Winter Beercation 2010. Hello 2011.

Port Brewing Co. Santa's Little Helper (D)- Memphis Taproom
Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale (D)- Memphis Taproom
Jolly Pumpkin Noel De Calabazza (D)- Monks
St. Feuillien Saison (D)- Monks
Southhampton Saison Deluxe (D)- Monks
Leifmanns Cuvee Brut (D)- Fork and Barrel
Gina (Dogfish Head, Del Borgo, Baladina) (Cask)-Fork and Barrel
Birrificio Pausa Cafe Chicca (D)- Fork and Barrel
North Coast Acme California IPA (D)- Terrace Taproom
Manayunk Brewing Co. Iron Curtain Imperial Stout (D)- Union Jacks
Petrus Aged Pale (D)- Union Jacks
Bells Two Hearted (D)- Union Jacks
Philadelphia Brewing Co. Shackamaxium (B)- House Beer

Bells Kalamazoo Stout (B)- House Beer

Troubadour Magma IPA (D)- Fork and Barrel

Beer Here Morke Pumpernickel Porter (D)- Fork and Barrel

Dogfish Head Palo Santo (D)- Terrace Taproom

Troegs Java Head Stout (D)- Terrace Taproom

Yards Tavern Spruce (D)- Terrace Taproom

Coronado Islander IPA (B)- House Beer
Spring House Seven Gates Pale Ale (B)- House Beer
Saison des Trois Enfants (D)-Earth Bread and Brewery
Romulous on Handpump (D)- Earth Bread and Brewery
Second Degree (D)-Earth Bread and Brewery
Iron Hill Russian Imperial Stout (B)- House Beer

The Sipping List -Jules Holiday Party (All Bottles)

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

Petrus Winter Ale

Gouden Calrolus Noel

Vichtenaar Flemish Ale

Uinta Brewing Co. Labyrinth Black Ale
Brooklyn Local 2

Hitachino Nest Owl

Harviestoun Ola Dubh

Lost Abbey The Angels Share

Ichtegem's Grand Cru

Stillwater Artisanal Ales Saison/ Farmhouse

Brewdog/ Mikkeller Divine Rebel

Brasserie des Rocs Triple Imperial 

Lindemans Faro Lambec

Dogfish Head 120 Minute

Otter Creek Quercus Vitis Humulus

Monks Sour Flemish

Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Rogue 2x Chocolate Stout 

Homebrews
Kevin's "Fear of a Black IPA"
Kevin's "Under the Boardwalk Brown Ale"
Tim's Dry Stout
Ben's Imperial Stout
Ben's IPA
Ben's Bitter

I couldn't  have been any happier with the few select bars we were able to make it to over the holiday week. Memphis reigns as one of my favorites, but Fork and Barrel is just pure bliss. All I can say about the F and B experiences is that we were able to have Gina. And from what I know, it was 1 of 5 kegs/casks in the country. Gina is an herb garden. It reminded me of Saison du Buff, with more parsley, sage and thyme, a lot of oregano, and less hops. I also had the Pausa Cafe Chicca. This seems like another rare one. Again, from what I read, I had 1 of the 8 kegs in the country. It's an Italian coffee beer made by inmates of an Italian prison. Read more about it here. When I read that prisoners made the beer I had mixed feelings about it. I needed more info on what Pausa Cafe is all about and then found this.

With a title like The Sipping List, there better be a story. Let me just say that I probably missed a few bottles on the list mentioned above. It was a crazy night.

What seems to be an annual party at the best house in Manayunk, we had a theme this year. Bring a great bottle and wear an ugly sweater or dress up fancy. There were about 30 amazing bottles, 4 ugly sweaters, 1 suit and few in a fancy wear. Obviously, beer was the all important factor. With 30 or more bottles and 20 or so people, our only choice was to sample each. Let me tell you that 3 ounces here and 5 ounces there surely does catch up with you. There is no way to talk complexity on any of these beers, but as for some to seek out: Vichtenaar Flemish Ale, Uinta Brewing Co. Labyrinth Black Ale, Hitachino Nest Owl, Harviestoun Ola Dubh and Ichtegem's Grand Cru. Sours are a holiday all their own in my book. 

We are going to start to talk about homebrews a lot more on this site in 2011, so stay tuned. There are a number of homebrewers in the Brews of our Lives crew. Hopefully all of them will contribute a few words over the next year.

Thanks to all the readers of this blog for a great year.
Cheers.