Best California Winter Ale?

[beergeek]

What's the California winter ale that you look forward to all year? Is there one that you just can't wait to get?

For me it's Celebration Ale from Sierra Nevada. One of my favorite beers of any kind and definitely my favorite IPA.

You just can't beat that malty goodness along with the velvety bitter bite.

Perfection in a bottle.

Cheers,
Jeff

P.S. I find that it's actually better if you can age it gently for a couple years. I generally buy a case and a six pack and age the case for 2 years. If you still have any the 2000 and the 1999 are fantastic this year.

[CA Stu]

Bigfoot Ale from Sierra Nevada. 9.6%, yee haa.

My local store got 50 cases last year, I had to buy one..
They are the greatest, I would say it's my all time favorite beer.
That and Eye of the Hawk from Mendocino Brewing Co, but that'snot really a seasonal beer. But it's still good.

CA Stu
Riverside CA

[davesarman]

Being a midwesterner (MN), I probably don't have access to all the great beers from the west coast, but I would have to concur on both Sierra Nevada brews (Celebration, BIgfoot). I have been buying and aging both of those beers for a few years now. (Except for 2001 Bigfoot, I must have been sleeping that year!) This year I tried Winter Solstice from Anderson Valley. Whatta beer! Fantastic. Big, bold, slightly spicy, but not overwhelming!

[fidcastro]

Just out of curiosity, at what temperature do you age the beers?

Fid

[Day]

For Me, it's been Anchor's holiday ale. There have been years that I couldn't find it, but when I do, I buy the sixer and try to keep a Magnum to age- but I am weak, so the magnum never makes it past march. 2002 was a particularly lovely batch, a bit lighter on the orange peel, but nice vanilla and cinnamon with maybe a touch of cardamom. ( Please don't beat me, I'm just a beer enthusiast.) Bigfoot is also wond'rous, I'm less partial to the holiday ale, mainly because I feel that in a dedicated holiday beer, the hops should be in balance. Not that I'm averse to hops, mind, I simply feel that a seasonal should not have an IPA's hop profile.

[Tweek]

Anchor Old Foghorn. I love this stuff, It is ready to drink right away or ages decently well, though I must admit I have never aged it myself only tried some from a friends stash. I can never make it last long enough to age it. I find that for me Sierras bigfoot has to be aged, it is way to hoppy for me when it first hits the shelf but a year later it is tasty stuff.