
If you love craft beer, HAF is the must-attend Portland beer festival, in my humble opinion. Most of the beers are one-off creations brewed exclusively for the event. If you've never attended, check out my recap of last year's HAF. For HAF hours, location, and pricing, click here.
Every year, I create my personal tasting list before I attend. However, once I set foot under the big clear tent, my plans fall by the wayside. Anyway, I'll give it another shot this year. In case you're curious, here are the 10 beers I plan to taste. I'm not saying these are the best beers, or ones you should try. They're simply the ones that most appeal to me:
- Bourbon Barrel Naughty & Nice, 2 Towns Ciderhouse
- It Makes Reindeer Fly, Burnside Brewing
- Cherry Diesel, Cascade Brewing
- Oud Freakcake, Crux Fermentation Project
- Yule Goat, Deschutes Brewery
- Kronan the Bourbarion, Hopworks Urban Brewery
- St. Dorothy's Peach Cordial Ale, Laht Neppur Brewing
- Revelry Rye Ale, Lompoc Brewing
- The Twerking Elf, Stickmen Brewery
- Spiced Unicorn Mile, Stone Brewing
Have fun creating your own tasting list! If you'd rather not plan ahead, just head down to HAF and see what happens. This event was made for sampling. Cheers to another great year of holiday ales! See you under the big tent.
Brewery
|
Beer Name
|
Beer Style
|
ABV
|
IBU
|
Description
|
10 Barrel Brewing Co
|
Beernog
|
Spiced
Winter Ale
|
7.5
|
28
|
It’s
not eggnog, it’s beernog! This spiced winter ale is actually nothing like
eggnog, but you should drink it instead. Brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg,
allspice, rum-soaked raisins and cocoa nibs, this is a dangerously
easy-drinking winter ale.
|
2 Towns Ciderhouse
|
Bourbon
Barrel Nice & Naughty
|
Bourbon
Barrel Aged Spiced Cider
|
10.5
|
0
|
This
specialty cider is fermented with dark Meadowfoam honey and aged in Bourbon
barrels. Crammed full of cheerful winter spices that mingle with the wood and
sweet Bourbon aromas, this cider is sure to warm up your cold, dark nights.
|
Alameda Brewing Co
|
Long
Beard's Baltic Porter
|
Baltic
Porter
|
6.4
|
30
|
Brewed
just for the festival, this beer features a traditional malt base with a few
modern day adjustments. An addition of cherry wood smoked malt lends a warm –
almost sweet – smoke to the beer, while chocolate rye adds a nice spice, as
well as another layer, to the rich, dark malt base. This beer starts big and
sweet, transitions to roast and smoke with a slight alcohol burn, and
finishes smooth on the palate. Tettnang hops offer a classic hop spice, while
the smooth mouthfeel and nice clean finish are due to the extended
lagering.
|
Base Camp Brewing Co
|
White
Squall
|
Wheat
Wine
|
10.7
|
60
|
The
Base Camp brewers love a big, robust barleywine, but to really let their
house ale yeast shine, they created the White Squall Wheat Wine. A HUGE grain
bill showcasing white wheat spreads a deep blanket of malty goodness, with
layers of yeast-derived fruity esters and spicy phenols swirling through it.
The White Squall has shaped up to be one of their very favorite winter brews,
and they hope you'll love it as well!
|
Bear Republic Brewing Co
|
Santa’s
Lost Wallet
|
Specialty
Blend
|
10.8
|
34
|
In
the course of some off-season revelry at Bear Republic, Santa lost his wallet
at the bar. Upon recovery of the wallet, the team of brewers worked with the
visitor from the North to craft this dark and luscious blend of ales. The
base is a brandy barrel-aged Belgian brown ale that features the sweet notes
of brandy, house-made candi syrup, and a touch of nutmeg; blended for balance
with Bear Republic’s roasty Big Bear Black Stout and molasses-heavy Pirate
Stout.
|
BridgePort Brewing Co
|
Oak-Aged
Honey Porter
|
Porter
|
7.1
|
This
is a malt-driven beer with a jet-black hue and lots of roasty flavors. The
roastiness is complemented with honey, added to the kettle and in finishing.
