Days of the Beer, December 21

The beer for today is Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Winter Solstice.

December 21 is the solstice (winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and summer in the Southern Hemisphere). On the solstice, the Earths axis is most oriented toward or away from the sun. The word comes from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).

The solstice is the shortest day of the year. Additionally, it is the first day of winter (or summer in the southern hemisphere, where it is their longest day).

The solstice has a LOT to do with sun gods. For more information on sun gods, watch the first part of Zeitgeist, The Movie.

As to the beer:

Anderson Valley Brewing Company is located in Boonville, California. They are a solar powered brewery. They produce 11 beers including Brother Davids Double and Triple. They are famous for having things printed underneath their bottle cap.

Each year, when people are starting to unpack their winter clothes and replenish their firewood, our tiny brewery in the coastal redwoods of Northern California makes seasonal preparations of a different kind. As the cold arrives, we release a unique beverage created to add warmth to even the coldest and darkest of winter's days. Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale begins with a very high original gravity to create a hearty and spicy brew with a deep amber hue and a smooth finish. Anderson Valley Brewing Company wishes you the very best for the holiday season and the New Year.

If you collect 50 of their different bottle caps, you will win a prize (bumper sticker and keychain). So far, 33 people have done this. Anderson Valley beer is available in about half of the U.S. It is available in Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Colorado (to name a few places).

So for the Winter Solstice, have a Winter Solstice.