Giving the gift of beer
The ritual of exchanging beers during the Christmas season has been going on in this town for almost a quarter of a century.
Earlier this month, Michael and Joanna Sullivan opened their Baltimore home to the 23rd International Christmas Beer Exchange. Over 120 people attended, according to Jack Hughes, one of the founding members of the exchange.
The idea behind the party is that you bring a quantity of quality beer, usually a six-pack, to the gathering, and then sample the offerings that others brought. The exchange began, according to group's web site, "in 1986 as a simple holiday gift exchange among a group of six beer aficionados. Over the years, the event has grown into a full-scale celebration of fine imported and micro-brewed domestic beer."
I failed to make it to this year's gathering; my bad. But Hughes sent me this report on the proceedings. "The selected kegs were Troeg’s Mad Elf, Penn Weizenbock, Legacy Brown Aled Girl, and Ithaca Brewing Company Apricot Wheat. The kegs were quite a hit; the Mad Elf, Weizenbock and Apricot Wheat were almost drained by the end of the night. "
"For the bottled beer that guests brought to share, the greatest event was the 10 p.m. opening of Joe and Kelly Gold’s 6-liter bottle of La Fin du Monde. Wow! That was fantastic.
"Some of the bottled Christmas beers were also quite delicious; Anchor Christmas, Sly Fox Christmas, Sierra Christmas. There were also numerous Porters, Ales and IPA’s consumed by the crowd.."
Several years I attended a post-Christmas beer exchange in Baltimore County, hosted by Rick Vohrer.
That exchange usually held a day or two after Christmas, is now in its fifth year, Rick told me the other day. Guests bring a case of beer, usually 4 different six-packs, Rick said.
A recent wrinkle is that some wives of beer exchangers show up at Rick's home, but then they bolt, traveling as a group to a movie or the theater, while their men sip beer.
Anybody else know of other beer exchanges?
What are the drawbacks, if any?
Comments
Besides the obvious of making sure you have a DD for such a great even, the other is keeping your pallet fresh. Much like the beer review you did for the winter there are many beers to be tried, with this party though you are getting a whole bottle and not just a sample, it wouldn't be cool to take a beer drink a bit and just leave it, so often times you are drinking more. The key is to take your time and try and get some food and water as well to clear your pallet so you can taste all the beers you try.
Posted by: Steve | December 23, 2008 10:54 AM
Not necessarily an exchange, but Eric Trimmer, who writes the "Trouble Brewing" blog up in Hanover, Pa., (http://blogs.eveningsun.com/troublebrewing/) has organized Beer Appreciation. He has recruited 47 other people and created a case with 24 different beers. I am heartily enjoying the project.
Posted by: Brian | December 23, 2008 12:45 PM
I had no idea such a thing existed. Would someone please invite me to one? I'll bring bottles of Brewer's Art Resurrection. I guess if it's an exchange, one could take his or her received bottles home to drink there so there would be no DUI?
Posted by: Heather | December 23, 2008 3:03 PM