From the Brewer: In Belgium, a Grand Cru is traditionally brewed for special celebrations.  When we found out there was going to be a blue moon on New Year’s Eve (an event that happens only once every 20 years), we wanted to celebrate. So we brewed Blue Moon Grand Cru. This unique limited-batch brew incorporates subtle hints of orange peel and coriander and delivers a warm, spicy finish. Keith Villa, Brewmaster of Blue Moon, says:  “I spent several years learning the art of brewing in Belgium, and I’ve grown to appreciate the bold taste of Grand Cru brews. The blue moon on New Year’s Eve is the perfect occasion to celebrate and commemorate with our own Grand Cru. Beer fans will discover a foamy head, big body and a crisp, tangy flavor while enjoying our artfully crafted Blue Moon Grand Cru this holiday season. Just like Blue Moon, it should be served with an orange slice garnish.”

The Beer Box Score

• ABV:  8.2%
• IBUs:  NA
• Original Gravity:  NA
• Hops:  NA
• Malts:  NA
• Other Ingredients: NA
• Availability:  NA
• Awards:  NA

From Us:  Christmas is in the rear view mirror and now we look towards a brand spankin’ New Year.  Another decade down the hatch.  On this last episode  of Taste Buds for the decade Dusty and Erik help ring in the new year with a special Grand Cru version of Blue Moon.  Since a blue moon only falls on a New Year’s Eve once every twenty years, does this special brew stack up to this special occasion?

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

From the Brewer: Beers made with spruce or other types of pine were brought to Scotland by the Vikings who brewed ales and spice with fresh spruce shoots to prevent scurvy on sailing voyages. Spruce beer was also drunk before battle as it was thought to bring out one’s animal instincts.  Spruce Goose, our modern-day version of the Viking’s beer, is a darker brew with complex earthy flavors throughout.

The Beer Box Score

• ABV:  8.13%
• IBUs:  21
• Original Gravity:  NA
• Hops:  NA
• Malts:  NA
• Other Ingredients:  Young spruce tips
• Availability:  November 1st – January 31st on draft and packaged in 22 ounce bomber bottles and kegs
• Awards:  Bronze Medal Winner, 2009 Australian International Beer Competition

From Us:  Oh, how we long for Christmas to return.  On this episode  of Taste Buds Dusty and Erik suck down a spruce tree to wash away the Monday Blues.   Hey, it’s what the Vikings use to do!

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

From the Brewer: The chill of a Colorado high-country winter calls for a beer with extra flavor and warming characteristics. Here it is. Breck Brew’s Christmas Ale. At over 7% alcohol, with a sturdy texture and rich flavors of caramel and chocolate, our holiday seasonal is the fermented equivalent of a good fire. The ultimate winter warmer.

The Beer Box Score

• Style:  American Style Strong Ale
• ABV: 7.4%
• IBUs: 22
• Original Gravity:  NA
• Hops: Chinook, Mt. Hood
• Malts:  Two Row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate, Black
• Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
• Flavor: Full-bodied, apparent warming caramel flavor with medium hop character
• Color: Mahogany/Brown
• Availability: November – December

From Us:  Here it is… Christmas Day!  And what better way to celebrate the arrival of the jolly old fat man and a bunch of gifts than with a Christmas Ale from Colorado’s very own Breckenridge Brewery!  Dusty and Erik unwrap this bottled beauty to see if it really is a the “ultimate winter warmer.”

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

From the Brewer: Santa’s Butt is a splendid, satisfying Winter Porter. This souped-up version of the classic Entire Butt Porter is made for winter – rich and warming, the way they like it in the North Pole. It was inspired by this famous line from a well-loved children’s story book: “And Santa sat on his great butt, drinking a hearty brew.”

