Before I met my craft beer-obsessed husband, my favorite beers were super light ales with an ABV of 5 percent or less. But once I discovered dark, stronger beers that taste like dessert, I quickly changed gears (or, beers! Sorry...).
Jack’s Abby Brewing – located in Framingham, Mass. – is one local, family-owned brewery that fulfills my current beer cravings. Jack’s Abby’s beers are made with locally sourced ingredients when possible, and are preservative-free and unfiltered – all characteristics of a beer I wholeheartedly support.
One of Jack’s Abby’s beers inparticular – the appropriately named Framinghammer – is one of my go-to cold weather brews. This Baltic porter clocks in at 10 percent ABV, and boasts rich flavors like chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and coffee. The smooth, sultry mouthfeel is a result of a long conditioning period, and the brewers at Jack’s Abby add oats and brown sugar to the mix to enhance the beer’s silky texture.
The aroma of the Framinghammer is deceiving, as it’s roasted coffee notes don’t do the bold flavors of the brew much justice. However, every sip is convincing that this is one solid porter, which only gets better as it warms to room temperature.
The Framinghammer was released in December, and unfortunately isn’t on store shelves year-round. So, in other words, hurry and grab a bottle today! Jack’s Abby also releases several different versions of their original Framinghammer, including barrel-aged, coffee, and vanilla varieties (to name a few).
And, if you can't make it to Framingham anytime soon to try Jack's Abby's other great brews, Volante Farms in Needham gets many of the beers that are usually exclusive to the Jack's Abby tap room. (Volante's beer guy is friends with the brewers at Jack's Abby).
What’s your favorite cold weather beer? Would you like to see more beer reviews like this on The EE?