Part 2 of my parade of winter 12-packs…

A snow day calls for a winter seasonal mix-pack! My office was closed yesterday due to the mini snow storm that hit the region during the morning rush hour. All told, we only got three inches of snow, but it came down heaviest between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. Good call on shutting it down so I could avoid what would have been a nightmare of a morning commute.

I celebrated the snow day with a holiday tradition – the Saranac 12 Beers of Winter. The menu in this mix-pack changes every year and the 2013 line-up included three new beers and two encores from 2012, plus one year-round brew:

• Pale Ale (5.5%),  this crisp, classic English Pale Ale is one of Saranac’s core offerings
• 4059′ Porter (5.2%), a robust Porter
• Belgian Pale Ale (5.5%), this Pale Ale’s fruity aroma is complemented by spicy American hops
• Decoction Concoction Lager (6.0%), a delicious dry-hopped German Lager (new)
• Moonshadow Black IPA (6.0%), brewed with five different hops and imported dark malt for a deep color and hoppy roasted flavor. According to Saranac, It’s an IPA. With a dark side. (new)
• Rudy’s Spiced Christmas Ale (6.0%), This amber ale’s ingredient list reads like a Christmas cookie. A malty, slightly spicy, slightly sweet treat that complements any holiday meal. (new)

I’m partial to IPAs, so Moonshadow was my favorite brew of this solid 12-pack. F.X. Matt Brewing Company in Utica, New York brews the Saranac line of beers. Congrats to the brewery on 125 years of brewing!