The Beer Box Score

• Style:  Porter, Winter/Holiday Beer
• ABV: 6%
• IBUs: NA
• Original Gravity:  NA
• Hops: NA
• Malts:  NA
• Other ingredients:  NA

From Us:  With only a few days left until Christmas Dusty and Erik thought it would be interesting to taste Santa’s Butt.  Apparently it’s been bottled for everyone’s imbibing pleasure.  We know the guy is the world’s greatest star, but come on!  See what Beer Tap TV’s two Bad Elves think of this winter porter, and if they can prove that yes, Virginia… Everyone wants a piece of Santa’s Butt.

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

From the Brewer: Pickled Santa is a copper colored ale. The base beer is simple but very traditionally English, being brewed with 100% Maris Otter variety malted barley and 100% whole Golding hops. A hint of the unusual side of Pickled Santa lies in the name because it is brewed with a selection of whole spices, not flavour extracts, not essential oils, and not ready ground supermarket blends.  While you don’t really taste or smell the Coriander, you do smell lovely hints of fresh creamy Nutmeg, and peppery pungent Allspice. But they are not dominant because we think that at the end of the day Pickled Santa should still taste mostly of beer.

The Beer Box Score

• Style:  English Ale/Bitter, Gruit/Spiced Beer, Winter/Holiday Beer
• ABV: 6%
• IBUs: NA
• Original Gravity:  NA
• Hops: Golding
• Malts:  Maris Otter variety
• Other ingredients:  Nutmeg and Allspice

From Us:  On this Monday edition of Taste Buds  Erik and Dusty crack open some Pickled Santa juice.  Is this English brew tasty, or does the Christmas joy end at its humorous name?

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

From the Brewer: Brewed with plenty of caramel and roasted malts and subtly spiced with American Chinook and Styrian Goldings hops. We’ve accentuated the natural smokiness of the brew by adding a small amount of beechwood-smoked malt. This beer boasts flavors of chocolate and coffee, along with raisins and dried fruit soaked in sherry. Black Cauldron is a strong ale, best enjoyed in moderation.  We’ve brewed our Black Cauldron Imperial Stout to recognize and honor the women in the history of brewing. Brewing has been women’s work since the dawn of civilization. In all ancient cultures, beer was a gift from a goddess, and women maintained status and power through their skills as brewsters.

The Beer Box Score

• ABV:  8%
• IBUs: 43
• Original Gravity:  22 Plato
• Hops: American Chinook & Styrian Goldings
• Malts:  Idaho 2-Row Brewers, CaraAroma, Carafa Special and Beechwood Smoked
• Other ingredients:  Maple & Birch syrups

From Us:  On this TGIF episode of Taste Buds Dusty and Erik dive into the cauldron… the Black Cauldron that is!  This imperial stout from the guys at Grand Teton puts the hurt on cold winter days (or nights).

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

From the Brewer: Life & Limb is a 10% ABV strong, dark beer that defies style characteristics – brewed with pure maple syrup from the Calagione family farm in Massachusetts and estate barley grown on the Grossman “farm” at the brewery in Chico, CA. The beer is alive with yeast-a blend of both breweries’ house strains-bottle conditioned for added complexity and shelf life, and naturally carbonated with birch syrup fresh from Alaska. Life & Limb is dedicated to the family of beer drinkers and enthusiasts worldwide who continue to support the little guys, iconoclasts, entrepreneurs, and pioneers who risk life and limb to shape the vibrant craft-brewing community.  Limb & Life is a ’small’ beer, made from the second runnings of the larger Life & Limb.  Limb & Life has a roasted malt flavor reminiscent of dark roasted coffee and toasted bread, combined with a pronounced hoppiness from the use of bold and aromatic American hops.  It’s an easy drinking ’session’ beer – an antidote to the heavy sippers.  It is balanced yet flavorful, hoppy yet not without strong malt, and drinkable but still complex.  Limb & Life will be an extremely limited draft-only release.

