One of my favorite beers when we lived in Holland was Duvel. The style is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. It is not very hoppy but definitely high in alcohol. I find it has a clean but slightly spicy flavor. Not at all cloying. We would buy it in small 4 packs and it would be my treat when I got home from work.

G and I went over to Central Market New Years Eve to pick up some ravioli for dinner. G asked if we were going to get a bottle of Champagne for the evening. I had not really thought about it but I suggested that we look at the special season beers instead. Christmas or Winter beers tend to be higher in alcohol. Many are also dark. I don’t mind a stout but I am not partial to porters. They are just a little to heavy. We took a look at the different brews and I came across a bottle of “Damnation” from Russian River Brewery. A good friend who is married to one of the brewers at Maritime Brewery here in Seattle had mentioned how much she liked this brewery when she did a Beer Road trip to California. It looked perfect for a New Year Eve’s toast.

It comes in a small bottle that is corked. It has a second bottle fermentation like a fine champagne. It was wonderful but potent. Perfect for sipping on a cold winter night.