The beer is aged on American white oak to give added flavors of caramel and
vanilla for a smooth finish.
| |
Burnside Brewing Co
|
It
Makes Reindeer Fly
|
Imperial
Rye Ale
|
8.3
|
29
|
When
the Burnside fellas got together to talk beer for the HAF, they agreed thy
had to make the perfect holiday brew: it had to be big, malty and unique.
They started with loads of rye and specialty malts and continued to fortify
with a reindeer's favorite treats; heirloom carrots from Prairie Creek Farms
in Joseph, OR, and raisins for sustained energy. So here it is, a beer so
special It Makes Reindeer Fly!
|
Cascade Brewing
|
Cherry
Diesel
|
Barrel
Aged Imperial Stout
|
11
|
50
|
This
barrel aged stout was brewed with chocolate and roasted malts, organic black
strap molasses and dark Belgian candi sugar, then aged for five months in
Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels on Papua New Guinea vanilla beans and blended
with cherries. Aromas of dark sweet chocolate, Bourbon, molasses and cherries
present themselves up front. Dark coffee and milk chocolate intermingle with
the roasted malts and dark molasses to finish with a slight Bourbon heat and
a lingering sweet dark chocolate and cherry sweetness.
|
Coalition Brewing Co
|
Shenanagins
|
Barley
Wine
|
9.8
|
70
|
Shenanigans
Barley Wine is complex yet approachable, big and bold yet highly drinkable.
Five different caramel malts provide a delightful malt sweetness and fruit
notes, displaying the full range of caramel colors from 15L all the way up to
140L. Northern Brewer and Willamette make up the hop profile. Warning: At
9.8% ABV, this beer may lead to mischief, high jinks and tomfoolery.
|
Collaborator
|
Collaborator
Hallucinator Blend
|
Specialty
Blend
|
7.7
|
31
|
The
base of this beer is Collaborator Hallucinator, brewed in the late spring of
this year and aged until the fall, when it was blended with a Cascade Brewing
blending beer that brings subtle Bourbon tootsie roll notes to this aged
malty old ale.
|
Columbia River Brewing Co
|
Hawaiian
Christmas
|
Imperial
Porter
|
8
|
45
|
This
British style Imperial Porter was made with the addition of chocolate and
fresh roasted coconut.
|
Crux Fermentation Project
|
Oud
Freakcake
|
Oud
Bruin / Flanders Style
|
10.5
|
35
|
Brewed
to the Oud Bruin style with orange and lemon zest, then aged in Makers Mark
barrels where the brewers added classic holiday fruits such as cranberries,
figs, dates and raisins. Paying homage to the fruitcakes granny used to make
with the only difference being, you won’t want to re‐gift this one!
|
Deschutes Brewery
|
Yule
Goat
|
Spiced
Brown Ale
|
5.4
|
33
|
This
limited release special ale is a celebration of Deschutes' creative freedom.
Aged one year in oak, the spiced brown ale underwent a secondary fermentation
with brett in whiskey barrels. Dark, dried fruit, spice, licorice notes and
the brett produced hints of cherry. This is a very limited release, enjoy it
while you can!
|
Dick's Brewing Co
|
Code
1081
|
Winter
Ale
|
8
|
70
|
This
recipe is a throwback to 1995, originally brewed by the late Dick Young
himself on the brewery’s initial three-barrel system. The brewing staff felt
that by recreating this recipe for the Holiday Ale Festival, they could
celebrate with friends and family and toast to Dick’s memory. This beer is a
heavily hopped ale with black and chocolate malts that give it a dark and
rich flavor.
|
Eel River Brewing Co
|
Gargantua
|
Imperial
Strong Ale Blend
|
11.5
|
80
|
Gargantua
is first and foremost, BIG. It starts out with an Imperial strong ale that's
aged on vanilla for a little holiday twist. It's then blended with Eel
River's Bourbon barrel aged version of its Triple Exultation Strong Ale to
bring in notes of oak and whiskey.
