This evening's beer (a surprise! I was saving the for later but the sudden chill in the area bumped it up) was a gift from my dad. He and my mom came down to visit last month so they could spend some time with their favorite (i.e. only) grandkid. 

While doing so, we all swung by a local bottleshop. I somehow (that's sarcastic, by the way. It doesn't come through great over text) convinced Dad to grab a couple of beers for himself. One of those was Hi-Wire's Pumpkin Spicewalla Latte 10W-40 (Pumpkin Spicewalla henceforth). Before he left, he broke the four-pack in half, taking two cans with him and leaving two with me. Thanks, Dad! Let's see how this stout drinks.

So, winter's here now. I mean, I know that yes, technically, it's still fall for over another month. I would totally do battle with that technicality as my blade. That technicality is the hill upon which I would die. I love fall and every other season can rot.

But, it's some 33° now. This morning, on my way to work, it was 21°. It took over ten minutes and a combination of scrapping and defrosting to clear my car's windshield enough for me to safely drive. Yeah. Unfortunately winter's hitting early and swiftly here.

Sorry the background's so washed out. That random hand's Michelle holding Charlotte.

But, hey, it ain't all so bad. I mean, after all, I still have a few maple beers to get through, right? Which is why, in order to fend off the chill of the dark night without my home, I'm nestling down with Grand Armory's Barrel Aged Sap On Tap.

Last year, for New Year's, a buddy of mine came to visit. I hadn't seen him since he moved out west but, since he was in-state visiting his family, he asked if he could swing down to Cincinnati. "Hell yeah!" I said.

I took him on a short brewery tour of the area--some of the more popular spots. One of those spots was Braxton Labs (it was the first time I'd ever been), where they had Claus gift sets left over from its release. I bought one with the intention of doing a post about it this holiday season. I thought aging it for a year would be fun.

Shortly after making my purchase, however, I realized that I'd have nothing to compare it against after its year of aging. Luckily for me, Braxton released Claus gift sets again this year. I preordered mine online and picked it up from Braxton's Covington, KY taproom when it dropped. Problem solved.


I'm incredibly excited today, for my Christmas Eve 2018 post, to break this year's Claus to see how it is before finding out how well last year's held up. And, knowing Braxton, I think both discoveries will be positive ones.