Day 9 of the 2nd Annual Advent-ure Calendar
Day 9: 10 Barrel Brewing Pray For Snow
How perfect is it that today is the first heavy snow of winter! This is not a beer we were specifically searching for, but it definitely grabbed our attention from the shelf. We don’t know a lot about this brewery, but it’s based out of Bend, Oregon and Oregon is known for good beers. From their website: “We care about two things in the winter… Snow and Beer. We brew Pray for Snow winter ale using seven different malts and use hops that give it a piney, herbal hop complexity. Drink Beer, Stay Warm!” After looking up the beer, we discovered that 10 Barrel has a pretty cool website, very modern just like their labels. The rest of their beer lineup looks pretty delicious as well.
REFLECTIONS
Beard & Broad
Beard: This is the first beer I’ve had from 10 Barrel, so I was looking forward to it. Alas, I was not a fan. I get a lot of pine, but not hoppy pine. Pine like pine needles, pine. Unfortunately, I also think it’s a bit oxidized (oxygen being in contact with the beer after it’s been fermented), cause there’s a distinct metallic/cardboard character to it. I’d like to try this again because maybe I just got an old bottle, but either way this did not get me in the Christmas spirit.
Broad: Eh, this is not my favorite nor is it my least favorite so far. I think it’s oxidized because it tastes metallic-y. I do get hints of hops and some faint winter spice but it just tastes too malty and not a whole lot else for me. I really don’t have a lot to say about this one.
Adam & Alex
Adam: I’ve never heard of this brewery before so I was excited. I do get some metallic-ness but I like the spices enough to want to try some of their other beers. Also I was very inebriated last night so one sip of this made me feel drunk. I’d be interested to take a road trip for this place. Just saying..
Alex: I was excited to try this since we’ve never had a beer from this brewery, but it sadly ended up tasting like a bunch of pennies. I can not get past that taste. it overwhelms my taste buds, and I can’t really get any other flavors from it because of that.
Scott & CT
Scott: Pray for snow…said no one ever after the age of 18. Now for us 21+ year olds, I may make an exception as the more I drink this the more I enjoy it. It’s another one of those non-sweet winter beers that’s full of spice and just enough bite.
CT: ‘Pray for Snow’ has all the holiday hints: caramel, malty flavor and a dark pour. It’s hoppy and goes down pretty smooth. There’s nothing wrong with it but it’s not very memorable. It’s the underwear under the tree you didn’t ask for but definitely wouldn’t return. Because who returns underwear?
Lou & Jen
Lou: Oh sweet mother of spices. This beer has a dense reddish brown hue with a strong punch and too much bitterness for my liking. The flavor lingers a bit too long like an unwanted house guest. This beer is not invited to my next holiday gathering.
Jen: This strong dark winter Ale smells of light spices, cinnamon most noticeably. The first sips had a strong bite of spices, maybe too much lingering on the tongue and back of the throat. There are some earthy, burnt woodsy flavors that get stronger every sip I take. Not horrible, but there are definitely more exciting winter ales out there.