The Beer Box Score

Life& Limb

• ABV:  10.2%
• IBUs: 50
• Original Gravity:  24 Plato
• Final Gravity: 6.0 Plato
• Bittering Hops:  Bravo
• Finishing Hops:  Perle & Sterling
• Malts:  Two-row Pale, Chocolate & Carafa
• Other ingredients:  Maple & Birch syrups

Limb & Life

• ABV:  5.2%
• IBUs: 49
• Original Gravity: 12.2 Plato
• Final Gravity: 2.8 Plato
• Bittering Hops:  Magnum
• Finishing Hops:  Perle, Cascade, Magnum
• Dry Hop:  Experimental Hop #188
• Malts:  Second runnings from Life & Limb
• Other ingredients:  Maple and Birch syrup

From Us:  On this episode of Taste Buds Anna Nadasdy once again joins Erik and Dusty.  This time they all risk life and limb in sub-freezing weather to try the new collabrews from Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head  – Life & Limb and Limb & Life.   Watch to find out if the adventurous crew make it through without freezing!

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

From the Brewer: We’ve brewed Wassail every holiday season since 1988, and it’s now as much a part of the festivities as sharing a roaring fire with our closest family and friends.  A deep mahogany color, Wassail is brewed with four different malts and a blend of Pacific Northwest hops, giving it a malty full body and a pleasantly hoppy finish that appeals to both hop and malt lovers alike.

The Beer Box Score

• ABV:  7.0%
• IBUs:  NA
• Hops: A blend of Pacific Northwest hops
• Malts:  Four different malts
• Original Gravity:  NA

From Us:  On this episode of Taste Buds Erik and Dusty batten down the hatches and hoist Full Sail’s annual holiday beer.  Watch to see if this brew performs “a Christmas miracle” and makes your Monday Blues go away.

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

From the Brewer: Deep mahogany in color, Snow Cap is a full-bodied winter warmer brewed in the spirit of British winter ales.  Crafted with a flurry of roasted chocolate and caramel malts, and generously hopped, it delivers a smooth finish that makes this beer the perfect cold weather companion.  Awards: Silver Medal, World Beer Championships, “Strong Ale”, 1998

The Beer Box Score

• ABV:  7.0%
• IBUs:  NA
• Hops:  Nugget, Willamette, East Kent Goldings
• Malts:  2-Row Barley, Caramel 80L, Chocolate Malt
• Original Gravity:  17.3
• Availability:  October – January
• Best Paired With:  Shellfish, rich game and even rich chocolatey desserts

From Us:   After the blizzard that just rolled through the Rockies we thought it was a perfect time to put on our snow caps and guzzle some Snow Cap from Pyramid.  See what Erik and Dusty think of this “perfect cold weather companion.”

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com

From the Brewer: Hibernation Ale from Denver’s Great Divide Brewing Company is an English-style Old Ale.  This robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character. Hibernation’s massive flavors are so intense that it requires over three months of aging each year. This lengthy aging process gives Hibernation its revered malty richness, complex hop profile and hearty warming character, which is perfect right out of the bottle or cellared for longer periods of time.  Gold Medal: GABF, 1997 ;Silver Medal: GABF, 2003 & 2006

The Beer Box Score

• ABV: 8.1%
• IBUs:  NA
• Hops:  NA
• Malts:  NA

From Us:   On this snowy and bitterly cold Monday in the Rocky Mountains even the bears are hibernating!   Erik and Dusty on the other hand are bravin’ the winter weather to suck down another great bottle o’ brew from Great Divide.

Calling all beer making type folks – pros and home brewers alike! Want your beers featured on the show? Email us at AlwaysHoppy@BeerTapTV.com.

BEER TAP TV NEWS: We have lots of stuff in the works… more giveaways, a new website, etc. But we can’t let you know about them, or give you stuff, if we don’t know who you are! So stay up to date on all things BTTV by registering here.

Make sure you follow us on:

Twitter: @ErikBoles
Twitter: @EliShayotovich
Twitter: @Dusty Frazier
Twitter: @BeerTapTV
Facebook: BeerTapTV
YouTube: BeerTapTV

And here at Beer Tap TV:

Erik Boles
Dusty Frazier
Eli Shayotovich

For marketing and sales information contact David Stanley on Twitter @KiwiGate, on Facebook at David Stanley or via Email at David.Stanely@channelsnap.com