Now that we’re past the holidays and the time for Christmas ales have come and gone, we’re starting to see some winter seasonal releases hit the shelves. These beers are often among the strongest brews released by brewers, and are designed to take a bit of the chill off of a cold winter night. This strength also makes them great candidates for cellaring. Here’s a list of some upcoming releases you should be looking for over the next couple of months.

Dogfish Head has two beers due out in February that I’m very much looking forward to. Each one takes advantage of current “hot” trends in craft brewing. In this case, the trends I’m talking about are barrel-aging and the blending of different beers.  Dogfish’s Burton Buton utilizes both trends in that it’s a blend of an oak-aged strong ale and their famous 90-minute IPA. By itself, the 90-Minute IPA hasn’t been known to be a great performer in the cellar, but the addition of a powerful strong ale should give this beer some legs. Also due from Dogfish in February is their Palo Santo Marron, a powerful ale (12% ABV) aged in exotic Paraguayan Palo Santo wood. This type of wood is very popular with South American winemakers, and is a big contributor to the characteristic flavor of many of their wines. It should be very interesting to see what it does to beer!

Available now, Victory Brewing’s Baltic Thunder is a recreation of a classic Baltic Porter (then called Perkuno’s Hammer), and made in collaboration with the original brewer. Check out the author Lew Bryson’s blog Seen Through A Glass for more info and tasting notes.

Keep a lookout for two great stouts from the Great Lakes area.  Michigan brewery Jolly Pumpkin is releasing their Belgian-styled Madrugada Obscura “Dark Dawn”,  while Great Lakes Brewing has their always popular Blackout Stout coming out.

Already in stores is Brooklyn’s Monster Ale, a terrifically balanced and drinkable barleywine. I’ve already got a case tucked away! Keep a lookout for my tasting notes on this brew later this week.

You might have to go to the brewery itself to get some of the special release of North Coast Brewing’s Old Rasputin XI . This isn’t their normal Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, this beer is instead a special blend of several different Old Rasputin vintages.

Although I can’t find any specific mention of the 2008 vintage of Stone Brewing’s Old Guardian Barleywine, this beer is usually a mid-to-late January release.

New York brewery Captain Lawrence has two beers from it’s “Smoke From The Oak Series” due out in early 2008. Both brews are barrel-aged - one in port wine barrels, the other in brandy barrels.

And finally, whatever you do, don’t forget about Deschutes release of The Abyss, which is already starting to become available on the West Coast. I wrote a little about this brew back on my second article on Award-Winning American Beers.

Jason

jason@brewbasement.com

www.brewbasement.com