Specialty Beer Store Phoenix AZ

This country may have been glued to the election polls last night, but the issue in the back of many minds was Prop 19, California’s bill to allow the legalization and government regulation of marijuana. Suffice it to say, it failed. Regardless of whether the supporters led an unorganized campaign—joke away!—or the state just wasn’t quite ready for this action, marijuana rose to a higher level of awareness this election cycle. After the endless media coverage, I’m feeling a bit burnt out. Even Steve Inskeep of NPR’s “Morning Edition” asked his audience if last night’s results made you want to light a joint. In the end, the thick dank cloud of debate has parted, and in the clearing stands not pot dispensaries, but an illegal case of the munchies. Pot will live to fight another day, but in the meantime, wash away your sorrow or celebrate victory (even opponents can be ironic) with these chronically good beers.

Mt. Shasta Weed Golden Ale
Crisp, fruity and refreshing, this beer has just enough mellow hops to leave you feeling, well, mellow, too.

C’est What? Homegrown Hemp Ale
“Don’t inhale, just enjoy” say these Ontario brewers. Enjoy the slightly nutty flavor hemp seeds impart in this cream ale, that is.

Lagunitas The Censored
This balanced sweet-and-bitter brew’s original name, The Kronik, was a casualty long before Prop 19 fell.

Nectar Ales Hemp Ale
This brown ale’s hops loosen up the rich nutty, caramel flavors while hemp adds...

by Laraine Perri

Waes hael (“be hale,” “be healthy”) is the Old English holiday greeting and sentiment behind the name of Wassail, a potent, warm libation. A punch that packs one, wassail owes as much to its evocation of Christmas carolers bringing a cheerful song and hope for good tidings (their reward: a drink from the wassail bowl) as it does to its concoction: a heady blend of ale (ideally, a toasty, malty holiday one), fortified wine, roasted apples and winter spice.

Wassail

Serves about 12

3 small Gala or Fuji apples, cored and halved

2 bottles Cigar City Warmer Winter Winter Warmer

2 3-inch cinnamon sticks

3 cloves

1 cup dry sherry

1⁄2 cup plus 1⁄4 cup dark brown sugar, divided

1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger

1⁄8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

zest from half a lemon, in long strips

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Place the apples in a shallow baking dish, sprinkle 1⁄2 cup brown sugar over the fruit, and pour 1⁄4 cup of the beer in the bottom of the dish. Bake until tender, about 40 minutes.

• While the apples bake, combine the remaining beer with the remaining 1⁄4 cup brown sugar, sherry, lemon zest and spices in a large pot over medium-low heat until the mixture just begins to bubble (do not let the liquid boil). Reduce heat to the lowest setting, and simmer 30 minutes.

• Remove the lemon zest, cinnamon sticks and cloves from the pot. Add the apples and their juices, stir well to combine, and simmer together 10 minutes. L...