‘Tis Now The Season…For Fireplace Beer!  

Hugh Sisson’s Diary of a Brewer

Now that the holidaze are behind us (my waistline rejoices!) it is time for that most wonderful of Winter Traditions – the Fireplace Beer!  So what is that? While it works better if you live where it snows, you can still use your imagination and create your own appropriate circumstances if you are fortunate enough to live in a warmer clime.

Step One: make sure you have a good supply of very rich barley wine, imperial stout, or some such opulent beer style on hand (Below Decks, Winter Storm, or Peg Leg come to mind!)  On a day when the winter weather becomes so inclement that you will not be going to work – a foot of snow or fill in your preferred excuse here – you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of having to follow

Step Two: build a roaring fire.

Step Three: arrange around your favorite easy chair and Ottoman (leather preferred but not required) – a wedge of extremely sharp and well aged cheddar cheese, a loaf of fine crusty bread, a volume of fine literature (Shakespeare or Chaucer for us former English majors), a lovely dog curled at your feet (an Irish Setter old enough to be mellow works really well here, but a long haired Dachsund will do in a pinch).

Step Four: open said lovely bottle of rich beer, pour into a snifter, and set it down amid the cheese and bread in a picturesque tableau.

Step Five:  settle your posterior gently into the easy chair, pet the dog, put your feet on the Ottoman, have a sip of the delectable malt beverage, survey the scene, and make a day of it.

That is Fireplace Beer.  One of the truly great joys of Winter.  Enjoy!

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