Beer of the Weekend #943: Saint Nick's

The second beer this weekend is a festive offering from what may be my favorite brewery in Iowa: Saint Nick’s, brewed by the Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa.



The color is clear, dark, ruddy amber. A finger of off-white, buttery, dense head dissipates to almost nothing except a thin collar.

The first whiff is a big dose of fresh ginger. Though the ginger’s there from the beginning, the gingerbread character does not emerge until later. It’s sweet and bready with a note of caramel. Nutmeg spice becomes prominent as the pint warms.

The flavor is spicier than the aroma, with the nutmeg prominent. It’s sweet, and there are also flavors of fresh ginger, caramel, dark fruit, and a touch of vanilla.

Fun facts about Saint Nick’s:

• Style: Confluence calls it spiced brown ale.

• Price: $11.49 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at Benz Beverage Depot in Cedar Rapids.

• Alcohol content: 6.1 percent ABV.

• Here’s the brewery’s fun description of the beer:

It’s the most wonderful time of year, and often the most hectic, too. So we’ve bundled up this 4-pack of goodies just for you! After nestling a sweet, biscuity, brown ale all snug in its fermenter, we ensured that visions of warming ginger, rich vanilla, and aromatic baking spices danced in its head. The result is a beer that calls to mind a freshly baked gingerbread cookie good enough to delight even the big guy himself. So whether you’re delivering presents to millions of good children all the world over, or just wrapping up a few gifts for your own loved ones, make sure to take a minute to step back and enjoy the spirit of the season–ideally with one of these in your glass. From all of us at Confluence to you and yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.