Beer Style: Specialty Beer Family
Boulevard Brewing’s Nutcracker Ale clone
Boulevard’s annual winter warmer is a hearty brew with a deep amber color.
Butte Creek Brewing’s Winter Ale clone
This beer is now retired. The Butte Creek Brewing Co.’s annual winter ale was technically an American Brown Ale with Fuggle hops providing a balance to the malty backbone.
Schloss Eggenberg: Samichlaus clone
For a long time, Samiclaus held the title as strongest beer in the world. Samichlaus is a doppelbock that continues to develop the longer it is aged.
Magic Hat Brewing Co.’s Feast of Fools clone
“This beer is more along the style of a sweet stout. There’s no milk sugar, but we use one pound of fresh raspberries per gallon!” — Magic Hat head brewer Matt Cohen (now owner of Fiddlehead Brewing Co. in Shelburne, Vermont)
Avery Brewing Company’s Old Jubilation Ale clone
Available October through November, Old Jubilation is a winter strong ale that features a hint of hazelnuts, mocha, toffee, and spice.
Fort George Brewery’s Spruce Budd Ale clone
A true spring beer. Be sure to harvest the spruce tips as they are emerging from the buds and the needles are still a light green color.
Magic Hat Brewing Co.’s #9 clone
A classic American fruited ale. There is no mistaking the apricot aromas and flavor profile of Magic Hat’s #9. Magic Hat Brewing Co. was founded in 1994 and #9 has been one of it’s steadfast beers in their portfolio.
Wynkoop Brewing Company: Patty’s Chili Beer clone
Patty’s Chili Beer is aged with Anaheim and ancho peppers, resulting in a golden ale with lots of pepper flavors and aromas, but just a mild heat.
O’Fallon Brewery’s Cherry Chocolate Beer
According the O’Fallon Brewery’s website, “O’Fallon Cherry Chocolate is a dark wheat beer that tastes like a chocolate covered cherry…only better! We use four kinds of grain along with natural cherry and chocolate flavors for a smooth, delicious brew …the perfect sipping beer for the cooler winter months.”
Russian River Brewing Co.’s Sanctification clone
According to Russian River Brewing Co’s website, “Technically, this is neither an ale nor a lager. The base recipe is for a Golden Ale, but we do the primary fermentation with 100% brettanomyces. The brett gives it some sour notes but not as much as if it had been aged with lacto and pedio. It’s rather refreshing on a warm day!”
Pizza Port Brewing Co.’s Mo’ Betta Bretta clone
100% Brett fermented golden ale. Feel free to choose your favorite Brett strain.
Great Basin Brewing Co.’s Smoke Creek Rauchbier clone
A dark rauchbier brewed by Great Basin Brewing out of Sparks, Nevada which won gold medal at the 2006 GABF. If you don’t want to smoke your own malts, they can be purchased, but smoking your own malts can be a fun endeavor.
