12 Beers of Christmas - 2023 Edition

[Beekeeper]

@Rish These arrived today, intact. Thanks much!.

 

[Rish]

@mjdonnelly68 , everything arrived in good shape. I really appreciate the card and the bonus brew! Merry Christmas!

 

[4_Sons_Brewing]

Received @Rish beers today. Thanks!

 

[mjdonnelly68]

@mjdonnelly68 , everything arrived in good shape. I really appreciate the card and the bonus brew! Merry Christmas!

So glad. Merry Christmas!

 

[mjdonnelly68]

Yep, I use a Cannular too. Overall I'm quite happy with it (and I got a great deal refurbished from morebeer.com). I had 2 seals that were clearly not great from the 40 cans packaged. I tried to check each as I applied the label but clearly I need to be a bit more thorough.

FWIW - I keep a five gallon bucket of water when I can and throw each can in to test. If they fully float, I know they're good. If they don't float - I know they're witches.

 

[GoodTimeCharlie]

I’m late to the thread. I have received the stout, the weizen, the funnel, the rye bock, and the dunkel so far. All in good shape.

My are ready to ship with final packaging occurring today to drop off tomorrow

Originally I intended to dip the tops in wax but the heat caused the cap to blow. Well, I know they are fully carbed.

It smelled delicious but I haven’t tried one yet. I hope I can match y’all’s quality.

I’ll be trying out he set once complete.

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

@mjdonnelly68 Your beer is here! Thank you very much for the Christmas card (our first), and the bonus bottle. I'll need to up my game

 

[Rish]

Checked shipping ETA status today. If correct, everyone should have beers from me before this Friday.

 

[passedpawn]

I have received from several of you. So far, stellar job folks. I'm especially jealous of whoever is sending out cans. Very cool, but I don't trade much and keg and just can't justify another machine around these parts.

 

[4_Sons_Brewing]

Mine are packaged. Will box and ship tomorrow. I might be the last to ship - so apologies there…

 

[passedpawn]

Mine are packaged. Will box and ship tomorrow. I might be the last to ship - so apologies there…

I'll be last, looks like. I think I was the first to brew.

 

[mjdonnelly68]

@mjdonnelly68 Your beer is here! Thank you very much for the Christmas card (our first), and the bonus bottle. I'll need to up my game

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Glad it all arrived intact. Cheers!

 

[thetick]

My packages went out yesterday. Longest wait is the east coast, but it looks like everyone should get them this week.

I've received the Abbey Weizen, Cherry Dubbel, Juniper Rye Bock, Weizenbock, and the Bourbon Stout. So far what I have learned from this experience is that I really need to up my presentation game. Your all's beer look great! Many thanks to @tdf and @mjdonnelly68 bonus beers! And @mjdonnelly68, thank you for the Christmas card!

Really looking forward to trying all of your beers!

 

[mjdonnelly68]

My packages went out yesterday. Longest wait is the east coast, but it looks like everyone should get them this week.

I've received the Abbey Weizen, Cherry Dubbel, Juniper Rye Bock, Weizenbock, and the Bourbon Stout. So far what I have learned from this experience is that I really need to up my presentation game. Your all's beer look great! Many thanks to @tdf and @mjdonnelly68 bonus beers! And @mjdonnelly68, thank you for the Christmas card!

Really looking forward to trying all of your beers!

My pleasure - it's been a fun distraction and we have haven't even gotten to the good part yet!

 

[mjdonnelly68]

Your beers arrived safe and sound today @Rish. Thanks for the nice note and the bonus can. Haven't had a lot of beers from Alabama (and I love me a Porter). Cheers!

 

[passedpawn]

Filled a test bottle with the Blichmann gun thingy tonight. Been so long - forgot to reduce the pressure and made a real mess at first. But success in the end. Purge with CO2, cap on foam. Will get them all filled this wkend, labeled, and in the mail.

 

[tdf]

My packages went out yesterday. Longest wait is the east coast, but it looks like everyone should get them this week.

I've received the Abbey Weizen, Cherry Dubbel, Juniper Rye Bock, Weizenbock, and the Bourbon Stout. So far what I have learned from this experience is that I really need to up my presentation game. Your all's beer look great! Many thanks to @tdf and @mjdonnelly68 bonus beers! And @mjdonnelly68, thank you for the Christmas card!

Really looking forward to trying all of your beers!

I got the Honey Ginger IPA today, nice looking bottles and perfect condition. Thanks!

