The 12 Beers of Craftmas

 

Perhaps you've seen the Beer Advent calendars that are populating our feeds on social media as December rolls along. 24 or 25 craft beers, one every day until Christmas, the growing trend of Beer Advent calendars. I, not surprisingly, am currently in the middle of my 3rd Annual edition and love the opportunity to take a few moments every day to unwrap and enjoy a little treat every day during the holiday season. If you missed the start or found the task of that many days in a row to be unwieldy then maybe there's another way to join in the fun or get someone close to you a gift that lets them celebrate the season with great beer.
  There is nothing better than a present and if that present is Craft beer then all the more joy will be found. To make someone's Christmas season more festive, why not get them (or yourself) the 12 Days of Craftmas. Much like it's big sibling the Advent Calendar, it is a beer a day but only for the last 12 days before the big one and much less expensive as a result. Starting on the 13th of December if you want to finish on Christmas Eve or the 14th to end on the big day itself, open up a little gift after work or dinner and enjoy a few moments of peace in the most hectic of times. Give yourself permission to slow down and savour something, even if it's only for half and hour and one damn beer.
  The principle is the same and you can buy 12 beers on your own, wrap them up and surprise yourself every day you reach into the fridge or maybe you really want some suspense and we can take it up a notch. Since most tall boys of craft beer come in under $4, you can give your friend, partner, life coach or adult children $50 and ask them to go to the LCBO for you. Give them some instructions or none at all for a better experience and have them ask the staff for some help in finding the local craft section in the store and maybe for a few recommendations. Remember that if they don't know anything about craft beer you are likely to get few real interesting picks and that makes it even more fun if you ask me. Some people have used old Pringles cans to wrap the beers up in and that is a very cool idea, but with our limited time frame (it's December 11th as I write this), your better off just asking them to wrap each one in leftover Christmas paper and number them randomly for you to put in the fridge each morning for when you come home at the end of the day.
  If you want to do this for someone, I'd suggest either asking them for a few suggestions as to favourite styles or inquire with their pals about what they like if you really want to surprise them. The Craft beer community is very helpful when it comes to answering questions about what to buy someone and I am sure you know at least a few people who are crafty in that way. Imagine the surprise on the face of your beer loving friend or family member when they wake up on the 13th (or 14th) and find you've given them the greatest gift of all...delicious free beer!
  So get out there, you've got a couple of days to bring that kind of joy only sharing beer can bring to someone you love. Make it a memorable run to Christmas day and give them and yourselves permission to slow down and appreciate the lights, watch a Christmas special or just veg out and enjoy some time together. They'll appreciate it and you will too, trust me, it's worth the effort.


Cheers and Merry Craftmas!


Polk

Beer Advent 2017!!

 

  The Christmas season is fast approaching and the time has come to begin preparations for the 2017 Beer Advent calendar. Be it for yourself or someone you love, this winter tradition has become something to help lift the craft beer drinkers spirits as winter takes hold. I like to prepare early and not blow the budget, so I get everything together well before December 1st, spreading out my purchases to be ready for the big day.

  The premise, if you are new to it, is that you buy 25 craft beers from either your local LCBO or at different craft breweries you happen to visit and then wrap them up and randomize them for a tasty treat every day leading up to Christmas. Last year I bought some and raided my cellar for a few more, had Mrs. Polk wrap and number them in an order I didn't know and put them in the fridge. Every day was a new to me beer or perhaps an old favourite and I loved every minute. Not knowing what style I was getting was part of the fun but if you know you don't like certain ones, you can avoid them altogether. The important thing is to make it enjoyable for yourself or someone you love.

  If you're putting a calendar together for someone it would be a great idea to know their favourite styles and even their favourite breweries. This can help guide your purchases and even inspire a road trip or two to get a few gems only available at the brewery. Ask their beer drinking pals what they really like and surprise them with a Christmas miracle of 25 craft beers to help make the season bright.  I would encourage you to seek out a few local breweries and add those to the list because I can assure you that they will appreciate getting something new and if it's a limited release, even better.

  Try and have a unique way of giving your gift. Maybe a custom decorated box, have the beer just show up in the fridge every evening when they get home, wrapped and numbered, chilled and ready to go. Get a big bomber 750 ml bottle of something special for their days off or to share when you can do it together. Add in a new glass or other branded merchandise and you can be assured that your gift will be over the top and make all of your beer loving partners Christmas wishes come true.

  The whole point of doing the calendar is to have fun and to give yourself or someone you love a little "me" time when we need it most. The holidays are not easy for everyone and if a pint after a long day can bring a smile to someone's face, I say we are doing something right. The clock is ticking, so get stocked up, wrap or box those beers and bring a smile to the world with the gift of Craft beer!

Merry Christmas!

Cheers!

Polk

 

Beer Advent 2016 !!

It is almost Christmas time again and I know you want to celebrate every single day just like me. How best to enjoy everything Festive and have a little fun? With great local Craft Beer of course...what else would the Drunk Polkaroo recommend, chocolate?!?!

Last year I had a revelation that was partly responsible for setting me off on the journey I have been enjoying so much. And now I want to not only replicate it but hopefully have you join in and bring a little joy every single day in December.

