2° Below
Pull on your wool socks and crack open a 2° Below Ale. This tasty winter warmer started life as a small batch beer brewed for the Al Johnson Uphill Downhill – a telemark ski race in Crested Butte, Colorado. The Uphill Downhill celebrates the exploits of Al Johnson, letter carrier extraordinaire, who delivered mail by ski in the late 1800’s. Dry hopping during fermentation creates a floral nose with a hint of pepper and spicy, subtle undertones. 2° Below provides a bright, hoppy palate and a cheery warm afterglow.
Seasonal: November, December, January.
Chef Todd Davies, Partner of Tap House Grill, recommends:
Fall apple and Asian pear compote, marcona almonds, honey, quark. I braise the pears and apples in white sugar, honey, and a little 2 Below. The hops offset the sweetness, while the quark smoothes the hops, and the honey complements the sweet malts. The nutty almonds accentuate the malts.
Melissa Newell, Owner of Terroir Restaurant, recommends:
I love this beer. Suddenly, winter is my favorite season. With more body than its counterpart Skinny Dip and different layers of flavor, this beer is a perfect end to any winter day in Colorado. While sweeter on the finish than Skinny Dip, it also presents with a generous dose of hops up front. I would pair this beer with a main course of Merguez sausages, harissa, and Israeli couscous. Primarily for its balanced hops with malts, but still manageable with the amount of fat in the sausages, and secondarily for its ability to stand up to the heat of the harissa without being lost. Additionally, this beer would pair well with any salad that contains a strong flavored hard cheese.
Derek Kennedy, Cheese Aficionado, recommends:
During the chilly seasons thinking about hearty combinations that will linger like the long evenings and warm you like sun in the daytime, a strong American cheese comes to mind. Not the orange processed type, but the classic, only true American cheese: Dry Monterey Jack. With its wonderful crystal structure, yet punctual feel in the mouth, it just begs to be shared with such a beautiful beer.
Lauren Salazar, our sensory specialist, recommends:
Sweet potatoes, dark meat or wild game, stuffing, au grautin, chile con queso, butternut squash bisque.