I had a Ginger Big Eye IPA at Ballast Point Homebrew Mart last week which made me really excited to try yours!

 

[thetick]

I had a Ginger Big Eye IPA at Ballast Point Homebrew Mart last week which made me really excited to try yours!

Oh, man, do I need to reset your expectations! Anyway, hope you enjoy! I’m looking forward to trying the stout as well!

 

[Rish]

@thetick , got yours today in good shape. Thanks!

 

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Honey Ginger IPA received today.

Mine are going to UPS now. Everyone got copied on the UPS shipping notifications.

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

@thetick Your beer is here! The plastic thingys are cool - where did you get them? Also how long will they stay inflated?

 

[tdf]

I just got @Rish's shipment. Thank you and the bonus beer looks quite appealing.

 

[4_Sons_Brewing]

I received @thetick s beers today! Thanks!

X2 on the plastic shells - would love to know where to find those.

 

[4_Sons_Brewing]

My beers are all packed and labeled, and will be dropped at the UPS store in the morning.

Y’all should receive Friday / Saturday.

I mentioned in an earlier post I brewed the beer for my sons wedding in October - I had a few left over so including one in each box as a bonus beer.

I hope you all enjoy them.

I’m excited to line them up and start trying them. I did the gingerbread ale last year and my son keeps asking for it again - I guess I’ll let him try it.

Cheers all!

 

[JAReeves]

Received Ginger IPA, Gingerbread Brown, Spiced Bourbon Stout, Weizenbock, Juniper Rye Bock, Abbey Weizen, Cherry Dubbel.

Will bottle tomorrow, ship today or Saturday.

 

[thetick]

The plastic thingys are cool - where did you get them? Also how long will they stay inflated?

I picked them up off Amazon: 32 Pcs Wine Bottle Travel Protector Bags, Monkkino Inflatable Bubble Cushion Wrap, Safety Choice for Glass Bottles in Transport with Luggage, Air Filled Packaging Sleeves with Reusable Pump.

They are made for shipping wine bottles so the size was a little off, but worked pretty well with some added packing material. They have one-way valves that keep the individual channels inflated, so I suspect it will stay inflated for quite some time.

I found them when I was looking for packing material similar to what @Beekeeper sent -- I thought the individual cardboard holders worked great. I just couldn't find a way to get those locally without buying wholesale and paying the associated shipping rates.

 

[thetick]

Got the Gingerbread Ale yesterday. Really looking forward to trying them. That was actually my first choice to brew but I waited too long to commit to doing this and @Rish had jumped in there while I was hesitating!

And thank you, @Rish, for the bonus beer! Looking forward to trying it as well!

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

I picked them up off Amazon: 32 Pcs Wine Bottle Travel Protector Bags, Monkkino Inflatable Bubble Cushion Wrap, Safety Choice for Glass Bottles in Transport with Luggage, Air Filled Packaging Sleeves with Reusable Pump.

They are made for shipping wine bottles so the size was a little off, but worked pretty well with some added packing material. They have one-way valves that keep the individual channels inflated, so I suspect it will stay inflated for quite some time.

I found them when I was looking for packing material similar to what @Beekeeper sent -- I thought the individual cardboard holders worked great. I just couldn't find a way to get those locally without buying wholesale and paying the associated shipping rates.

I see cheaper ones on Amazon if you buy a larger quantity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC53XBH1/

 

[Beekeeper]

Thanks @thetick! Your Honey Ginger IPA has been safely delivered.

 

[passedpawn]

I picked them up off Amazon: 32 Pcs Wine Bottle Travel Protector Bags, Monkkino Inflatable Bubble Cushion Wrap, Safety Choice for Glass Bottles in Transport with Luggage, Air Filled Packaging Sleeves with Reusable Pump.

They are made for shipping wine bottles so the size was a little off, but worked pretty well with some added packing material. They have one-way valves that keep the individual channels inflated, so I suspect it will stay inflated for quite some time.

I found them when I was looking for packing material similar to what @Beekeeper sent -- I thought the individual cardboard holders worked great. I just couldn't find a way to get those locally without buying wholesale and paying the associated shipping rates.

I've been using those Spirited Shipper boxes for years. They are dumb expensive for cardboard (imagine how much cardboard you just throw away weekly from amazon... why is SS cardboard so pricey?). They are a little cheaper if you buy them on amazon instead of direct from SS.

I took a good look at those inflatables you used. I might just switch to those. The first year I used those SS boxes, a couple of the recipients reported broken bottles inside.