The advent calendar is great when your a kid, but today we need something a little stronger to smooth out the holidays. My solution is simple, drink a beer. Before December 1st hits, head on out to your local craft brewers or the LCBO and pick up 24 different craft beers. Bring them home and either have someone wrap them up and number them 1 to 24 for you or do it yourself. Mix them up, make every day a surprise. Chill and wait. The key is that everyday you will have a fantastic treat waiting when you get home. If you like IPAs, fill the calendar with hoppy beauties. Want nothing but porters and stouts, dark beer it is. If you are buying your own beer, you can decide. But even better if someone else gets them for you. That is the real treat and if you have a craft beer lover in your life, I implore you to do this for them, it will make their holiday season so much more fun. Try and find a special one for the last day, their favourite beer or a hard to find brewery only release. Whatever it is, make it memorable.

 

There are some sites that will send you a Beervent calendar and while I love the idea, the price is pretty high and there is something to be said for supporting your own local brewers. Last year I had all American Craft beer that Mrs. Polkaroo had brought back from her Black Friday shopping trip and that was fun, but this year we are keeping it close to home. New beers and old favourites will make their way into my calendar and I am super happy to be able to unwrap one every day for a celebration of not only great beer, but the people who make it. Any way you do it, make it fun, mix up the styles and remember to enjoy responsibly. Nothing is better than a beer while you chill by the fire and listen to the tunes of Christmas play. Lets make this year the start of a tradition that grows and grows.

 I'll be using the #beeradvent2016 hashtag when I share my pics

and hope you will too, so we can enjoy the gift of great beer together!

Here are some ideas to help fill that calendar for the one you love, all available at select LCBOs. 10 of my favourite regularly brewed beers that I have tried in each category; Check your local LCBO or head to the breweries for more options.

 Cheers and may your beer fridge be merry and bright with love!

Craft Lagers/Pilsners/Ales - Easy drinking and a great way to introduce the macro drinker to craft beer.

3 Speed Lager - Amsterdam Brewing

Barnraiser - Oast House Brewing

Captain's Log Lager - Cameron's Brewing

Rock Cut Lager - Lake of Bays Brewing

Craft Lager - Muskoka Brewery

Classic - Hockley Valley Brewing

Mythology Canadian Golden Pilsner - Flying Monkeys Brewery

Mountain Lager - Side Launch Brewing

Steamwhistle Pilsner - Steamwhistle

Red Tail Ale - Grand River Brewing

Pale Ales - Add a little hops to the mix with these ones. Not over the top, but still a step up from the everyday.

Cruiser All Day Pale Ale - Amsterdam Brewing

Rhyme and Reason - Collective Arts

Downhill Pale Ale - The Collingwood Brewery

Hoptical Illusion - Flying Monkeys Brewery

Canuck Pale Ale - Great Lakes Brewing

Harbinger - Descendants Beer and Beverage Co.

Naughty Neighbour - Nickel Brook Brewing

Old Tomorrow - Old Tomorrow Brewing

Clutch - Redline Brewhouse

Golden Beach Pale Ale - Sawdust City Brewing

India Pale Ales - For the Hop head, approaching Nirvana.

Boneshaker - Amsterdam Brewing

Ransack the Universe - Collective Arts

State of Mind - Collective Arts

Flight Delay IPA - Barnstormer Brewing

Smashbomb Atomic IPA - Flying Monkeys Brewing

Karma Citra - Great Lakes Brewery

Mad Tom - Muskoka Brewing

Headstock - Nickel Brook Brewing

Dead Elephant - Railway City Brewing

Lone Pine IPA - Sawdust City Brewing

Porters and Stouts - Big on roasted malt flavours, coffee and dark chocolate. Some have big ABVs, so slow sipping is a must.

Nutcracker Porter - Black Oak Brewing

Clifford Porter - Clifford Brewing

Stranger Than Fiction Porter - Collective Arts

Charcoal Porter - Innocente Brewing

Tom Green Beer Stout - Beau's All Natural

Frankenstout Session Stout - Block 3 Brewing

Winter Beard Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout - Muskoka Brewing

Black Coal Stout - Railway City Brewing

Skinny Dippin' Stout - Sawdust City Brewing

Imperial Russian Stout - Wellington Brewery

Brown, Red & Amber Ales - A little more flavour than regular ales, but not too overpowering

Brown Ale - Amsterdam Brewing

Grindstone Amber Ale - Broadhead Brewing

Ambear Red Ale - Cameron's Brewing

Deep Tracks Brown Ale - Flying Monkeys Brewing

Eephus Oatmeal Brown Ale - Left Field Brewing

Amber - Hockley Valley Brewing

Dark - Hockley Valley Brewing

Spark House Red Ale - Lake of Bays

Remembrance Red Ale - Royal City Brewing

Dark Ale - Stonehammer Brewing

Grab Bag of styles - 10 more that fall all over the map

Saison - The Collingwood Brewery

King Street Saison - Block 3 Brewing

Lenoir Belgian Ale - Bell City Brewing

Paysan Saison - Nickel Brook Brewing

Saison Hibiscus - Royal City Brewing

All or Nothing Hopfenweisse - All or Nothing Brewing

Wheat - Side Launch Brewing

Winter Weiss - Muskoka Brewing

Saint Of Circumstance Blonde Ale - Collective Arts

Cause and Effect Blonde Ale - Nickel Brook Brewing