|
Elysian Brewing Co
|
Doom
|
Golden
Treacle Pale
|
7.4
|
67
|
Doom
is the delicious aftershock, a variation on Sextacula, the beer brewed for
Elysian's 15th anniversary. It’s a giant tremor of a pale ale, brewed with
pale, Biscuit, Cara-Hell and C-15 malts, with oats and additions of golden
syrup and golden raisins. German Magnum hops were used to bitter, while
generous amounts of prized Citra and Nelson Sauvins lend flavor and aroma
through late additions and two dry-hoppings. The vintage edition was brewed
in November 2012.
|
Firestone Walker Brewing Co
|
Luponic
Merlin
|
Oatmeal
Stout
|
5.5
|
30
|
This
wonderful roasty oatmeal stout has been infused with a combination of Citra,
Centennial and Simcoe hops. This is a one-time only beer made just for the
Holiday Ale Festival.
|
Fish Brewing Co
|
Gingerbread
Ale
|
Red
|
5
|
21
|
This
is an ideal winter red ale to enjoy on a cold afternoon. Fish Tale’s
Gingerbread Ale will remind you of grandma’s cookies during the holiday
season. Well-balanced Apollo and Palisade hops combine with crystal and
Munich malts. Add to that, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon, and you have
a Christmas ale even Santa can’t resist.
|
Fort George Brewery & Public House
|
Hogfather
|
Imperial
Porter
|
8.2
|
The
mythical Hogfather flies across Discworld once a year delivering presents,
this year gracing all with a bold, black Imperial Porter that bears his name.
Brewed at Fort George, where they believe that there is always time for
another last minute and their inner child has never met its inner babysitter.
At 8.15%, this beer can help you get to the place where the falling angel
meets the rising ape.
| |
Gigantic Brewing
|
The
Scut Farkus Affair
|
Holiday
Ale
|
7.5
|
70
|
This
is Gigantic’s tribute to its favorite Hammond, Indiana Strong Man (He had
yellow eyes...yellow eyes! So help me God, YELLOW EYES!). This is a malty and
hoppy red beer, brewed with Haribo gummy bears and English toffee to
celebrate the season.
|
Gilgamesh Brewing
|
BAHS
|
Barrel
Aged Strong Ale
|
8.1
|
15
|
This
is a Scottish influenced strong ale, aged in Burnside Bourbon barrels. Bread,
caramel and roasted notes, complemented by charcoal, cinnamon and oak, lace
the palate.
|
Golden Valley Brewery
|
Santa’s
Smokin’ Bock
|
Rauchbock
|
7
|
24
|
This
smoked lager was inspired by the Rauchbiers of Bamberg, Germany. Santa’s
Smokin’ Bock was brewed using more than 60% beechwood-smoked malt, hopped
with whole flower Tettnanger and Hersbrucker hops, and lagered for five
weeks. It tastes like cuddling by a toasty festooned fireplace, in a glass.
|
Hop Valley Brewing Co
|
The
Wolfe
|
English
Style Barleywine
|
9.8
|
80
|
Simpson
Golden Promise, Caralight and Bairds Carastan malts provide this beer its
deep golden hue and depth of complex malt flavors. The English WGV and
Willamette hops balance it out, giving it a classic English hop character.
Hop Valley's first barleywine, The Wolfe is prime for winter sippin'!
|
Hopworks Urban Brewery
|
Kronan
the Bourbarian
|
Bourbon
Barrel Aged Baltic Porter
|
9.2
|
25
|
Deep
like the Baltic Sea and as massive as the Swedish ship Kronan sunk in its icy
waters, this Bourbon barrel-aged Baltic porter is like a buried treasure.
