Just because the holidays are drawing to a close doesn’t mean there aren’t some fine holiday seasonal beers still out there to be enjoyed.
Sam Adams has a history of brewing some excellent and innovative small batches (remember Infinium?) and Merry Maker is a fine one. This stout pours the color of strong coffee with the thickness of Guinness, and easily forms a thick, creamy head which lingers (don’t judge by my photo, I was trying to be artsy and the beer didn’t feel like posing.) Even the humor on the label shows that the brewery was having a good time with this one.
One sip tells you that this one is meant to be savored. Loaded with the holiday flavors of ginger, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg with an undeniable molasses overtone and very mild hopping, this is a beaut.
Now I must confess here to my affinity for spice cookies (another blog for sure). I like spice cookies that slap you in the face with their spice to the point where I actually put cayenne pepper in my baked goods. The Tinker and I were pretty close to heaven taking a bite of my spicy cookies, a sip of the Merry Maker, and another bit of cookie. Just delightful.
Smooth and luxurious, thick on the tongue but not cloyingly sweet, this is a splendid balance of a great stout — believe, me, it rings right through the spicing — and chock full of the holidays (hell, even the critics like it!) This stout would could easily stand up to a couple of scoops of Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla for a float an utterly heavenly float (which now makes me want to run to the local grocery). Be warned, though, at 8% alcohol, this one will make you merry quickly.
Highly recommend you give this one a try if you enjoy the flavors of a great gingerbread or spice cookies and a really great brew.
