December 2nd, 2014
31 Beers of December – Day 2: Schells Snowstorm
@fnbarrett @SchellsBrewery
To celebrate the Holiday Season, we have teamed up with beer bloggers and craft beer enthusiasts around the country to host the fourth annual beer bloggers advent calendar. This is the season of sharing and we intend to share our love of beer with you.
During the 31 days of December, we will be sharing our favorite regional/winter seasonals/holiday beers with the help from our fellow beer bloggers. We hope that you tune in every day, to hear our stories and share our holiday cheer.
Schell’s Snowstorm – Snowless Snowstorm Is A Tasty One….. Again
Blogger: Frank Barrett
Blog Name: Getting Tanked With Frank (retired)
Twitter/Facebook/Untappd: @fnbarrett/fnbarrett/no Untappd as I don’t like proof of how much I drink after the bottles and cans are gone
Beer: Schell’s Snowstorm
Brewery: Schell’s Brewing, New Ulm, MN
Beer Details:
-Style: Grand Cru
-ABV: 6.5%
-IBUs: Mid-20’s per @schellbrewer
Commercial Description:
Much like snowflakes, no two Snowstorm beers are alike. Once a year, our brewmasters lock themselves in the testing room with a secret selection of fine malts and hops, only emerging when they’ve hit upon something truly extraordinary. Some of our past Snowstorm recipes, like Firebrick, proved so popular, we started brewing them year-round. Look for a special new batch of Snowstorm every season, available in November, December, and January or while supplies last.
Flavor/Color Profile:
Deep copper in color with an off white head. The aroma is a combination of fruity esters from the yeast complimented by the citrusy notes of coriander, orange, and lemon peel. This beer is deceptively lighter bodied, with a lively carbonation and subtle warmth from the moderate alcohol. Fruity notes from the yeast carry over into the flavor profile with hints of citrus and light chocolate and a lasting dry finish.
Why I selected the Schell Snowstorm:
Knowing Snowstorm should be on the shelves, I ventured out to brave the mindless masses Wednesday night, Thanksgiving-eve, to pick up my starter sixers of my favorite seasonal. Hitting my local spirits depository, I ran inside like an 8 year-old on Christmas morning sprinting to the tree to see the wonders Santa had left behind. I searched high and low, all over the store, and finding nothing finally gave in and asked the kid behind the counter where my Snowstorm was hidden.
“Snowstorm…..who is that made by?”
I scoffed at the question. “Schell’s” I replied in a put-off tone.
“I don’t know…..in a week?”
Perturbed at his lack of care for the line of work he’d chosen, I left the store. I’ve spent too much money on therapy dealing with my inability to stand stupidity to have this kid ruin my “days not-angry” streak. My quest for the ‘storm would have to wait until Friday. Black Friday.
Morning of the largest shopping day of the year was here, and my target was chosen: Beertopia in Omaha, NE. I grabbed my wife, jumped in my truck, and headed across the river. A quest of this magnitude required a co-pilot or partner in crime.
We arrived the location and no more than walked in, and there it was, right near the register. That glorious sight was enough to bring a man to tears, but all mine were used up for the year in seeing my Royals make the World Series. After making my purchase, we exited the store and headed for home, prized libation safely secured in a box on the back seat.
This year rather than pairing a Snowstorm with a Snowstorm, I tried my first one while enjoying some homemade spaghetti. The citrus/orange/lemon hints danced in unison with the pasta, and the subtle chocolate dash on the backend made every drink seem like a dessert chaser. I’m sure this beer would go great with almost anything, including another Snowstorm, and I look forward to spending the next month experimenting. Thanks again to the men and women of Schell’s Brewing Co for allowing a guy from SW Iowa to enjoy the culmination of all their hard work. Can’t wait to see what they come up with next year. And a special thank you to Ryan, Sean, & Ian for putting together the calendar and bringing us all together in beer again for another Holiday season.
Prost!
About Getting Tanked With Frank:
Getting Tanked With Frank was once a podcast about beer, but has been on indefinite hiatus for quite some time now. Frank now spends the majority of his time volunteering with various charities and his sons’ Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack. By day, he fights fires as an IT Engineer for hire. Visit http://www.gettingtankedwithfrank.com to follow my adventures.
About August Schell Brewery:
August Schell was born in 1828 in Durbach, Germany, located in the heart of the famous German “Schwarzwald,” otherwise known as the Black Forest region. August received an early education as a machinist/engineer but after a short time, became intrigued by the opportunities overseas. In 1848, August bid farewell to his mother and father, leaving his homeland in search of success in the United States.
August arrived in New Orleans and continued up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to Cincinnati where he worked as a machinist in a locomotive factory. It was here that he met the love of his life, Theresa Hermann. Theresa, also a German immigrant, and August wed in 1853.
In 1856, August, Theresa and their two baby daughters headed to Minnesota along with a group of fellow Germans known as the Cincinnati Turner Society. The Turner Society had heard from a group of German settlers in Southern Minnesota that their settlement was struggling to succeed. The two groups merged and formed the town of New Ulm. Visit http://www.schellsbrewery.com for more information.