Stowed away in a Bourbon barrel for six months, this beer now brings to the
surface a frothy tan head and rich aroma combining malt notes of chocolate,
caramel and dark fruit with the essence of vanilla, smoke and oak. Half of
the inventory was aged on organic hand picked sour cherries from Hood River;
the other half was aged on Bourbon organic vanilla bean. Made big and bold
with a smooth lager finish, Kronan the Bourbarian is as rich and strong as an
Austrian actor, but with more complexity.
|
Kells Brew Pub
|
Fruit
Cake Ale
|
Imperial
Brown Ale
|
6.7
|
44
|
Finally
two Irish favorites in one: a pint and a cake! Irish fruit cake is one of the
holiday staples of the country, with nuts and dried fruit mixed into the cake
to give every bite a variety of flavors. This ale is brewed with the same
idea in mind: a wide range of hops were used, some adding fruity notes and
others acting as spices. The malt helps add the nutty quality and sweetness
in this scrumptious brown ale. This is one fruit cake that won’t get
tossed!
|
Lagunitas Brewing Co
|
High
West Whiskey Barrel Aged Cappuccino Stout
|
Stout
|
12.5
|
30
|
Brewed
with boatloads of roasted coffee in each batch for that extra Krunk, this
mondo coffee stout will leave you wondering whether you're coming or going.
Then the brewers decided to age it in some High West Whiskey barrels, just in
case the coffee didn’t wake you up.
|
Laht Neppur Brewing Co
|
St.
Dorothy's Peach Cordial Ale
|
Strong
Ale
|
8.8
|
18
|
St.
Dorothy of Caesarea is a patron saint to both brewers and fruit orchards,
making her a fitting tribute to this strong amber ale. In addition to real
peaches and concentrated peach juice, a generous amount of honey, cinnamon
and nutmeg have been added to spice up the holiday season. Noble Tettnanger
hops add an underlying mild spiciness to round out the balance between malt,
fruit and alcohol.
|
Lompoc Brewing Co
|
Revelry
Red Ale
|
Specialty
Blend
|
8
|
This
custom blend takes Lompoc’s Big Bang Red aged in Big Bottom Whiskey barrels
with 80 pounds of sour cherries for nine months, and blends it with Big Bang
Red aged in Maryhill Winery Port barrels for 11 months. The resulting beer is
crimson in color, malty in body with notes of cherry and oak, and finishes
slightly tart.
| |
Mazama Brewing
|
Mazamanator
|
Doppelbock
|
9.9
|
30
|
A
Munich classic made local at Mazama, this doppelbock features big, sweet
toasted malt flavors upfront, with warming alcoholic cheer and a roasty,
toasty finish with just a hint of Noble hops. This strong lager is just the
thing for toasting the good health of your warmest friends on the coldest
nights.
|
McMenamins John Barleycorn
|
Mele
Kalikimaka Coconut Stout
|
Imperial
Stout
|
9
|
30
|
Christmas
in the Northwest might not be exactly green & bright. We may not see the
sun all day or the stars at night, but we can still enjoy a little island
life. Flaked coconut was added to mingle with lightly roasted chocolate
malts. This stout was then aged in whiskey barrels that once held McMenamins
Hogshead Whiskey. The result is a smooth, sweet stout with hints of oak and
vanilla flavors that mix perfectly with the coconut. Enjoy a pint and imagine
palm trees swaying in the breeze instead of the standard issue Doug Fir.
Mahalo!
|
Migration Brewing
|
Big
Sipper
|
Belgian
Dark Strong Ale
|
7.8
|
75
|
This
mahogany colored strong ale features a deep, layered body of chocolate, honey
and caramel malts coupled with choice Northwest hops. Big Sipper is fermented
with relatively neutral Belgian yeast that creates a restrained ester and
phenolic profile, allowing the malt and hops to shine bright like the big
dipper in the winter night.
|
Natian Brewery
|
McGuinness
|
Imperial
Milk Stout
|
9.2
|
This
roasty black ale was brewed with unfermented lactose to give the flavor
profile a rich creaminess. It was then aged on Kahlua soaked Oregon oak;
Kahlua is a liquor made with Arabica coffee beans that impacts the roasted
malt and coffee flavors with a mild sweetness that blends well with the
silkiness imparted by the lactose.
