Is it a sin to drink spring beers in January?
The snow is still on the ground and the road salt is eating our cars -- sure signs of of winter -- but already the "spring" beers are popping up.
The folks at Flying Dog tell me their spring offering, Garde Dog, a farmhouse ale, is in the stores this weekend.
Anybody had it?
Meanwhile, the Magic Hat company up in chilly Burlington, Vt., is sending out a Spring Fever 12 Pak. One of the beers in this bundle is Hi.PA, a brew that first appeared last spring. I had one the other night. Tt was very hoppy (Columbus hops, according to the specs) with English Pale malt. 5.8 percent ABV.
The hops certainly said "hello," but the malt did not get overshadowed. There were some sweet malt notes, and a long finish. Good stuff.
Yet somehow it feels "wrong" to drink a spring beer before St. Patrick's Day. I think the beer gods might regard it as a seasonal sin.
Anyone else feel this way?
Comments
It must be spring somewhere in the world, you should be okay.
Posted by: Terpinator | January 23, 2009 12:42 PM
Nothing wrong with it.
I hve 6 HiPA's in the fridge waiting for me to get home.
Last weekend I had Troegs seasonal, Nugget Nectar. It was very hoppy. I need to pick up some more.
Posted by: C Double | January 23, 2009 12:55 PM
I'll admit, a week or two back I had a craving for Sierra Nevada ESB, which I had a bottle of at a bar last year, and might have had some a couple weeks ago if there had been a bottle in my fridge, but, generally, I really don't like this trend to put out seasonals well before a season begins, and to pull them from the shelves well before a season ends.
I mean, really, doesn't that defeat the point of seasonals? I thought the idea was to have beers appropriate to the climate and cultural celebrations. that means, to me, spring beer should probably hit with the advent of spring training baseball in March, not the middle of winter. Call me crazy if you must. :)
I wonder if people could still find a winter beer on the shelves in February if they wanted to. Heck, sometimes they might have trouble in January.
Posted by: John | January 23, 2009 1:25 PM
The only sin in drinking beer is if you choose to drink swill when there's great beer available!
On my most recent trip back home from Salt Lake, I noticed that some of the brew pubs that I frequented in my past life have closed. What is the status of the area's brew pubs? How about out in Frederick and the DC 'burbs?
Posted by: UT Cal | January 23, 2009 4:12 PM
Spring beers are my least favorite of the 4 seasons so I'm in no rush to drink them. I agree with John in that the idea of seasonals is to drink them in season. Personally I think that adds to their appeal. Knowing that I can only have a certain beer for a few months a year makes me enjoy it even more.
Posted by: Steve | January 27, 2009 9:56 AM
I really wish Magic Hat didn't insist on including Circus Boy and #9 in every mixed 12 pack.
Posted by: ken | January 27, 2009 12:27 PM
I think it isn't a great idea, sort of like going to the mall this week and seeing spring/summer clothes being pushed at the Gap with sweaters on sale to move. I'll enjoy my BIG winter beers for a few more months, thank you. Currently enjoying some Pizza Port brews I drove in from PA...mmmmm.
Posted by: Cheese | January 27, 2009 10:27 PM