‘Tis The Season

It is that time of year again. The leaves have long since fallen, and snow is on the ground. This year has blown by and it is hard to believe it is already December. Speaking of December - on my beer calendar for this month there are a couple of important entries: keeping an eye out for winter warmers, and preparation for the upcoming Beerdrinker of the Year competition.

Seasonal Beers

This is a great time of the year for winter warmers. Most breweries brew something special for the cold weather – whether it is AC Golden’s Winterfest (Coors), Sierra Nevada’s Celebration, or your local brewpub’s specialty. It is a great time to visit your local brewery or pick up that special six-pack at the liquor store.

If you’re in the Denver area, one great place to go to try out a number of seasonals, including special releases, is the Falling Rock Tap House. (http://fallingrocktaphouse.com/) They’ve got specialties from Colorado, other parts of the country, Belgian Noels, and great beers from all over the world.

Tonight I happen to be bundled up at home, and I am partaking in 4 Calling Birds from The Bruery in Placentia, California. It is an 11% abv Belgian-Style Dark Ale, and the fourth in their annual series. (What will they do after 12?) For lovers of spiced beers, Barleywines, Strong Ales, Imperial Porters, and Wassail, this time of the year cannot be beat!

2012 Beerdrinker of the Year Search

You could be the next Beerdrinker of the Year. If you are reading this blog you are a beer lover – and that is the first step! To apply you need to submit a Beer Resume. This document must include your beer philosophy, details on your passion for beer, and your 2011 beer experiences. It should “detail the entrant’s understanding of beer and its history and importance to civilization, and the entrant’s efforts to educate others to the joys of great beer.” And all of this cannot exceed three 8.5 x 11″ pages in 12-point font. Your beer resume needs to be emailed into the Wynkoop no later than Saturday, December 31st. There are a few other rules, so make sure and check out the official Beerdrinker of the Year web site for all of the details. (http://wynkoop.com/component/content/article/14-events/208-2012-beerdrinker-of-the-year)

As an example, and to view the resume that got me into the finals, check out my 2009 resume. Each year, all of the beer resumes received by the Wynkoop are reviewed and thinned down to the top 10, at which point they are sent out to a panel of experts around the country to select the three finalists. Those lucky three will be flown to Denver for the finals on February 25th, 2012, at which time seven wigged & robed judges will ultimately select the winner.

The winner will receive free beer for life at the Wynkoop, $250 at their local brewpub or beer bar, apparel, and their name will be engraved on the Beerdrinker of the Year trophy at the Wynkoop Brewery.

A good resume will take some work, so hopefully you’ve already started, or are touching up a previous year’s application. (I submitted a resume in 1997 and 2005 before my 2009 resume got me to the finals.) I encourage all of you to take a shot at the ultimate beer accolade!