Beer Blogging Friday: The Session #17 Drinking Out of Season

Rob over at the beer blog Pfiff! is the host of this month's Beer Blogging Friday. The 17th edition of The Session has to do with drinking counter-seasonally. As Rob puts it:

"The subject for July's Session could be summed up thusly: Drinking anti-seasonally. Think of this as the unorthodox cousin of such topics as "beer and food" and "beer and music". Beer and weather, perhaps? More like beer despite the weather, I guess. Cracking open a Guinness on the beach, finishing a day of yardwork with a Speedway Stout, or whatever else you do that raises an eyebrow (again, beer-related, please), do us all a favor an take a few moments to share your non-conformist tale (again, you kangaroos and lemurs down there, your take on this could be even more peculiar, so do chime in, please)."

I've never feared drinking out of season. I'm more likely to enjoy a barleywine during the depth of winter, but that has more to do with availability than it does seasonality. A crisp pilsner or hoppy IPA is refreshing and fits well the the core of summer. But a tasty stout has its place in quenching a July thirst, too.

Two beers that I have enjoyed while vacationing this week are evidence that drinking out of season has its rewards. It's about freshness and flavor, which is in season no matter what beer style you are enjoying.

Sackets Harbor Scotch Ale: A nice dark amber brown draught with a creamy texture, this New York beer is really more of a rauchbier than a true Scotch ale. The brewery uses a small amount of barley from Scotland that has been smoked over peat as if it was being prepared for making whisky. If they made beer on Islay, it would taste like this one. A real treat that works as well during the summer as it does during colder weather months.

Thomas Creek Deep Water Dopplebock: This South Carolina bottled beer weighs in at 6.25 percent alcohol by volume. Doppelbocks traditionally were brewed in Germany for the Lenten season to help monks and peasants more happily survive fasts. A rich dark brown, the beer throws off a nice firm head. The flavor has plenty of roasted malt characteristics. Very enjoyable, this beer leans slightly to the sweet side, with hints of coffee to balance out the flavor profile.