Remember that illness I mentioned off-hand in my last post? It was the damn plague. It hit everyone in my household and now, well over a week later, it's finally letting up. I felt horrible in the depths of it and my sense of taste turned a little wonky for a minute. But, now that I'm only fatigued, I can finally get around to my next beer of the season.

Yeah, that's right: Christmas doesn't stop for COVID-19. Now, over two weeks out from the first Christmas beer '23 post, our Christmas lights are hung and our tree's nestled in our living room, trimmed to our satisfaction. Let's keep this holly and jolly going with Einstök's Winter Ale.

Let's try something. If I were to ask you to close your eyes and picture a location that you associate with Christmas, what would you conjure? The North Pole and Santa's workshop? Bethlehem and a little manger? A farm with the perfect tree hidden, just waiting to adorn your living room? A crowded auditorium where you sit beside other people watching a children's pageant? A snow-covered countryside flying by the window as your parents drive you to your relatives' to celebrate the holiday with your extended family, Christmas songs coming through on the radio?

Did I guess it? Well, regardless, I'm willing to bet (unless you're part of a select group of folks), you didn't think of Akron, OH. And I get that. There was a time that I wouldn't've, either. The city makes one of my favorite Christmas beers (which, if you catch me on the right sort of day, I just might call my favorite beer), so the city actually crosses my mind whenever I think about Christmas. 

Today, on this too-hot July day, I'm turning my attention another Christmas ale from the city, one I've never before tried: Hoppin' Frog's Frosted Frog Christmas Ale. Let's see if it'll become a new holiday classic.