Day 12 of the 4th Annual Advent-ure Calendar
Day 12: Collision Bend Brewing 8 Crazy Nights Winter Ale
This is another brand new beer to the list, woo! Collision Bend, owned by local restaurateur Zack Bruell, just recently started distributing their products so this beer is actually new to everyone. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot out there about it. The description on the beer says “brewed with apples, honey and cinnamon.” We don’t really have any expectations with this beer since the description doesn’t state a lot of information and we haven’t heard anything about it. Hopefully it’s like receiving a Christmas present you weren’t expecting!
Reflections
Beard & Broad
Beard: I’m surprised I wasn’t a fan of this! I’ve had some great things form Collision Bend (their Kolsch is one of the best I’ve ever had), but this just didn’t do it for me. Maybe my mouth is having an off day. It’s rather on the malty side but finishes pretty bitter, which caught me off guard. I was expecting a winter warmer style beer so maybe it’s all my fault. I definitely need to try this again before winter is over, perhaps I’ll have different thoughts now that I know what to expect.
Broad: I was excited to try a new beer from a brewery I enjoy and oh boy this did not disappoint! I VERY MUCH enjoy this beer. I taste a lot of apple, a hint of spices and overall it’s very smooth. I would definitely classify this as a winter ale (which it is) and not a Christmas ale since it’s not too bold or spicy (even though the can states otherwise). I think we will add this to the rotation of winter beers in our fridge.
Adam & Alex
Adam: I realllllly like this beer. It’s an awesome mix of honey and spices and the apples give it a feeling of being lighter than its 8.5 percent implies. It’s like the difference between white tea and black tea kinda. I’m on board with drinking this a whole bunch more.
Alex: I was really excited when we found Collision Bend’s 8 Crazy Nights. It is new this year and I think it’s one of the best newer holiday beers that has come out. It tastes like cinnamon and honey with a hint of apples. It’s warming in a good way and I would definitely seek this out again.
Mom review: I could drink this for 8 nights!
Dad review: (smacks lips and shakes his head vigorously in agreement)
Scott & Christa
Scott: 8 Crazy Nights by Collision Bend is a new one for me. I really, really like this can. It looks cool, feels nice in the hand and never gets condensation on the outside. Taste-wise, I wasn’t crazy about the first couple sips, but letting it get to room temperature made a big difference. It’s another one of those beers I’d really like to try on draft before I make my final consensus. So at this point, I’d just say I like it, but I need to try again.
Christa: I’m with Scott and much like Adam’s review yesterday, I keep forgetting what this beer tastes like. It’s NOT BAD but it isn’t remarkable. I love the spices and the warmness. It’s good, not great. That being said, it’s subtle and would win over a crowd so I think it’s a good one to add to our rotation for next year and as an option when introducing out of townies to Ohio’s wonderful beer catalog.
Tony & Megan
Tony: I haven’t had many beers from Collision bend and after this I don’t plan on having any more! #burn….j/k j/k but I am not feeling this one. It tastes pretty syrupy. I don’t know if its too much honey or what but it just doesn’t work for me. You get cinnamon, I don’t really taste the apples that they mention, and it just comes across a little flat. Still curious to try other beers from them but won’t be grabbing this one again.
Megan: Described as having notes of apple, cinnamon and honey, this is a dark and sweet pour. I’m getting more of the honey and cinnamon so I wish I got more apple but I don’t mind it. True to the Christmas ale fashion this is a heavier beer so I don’t think I could drink a lot of these in a row but I wouldn’t mind one or two.