Santa Brought IPA, Not Therapy, And We’re Fine

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Sleigh bells are packed away, but the glasses are out, starting with Kringle Juice from Big Ditch Brewing—a hazy IPA that looks like Christmas and drinks like clean citrus and pine. We dig into the aroma, that first juicy hit, the subtle dryness as it warms, and why it stacks next to Elvis Juice without feeling like a clone. At 7% ABV and easygoing bitterness, it’s a quiet holiday hero for anyone who wants a festive can and a year-round flavor.

The chat opens up from there. We trade stories about how family traditions shift once the grandparents stop hosting—why some branches drift into smaller circles and how one person stepping up can bring the tribe back together. It’s a candid, funny, and honest look at gathering without the pressure of a calendar date, where the real win is people in a room, not perfection on the table. Along the way we toss in gaming chaos: accidental alliances, surprise ambushes, and the social weirdness of PvP that still keeps us logging on. It’s community, whether you find it around a tree, a couch, or a loading screen.

Then we pour dessert: Hardywood’s Peppermint Bark Stout. Chocolate-forward, softly minty, and lighter than most pastry stouts at 9.2% ABV, it slides between milk and dark chocolate notes with a finish that feels like a winter nightcap. We talk pairings, why it works after dinner, and where it lands on our keeper scale. Add a few white elephant gems, a ham-sandwich confession, and a shout-out to a hot honey pepperoni pizza that stole the show, and you’ve got a cozy, laughter-heavy holiday wrap.

If you’re into craft beer reviews, seasonal stouts, hazy IPAs, and real talk about family and traditions, you’ll feel right at home. Tap play, rate along with us, and tell us your winter go-to: are you Team IPA or Team Stout? Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a new holiday pour, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.

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