Drinking beer and driving in snow country
I spent the long weekend in the Berkshires in Western Mass., where there was a lot of snow and a lot of competent snow removal. It snowed twice over the weekend; no big deal. They plow the roads, and the shoulders. Amazing how normally things functions when the roads are plowed.
After a 6-inch snow on Saturday, my brother, my sister-in-law, my wife and I stopped at the Route & Grill in Great Barrington, Mass. This place specialzes in serving local fare. With our really good pulled pork, beef brisket sandwiches, and BLTs, we had some quality New England beers.
I had a Harpoon Celtic Ale: crisp, clean, and an ideal companion for my BLT. I have not been a fan of this Boston brewery, mainly because I think some of their Christmas beers have been over-spiced. But this one, a red ale served on tap, was a keeper.
The ladies, not big beer drinkers, had glasses of Allagash White. This beer from the Portland, Maine, brewery was clean, light and flavored with orange. The ladies loved it.
Anybody else had these brews?
Anyone else observe, as I did driving back in yesterday's snow flurries, that in Baltimore we have an exceptional number of snow-challenged drivers?
Comments
The Harpoon Winter Warmer was too spiced. I couldn't tell if it smelled like a wreath or ginger bread but definitely something you might find at Yankee Candle.
But... The Harpoon Oktoberfest was incredible!
I picked up a mixed 12 pack of Harpoon recently and have been happy with most of the beers. The Celtic Ale was not one of the options.
Posted by: C Double | January 20, 2009 11:49 AM
I'm a big fan of Allagash beers. My favorite for winter time is the Allgash Grand Cru. A deep-golden colored brew with a full yet refined malty palate. At 7.5% it's a good kick in the pants on a cold winter day.
Posted by: E$ | January 20, 2009 11:51 AM
You think Baltimore drivers are bad in the snow, try Philadelphia. Everything comes to a hault in rain; snow is even worse.
Posted by: Hatepaste | January 20, 2009 1:15 PM
Did you say drinking and driving?
Posted by: Huh | January 20, 2009 10:33 PM
I've found in regards to the Harpoon Winter Warmer, people either love it or hate it - there's really no middle ground. Admittedly, I am one of the former.
However, I have found that most brew-heads are in agreement that their IPA and their hefeweizen (the UFO - unfiltered offering) are top notch. If you haven't tried them, you should.
As for the roads - I spent my youth split between Boston and the Hudson Valley in New York, and I'm always amazed by how quickly the roads and drivers in this area just fall apart in modest winter conditions.
Posted by: Kevin Smith | January 21, 2009 9:23 AM