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Beer Advent Calendar – Day 19: Telegraph Winter Ale presented by Zachary Rosen

@pairbeer, @TelegraphBrew

Beer Advent Calendar – Day 19: Telegraph Winter Ale presented by Zachary Rosen

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

Let’s see who is spreading holiday cheer today!

Blogger:  Zachary Rosen
Blog Name: Santa Barbara Craft Beer Examiner
Twitter: @pairbeer
Beer:  Winter Ale
Brewery: Telegraph Brewing Co., Santa Barbara, CA
Beer Details:

  • Style:  Winter Warmer
  • ABV:  6.5

Commercial Description:
Inspired by Mexican hot chocolate, Telegraph Winter Ale warms even the coldest of nights with its hints of cinnamon, allspice, and sweet ancho chilies. Using generous amounts of chocolate and caramel malts, we brew this beer in limited quantities as a special treat for our friends and families and to celebrate the holidays. Be sure to enjoy it cool, rather than cold, to fully appreciate its complexity.

 

Why I selected the Telegraph Brewing Co. Winter Ale:
My family tradition for Christmas is to make tamales. Actually, most holidays are just an excuse for us to spend the day cooking, eating, and of course…drinking. But with Christmas, it’s always tamales. Popping open a beer, we prepare the masa—a German Pils floral tones and subtle DMS note works well with the wafts of corn coming from the mixture. The bitter bite contrasts with the softness of the masa on your fingers. As we form the tamales, I can never help nibbling some of the filling. A Belgian Dubbel’s sweetness supports the beef chuck and enhances the meat’s spices. At this time, my dad will start preparing the salsas and that usually is a sign to start stepping up the beer. A double IPA is loud enough to drown out the blender blaring in the background. By the time the tamales are made and cooked we are definitely feeling the “holiday cheer”, and the room is afloat with good conversation and plenty of beer.

This year I won’t be able to return home for the holidays but Telegraph Brewing Co.’s Winter Ale always reminds me of those tamale moments. This beer is their take on Mexican hot chocolate and is brewed with vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, clove, and ancho chilies. Telegraph Brewing uses a house yeast that imparts a subtle Belgian character to each of their brews. The Winter Ale has a plummy dark fruit character that is laced with plenty of vanilla and just a hint of tartness. The cinnamon and chiles bring a nice warmth with only a touch of spiciness to heat you up in the winter weather. The clove and allspice lay underneath the other flavors, blending into them smoothly. The beer would make a wonderful addition to a plate of tamales with the vanilla grasping onto the masa’s texture and the malts and spices enriching the meat’s flavor.

About the Zachary Rosen:
Focusing on beers and events around Santa Babara, CA. http://www.examiner.com/craft-beer-in-santa-barbara/zachary-rosen

About Telegraph Brewing Company:
Telegraph Brewing Co. focuses on using local ingredients that are designed for Santa Barbara’s water while paying homage to California’s early brewers. Their beers are impossible to stylize due to their unique house yeast. The brewery is located in Santa Barbara’s self proclaimed “funk zone”; a multi-block area that is rich with culture and the arts. Telegraph Brewing lives up to the funk, producing phenomenal sour beers that take advantage of their proximity to Santa Barbara’s renowned wineries. www.telegraphbrewing.com

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