| |
New Belgium Brewing Co
|
Barrel
Aged Cascara Quad
|
Barrel
Aged Quad
|
10
|
33
|
This
is a dark, strong and surprisingly delicate ale made with dates and coffee
cherries. Channeling the Trappist tradition, it’s brewed with an ethereal
malt bill and spiced with the fruit of the coffee bean (cascara). The aroma
brings dates, cherries and pipe tobacco right to the nose and builds layers
with hints of spice and fruity Belgian yeast. Once on the palate, Cascara
Quad starts swinging clove, fig and molasses. Each sip offers sweet warmth,
deep complexity and fleeting dryness.
|
Ninkasi Brewing Co
|
Belgian
Single
|
Belgian-Style
Single Ale
|
5
|
20
|
Think
Session Tripel: This beer features all of the flavor, finesse, smoothness and
subtle clove esters of a Belgian style tripel, at a drinkable lower alcohol
level.
|
Oakshire Brewing Co
|
Swiss
Mrs. Alpine Alt
|
Milk
Chocolate Sticke Alt
|
7.8
|
30
|
Swiss
Mrs. is a Sticke Alt, a darker and strong variation of a traditional German
Altbier. This version was mashed with toasted marshmallows – of course – and
has a small addition of lactose and cocoa nibs in the kettle and bright tank
for a full flavored and indulgent finish.
|
Old Town Brewing Co
|
Pa
Rum Pum Pum Pum
|
Rum
Barrel Aged Old Ale
|
7.5
|
40
|
This
old ale is fit for a king, so in his honor, the poor boys at Old Town lay
before you the finest gifts of dark caramel, toffee, and raisin malt flavors.
Dark rum and oak notes from the barrel aging keep time and drum up the
layered character of this ale. If you’re a poor boy too, sing along: Come,
they told me, Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum.
|
Oskar Blues
|
Black
Mamba
|
Dunkel
Weizen
|
5.6
|
20
|
Roast
malts, crystal malts and a copious amount of wheat were used to make this
dark wheat beer fermented with Andechs Weizen yeast. Malt aromas blend nicely
with banana and clove aromas and flavors.
|
PINTS Urban Brewing Co
|
Hibernator
|
Weizendoppelbock
|
7.6
|
18
|
Brewed
especially for the Holiday Ale Festival, this Weizendoppelbock won’t leave
you rolled up in a ball with a big smile on your face until spring arrives.
Then again, maybe it will… Brewed with all German malts, hops and yeast, the
wheat malt provides the basis for the beer (and great head retention), while
Pilsner, Munich and dark caramel malts make up the rest of the rich, malty
and sweet profile. German Magnum hops contribute to the sense of spiciness
alongside the phenolic clove note from the authentic Bavarian Hefeweizen
strain, which also imparts the classic banana fruitiness to the brew.
|
Rock Bottom Brewery
|
You’ll
Shoot Your Eye Out Kid
|
Helles
|
4.8
|
25
|
Just
shut up, put on the bunny suit, and have another helles.
|
Rogue Ales & Spirits
|
Big
Ass Rye Strong Ale
|
Strong
Ale
|
7.5
|
73
|
Big
Ass Strong Rye is a big, American ale dedicated to Rogue's Dream rye, grown
on its farm in Independence, OR. The generous amount of rye gives this beer a
thick body. It was subtly spiced and then aged 60 days in a Rogue Big Ass
white oak barrel to round out the Meridian and Rogue Liberty hops and Rogue
roasted chocolate malt.
|
Seven Brides Brewing
|
Blonde
in a Bottle
|
Belgian
Golden Strong
|
8.75
|
30
|
Fermented
with Belgian strong ale yeast, this beer pleases with mild Belgian notes and
a golden straw hue. What lies beneath is the conditioning tank addition of
fresh ginger. The spicy nature of this root will greet the palate as one
taste slides into another. Ginger always wanted to be a blonde, and this
winter, she went for it!
