This was an fun yet exhausting experience. I had enough in house to complete my own advent calendar so it was fun to join in on hype, but I did realize that having to commit to drinking one beer a day isn’t too appealing to me. I think I’m more suited for a solid 12 days of Christmas or maybe 7 days of Kwanzaa? We’ll see what 2021’s holiday season brings. It was amusing creating tiktok videos to share (created an account just for this lol) and also trying some brews I’ve never had before. You’ll find a recap of the brews I consumed below. Let me know if you’ve had any and what your thoughts are!
Day 1: Thrilla in Brazilla | Peticolas Brewing Co | American IPA 7.5%
This beer was a great way to start off the calendar! Well balanced, very aromatic, medium body. The citrus was very apparent but finished a the resinous taste came through for that balance.
Day 2: Bad Bunny Pie | Tripping Animals Brewing Co | Berliner Weisse 6%
This beer was soooo good. I probably should use beer lightly here…. depending on how you feel about sours and especially ones with lactose. I enjoy some of them but I won’t argue they’re not a lil suspect. Blackberry, Peach, Cherry, Graham Cracker, Vanilla, and Milk Sugar, this beer was pie in a can!
Day 3: Best Life | Henhouse Brewing Co | Blond Ale 4.5%
This wasn’t nothing but a “craft” High Life. I didn’t finish it. I’ve moved beyond these. That’s all!
Day 4: Mr. October | Henhouse Brewing Co | Double IPA 9.2%
Redemption. I was unsure about this one cause yesterday was so traumatic. I got a whiff of the beer soon as I poured it and my mind was changed at that moment. It’s like a west coast IPA and a hazy had a baby! Dank, Juicy, Tropical, Piney… I’m a fan and want another.
Day 5: Piano Keys | New Belgium and Ale Sharpton | Imperial Stout 10%
I was excited about this because Ale Sharpton was (and still is) a major influence on me entering the industry. I’ve described this beer as the chocolate and vanilla notes dancing on your tongue similarly to a pianist tickling the black and white keys. This is a unity beer on the slick, black and white in harmony… we can only wish huh?
Day 6: 528hz of Love & Happiness |Beale Street Brewing | Rose Ale 4.5%
This light bodied ale is perfect for brunch and day parties. It’s crushable, flavorful and you know Black folks love a good Rose! I’d much rather drink mine as a beer so this is right up my alley.
Day 7: Unity |Symbol Brewing Co| West Coast IPA 4.5%
This beer doesn’t have a name, it has a symbol. The West African symbol means “Unity.” The hops hit you on the first sip but the malty sweetness takes away the bite in the finish. I like the symbol concept, make me wanna investigate more.
Day 8: Velvet Hammer|Peticolas Brewing Co| Imperial Red Ale 9%
I had this in at the brewery when I visited Dallas, I had to grab one to go, but I wish I had grabbed a few. The malt and hops blend well with the booziness adding a little bite to the smooth taste. This is a fav of mine and I can see why it’s their flagship.
Day 9: Blurrier|450 North Brewing Co| Fruited Sour 6.3%
I’m not really a fan of the fruited sours. The taste is cool but not for a beer. I’d want this as an actual fruit smoothie. Maybe a smoothie with a little rum or something but not here for the beer. I skipped this beer on day 9 (I was drinking good beer at Various Artist) and shared it with friends, good decision.
Day 10: Hypnotizing Minds|Beale Street Brewing Co| Hazy IPA 6.5%
This is light on hazy, which works for me, and a pretty mild IPA. The fruity notes hit you as you bring the glass to the nose but not as prevalent on the taste. This beer is for the culture and I think the culture would enjoy it.
Day 11: Flor Bianca|Broadway Brewery| Mexican Lager 6.5%
I love a good Mexican Lager. There’s just a different complexity that exist due to the addition of a little salt. I don’t typically drink them with limes and I want another so I can try it with this one, since they suggest it.
Day 12: Juiced|HenHouse Brewing Co| Fruited Gose 4%
This tart brew offered a bit a sweetness with the pineapple. We ended up drinking this after a shot of tequila and it knocked that tequila burn right out like a lime.
Day 13: Peanut Butter|Tailgate Brewery| Stout 5.8%
This is a fan favorite in Nashville. I often suggest this as a starter stout. It offers enough sweetness/flavor to be intriguing but still gives stout vibes to make a skeptic a drinker. I don’t drink it often but not mad when it appears in my fridge.
Day 14: Brut Willis|East Nashville Brew Works| Brut IPA 5.6%
I fell for Brut IPAs in Chattanooga a couple years ago but people didn’t catch the wave so they are few and far between. When I found it here in Nashville, I was geeked. It’s not the Chatt brew but it gets me through. Could be drier but it holds me over!
Day 15: Ghost of Alfred Brown|Peticolas Brewery| English Brown 5.5%
I was talking to my wife when I first sipped this and damn near choked. I forgot it had peppers in it. The spice hit the back of my throat after a quick delay and stopped me dead in my convo. It’s not that hot, I just wasn’t ready. I enjoyed the spice with the maltiness of the beer. Chocolate and tobacco notes slip through the notes of spice.
Day 16: Baby Falcon|Triple Crossing Brewery| Session IPA 4.5%
Decent session IPA. It helped because by this day I started to get advent calendar’d out. I’m not an everyday beer drinker so this session IPA, which had some tasty tropical flavors, was right on time.
Day 17: Fresh Pressed|Panther Creek Brewery| IPA 7%
Major fruity notes in this one. I enjoyed the draft better than the can but was pleased nonetheless. It was juicy and fruit forward, an IPA to sway non IPA drinkers but still make an IPA addict like myself happy.
Day 18: Slang Du Jour – Blueberry Cobbler Lemon Crumble|Drekker Brewery| Sour 6.1%
This one was a pie in a glass. The taste was on point but again, I don’t want my beer to taste like this. The Mrs. really enjoyed this and I’d totally recommend it to those who like this style. It just wasn’t my thing.
Day 19: Hazey Days IPA|Legend Brewing Co| NE IPA 6.5%
This unfiltered IPA had a soft mouthfeel, but was big on flavor. It was citrus forward but a tropical citrus. My parents picked this up for me when they were in DC, I got an unexpected text asking what beer I wanted. I appreciate the support.
Day 21: PB & Jammy Pants|Great Notion Brewing| Fruited Sour 7%
This was actually a really good “beer.” I tasted the blackberry and PB which presented initially as chocolate notes, but I realized that was the blackberry mixing with the PB. I’d actually drink this one again. The fragrant notes were fun on this one. It hits you as you pour.
Day 22: Snowman Stout|Jackalope Brewery| Stout 6.2%
Though this is a low abv stout, its taste gives off warm vibes. Chocolate and coffee notes gives a full flavor and taste but the lower abv make it feasible to drink a few.
Day 23: Peaches & Cream|New Heights Brewery| Fruited Sour 6.6%
This light bodied fruited sour is more up my alley. The fruit wasn’t overpowering and I didn’t feel like the can would explode. The taste was pleasant and the carbonation was right. It brought me to spring vibes and I craved the sun drinking this.
Day 24: Neon Lights|Brewery Ommegang| Session IPA 4.3%
This might be one of the best session IPAs I’ve had. I had to check the can again to make sure the abv was that low. It was hoppily refreshing. The crisp bite gave peak IPA vibes. I wish it had more alcohol in it but also, it just means I can have a couple and still enjoy the day.