Introduction

The brewery simply wanted to craft a unique Christmas beer, without being too sweet. One day, while sampling the future-named Grinch, they watched the movie and thought, “what a perfect name!”’ A customer wrote a poem in ode to this beer, " ...They stewed and reviewed about the brew to debut, then finally approved, this beer just for you." Read the full version on their site. Bridge Brewing was originally classified as a nano-brewery, with a production of about 1,000 barrels per year (or a couple batches a week). Nanos typically produce between a third to a tenth of a microbrewery. Even smaller than a nano, pico-breweries produce about 500 barrels per year. There is no hard and fast numbers of what the defining volumes are from pico to macro - each market interprets them differently. Cellerable in the right conditions, but we suggest enjoying today at 10 C.

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How it looks

Almost black with red-cola edges and a puffy, rocky tan head that lingers briefly and leaves light brown lacing.

How it smells

Bread and biscuit malt with vanilla, caramel and coffee. Chocolate and additional darker, roasted malts are a bit hidden, with mild perfumed floral greenery, like pine. Dried fruits and ginger give a sweet and spicy profile.

How it tastes

Iniitial flavours of gingerbread, and grainy, caramel malt take centre stage. Bitter and dusty cocoa powder is followed by an array of spices, we pick up on cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove. There is nice depth with pine, citrus peel and leafy, floral, green hop bitters. A medium-bodied beer that finishes off-dry and roasty with faint notes ginger snaps. Mild and constrained use of spices make this an enjoyable winter warmer well-past Dec 25th.

Recommended food pairing

If you haven't maxed out your sweet tooth from the holidays, we suggest coffee cake with vanilla bean ice cream. It pairs quite nicely with the spice notes on this beer.

Bridge Brewing The Grinch