|
Slanted Rock Brewing Co
|
Panty
Hose Porter
|
Imperial
Baltic Vanilla Porter
|
8.4
|
28
|
While
brewing one afternoon, the brewers realized there were no grain bags
available…improvisation being the mother of invention, a fresh pair of panty
hose were the savior to the flavor and gave the brew a signature touch. Panty
Hose Porter features a distinctive aroma of caramelized sugars and
chocolate-like characters of roasted malt and dark sugars. Using Madagascar
Bourbon vanilla bean in the process added a rich, dark and creamy flavor. A
very low hop aroma with still a hint of floral sweet hop complements the
flavors without overpowering the chocolate goodness.
|
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers
|
Erotic
Cake
|
Chocolate
Milk Stout
|
6.8
|
20
|
This
black as night chocolate milk stout was brewed and dry-hopped with TCHO cocoa
nibs.
|
Stickmen Brewery & Skewery
|
The
Twerking Elf
|
Northwest
Sour Brown
|
7.2
|
21
|
Experimental
and debuting at the Holiday Ale Festival, this beer will get your cheeks
moving with nicely puckering notes of dark cherry, dried fruit and sour plum,
along with malt backing from Vienna, Pilsner and seven other specialty malts.
Be careful where you shake it!
|
Stone Brewing Co
|
Spiced
Unicorn Milk
|
Chai
Milk Stout
|
7.5
|
30
|
This
luscious, smooth and subtly sweet stout is flavored with chai spices that add
amazing flavors and complexity. Originally brewed on Stone's 20-gallon pilot
system, the brewers liked it so much, they spent a day at Stone Brewing World
Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station, brewing it specifically for the Holiday
Ale Fest. It is brewed with seven different grains and Columbus and Chinook
hops. Lactose is added to add extra body and sweetness, while a blend of six
spices, including cinnamon and cardamom, and black tea were added to provide
the chai flavor.
|
Vertigo Brewing
|
Barrel
Aged Polar Blast
|
Barrel
Aged Vanilla Porter
|
8.6
|
22
|
This
is a bigger, bolder version of Vertigo’s Arctic Blast Vanilla Porter, blended
with dark chocolate liqueur and aged in seven-year-old Big Bottom Whiskey
straight Bourbon white oak barrels. This beer brings a strong chocolate and
caramel malt presence that is balanced with mild charred oak and Bourbon
notes with a hint of vanilla from both the Madagascar beans and the white oak
barrels.
|
Viking Braggot Co
|
Winter
Squash Porter
|
Braggot
|
7.8
|
38
|
Winter
Squash Porter is truly a winter braggot. The combination of a strong malt
profile and turnip honey provides the backbone to highlight the winter squash
flavor. This unique taste is achieved by the brewers hand carving and
roasting 150 pounds of winter squash to be added to the mash. Chinook,
Cascade and Willamette hops, as well as herbal and spice additions, provide a
unique taste and aroma.
|
West Highland Brewing
|
Highland
Spiced Ale
|
Spiced
Ale
|
8
|
30
|
Spiced
with cinnamon, ginger, vanilla and maple, this ale nicely complements any
holiday dessert. Using harvest apples to round out the flavor, the brewers
crafted this 8% ABV ale to warm your soul as you gather with friends and
family through the winter holiday season.
|
Widmer Brothers Brewing
|
Biere
de Noel
|
Biere
de Garde
|
9.5
|
41
|
Biere
de Noel is Widmer Brothers' take on the Biere de Garde style, brewed with
caramelized raisins and brown sugar to celebrate the holidays. This unique
winter warmer offers a caramel and toasted malt backbone with notes of port,
dried fruit and a slightly sweet finish making for a great holiday brew.
|
My key words this year will be,Bourbon,Strong and Barleywine. Oh,and Rum,Big Ass and...well maybe I'll just taste them all !! Can't wait to see what the limited pours will be too.
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