate the Holiday Season, 2Beerguys.com and Seacoastbeveragelab.com have teamed up with beer bloggers around the country to host the first annual beer bloggers advent calendar. This is the season of sharing and we intend to share our love of beer with you. 31Bloggers Blogging – click here for the running list of beers/bloggers.

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Commercial Description:
“Saturnalia is a Double/Imperial Red. Approximately 8% alcohol by volume. 85-90 IBU’s. Deep red color. Nitroginated on draft.” –Red Hook

Details:

  • Style: Double Red Ale
  • ABV: 8.3%
  • IBUs: 80
  • Hops: Uses Amarillo, Mt. Hood, Cascade, Galaxy, Sterling, Centennial, Chinook, and Simcoe hops.
  • Malts: Brewed with two-row, English, Crystal malts and Floor Malted Crystal.
  • Original Gravity: 19.64°
  • First Brewed: 2008
  • Availability: Available on draught in Redhook’s backyard markets: Portsmouth’s Cataqua Pub and a handful of bars and restaurants in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

 

Ryan and Jen from 2Beerguys.com

Why we selected the Saturnaleia from Redhook Brewery:

If you were a fly on the wall at Redhook Brewery on the Thursday before Christmas, this is what you may have overheard as my wife Jen and I sampled their Saturnaleia on tap:

Jen: “Ryan, are we pagans? Saturnalia is a Roman Festival celebrated in December in honor of the god Saturn. What would our Priest say?”

Ryan: “I think he would quote Ben Franklin, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

Jen: “Oh good, because this beer is fantastic!”

Seeing that Redhook’s Saturnaleia was named for a Roman festival that was rife with tomfoolery, it’s just fitting that I be responsible for presenting the beer, Jen’s helping me to stay on topic and the best company I could have to experience it.

Jen, not being all too familiar with red ales thought is was “hoppy like an IPA, and pretty darn smooth for the 8.3% ABV it claims”. We shared an order of pork potstickers with a side of apple infused sweet chili sauce that had a nice hot kick to it that paired nicely with the hoppiness of the Saturnaleia.

Redhook Mug

The beer poured dark amber and thinking back to the first time we partook of it, the lingering tan head became the pillow upon which we perched a scrumptious chocolate chip cookie. It’s sweet and creamy on our tongues but leaves a smooth hop bitterness that lasts for a few seconds after swallowing our mouthful. This Double Red makes me wish it’s more than just a seasonal, akin to our son, Patrick’s elf on the Shelf he named Buddy. I understand that sometime this winter, Saturnaleia will leave us as Buddy did on Christmas Eve. But we eagerly will look forward to their return again next year.

Redhook Taps

About 2Beerguys.com and Craft Beer Education:

Founded in 2006, 2Beerguys.com has been devoted to spreading their passion of the craft beer world. Originating primarily as craft beer reviewers, they have molded their organization into premier craft beer educators and ambassadors for craft beer industry. Their passion has taken them on the wild ride of home brewing and beer education.
2Beerguys.com believes that you deserve a good beer, visit http://www.2beerguys.com for more information.
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The Craft Beer Education Series was developed to provide a fun, interactive beer tasting experience. CBES combines general beer education, style-specific education, and an introduction to beer tasting, along with eight tasty beer samples to practice your newly honed skills on! http://www.craftbeereducation.com

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About Redhook:
Redhook was born out of the energy and spirit of the early 80s in the heart of Seattle. While the term didn’t exist at the time, Redhook became one of America’s first “craft” breweries. From a modest start in a former transmission shop in the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, to the current breweries in Woodinville, Wash., and Portsmouth, N.H., Redhook has become one of America’s most recognized craft breweries. While Redhook has “grown up” during the past 30 years, one thing has never changed – Redhook is still brewing great beers like ESB, IPA, Copperhook, Pilsner and seasonal brews. Most importantly, Redhook makes sure to have fun doing it. Redhook’s beers are available both on draught and in bottles around the country. For more information, visit http://www.redhook.com

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