Mentions of wine and/or strong drink, shekar, in the Bible, some historians and brewers believe, do not refer to wine — but to beer.
Some speculate that the manna that preserved Moses and the Israelites wasn’t just bread, but liquid bread, which fermented into beer. In other words, Jews and brews are a storied pair.
While Chanukah is the Festival of Lights, “lite” beer is no way to celebrate with family and friends. For the suds-lover on your list, here are some recommendations.
FIRST NIGHT: Undoubtedly, the most appropriate beer for Chanukah is Jewbelation 13 (22 ounces, $5.99), brewed by San Francisco–based Shmaltz Brewing Co., creators of He’Brew.
To commemorate its anniversary, the brewer each year releases a new Jewbelation. Bay Area native and Stanford grad Jeremy Cowan launched Shmaltz in 1996, so this year marks the company’s 13th birthday, and Jewbelation 13 is an apt way to celebrate the onset of “brewberty” by becoming a bar mitzvah.
Brewed with 13 grains from barley to quinoa, 13 varieties of hops, and weighing in at 13 percent alcohol by volume, this is serious shekar.
SECOND NIGHT: Speaking of San Francisco breweries, the city is ground zero for the craft beer renaissance thanks to Fritz Maytag, who resurrected Anchor Steam and, along with it, winter seasonal ales.
Of particular note, Maytag and his brewers alchemized herbs, spices and “botanical mysteries” into Anchor’s Our Special Ale ($9.99 for a six-pack, $14.99 for 1.5 liters). The label depicts a tree, which changes annually, so while it is not a Christmas tree, who is to say it is not a Chanukah bush?
THIRD NIGHT: Lompoc Brewing in Portland, Ore., has created its first Chanukah beer this year: 8 Malty Nights. Alas, it is available only on tap … in Oregon.
However, another brewery in “Brewtopia” (as Portland is called) is sprinkling a little Chanukah cheer on one of its winter beers. Hair of the Dog brewery is offering Doggie Claws (12 ounces, $5.49) in bottles, which can be found in some Bay Area stores.
It is a barleywine, meaning it is darker, sweeter and more viscous than many beers due to its increased malted barley content. The dog on the label does sport a Santa Claus hat, but it has menorahs on either side of it. Looks as if “Brewtopia” is going Jewtopia.
FOURTH THROUGH SIXTH NIGHTS: The world mourned the passing of pop star Michael Jackson this year, but suds lovers grieved the loss of superstar beer author Michael Jackson back in 2007.
What many didn’t realize, however, is that the British beer scribe, known as “The Beer Hunter,” was Jewish. His father was Isaac Jakowitz, a Lithuanian Jew who anglicized his name.
Jackson single-handedly created beer criticism with his 1977 book “The World Guide to Beer,” updated 20 years later “The New World Guide to Beer” ($19.95). It is a fantastic summation of brewing cultures around the world and the fine lagers and ales they are responsible for today.
Taking it up a notch, in “Great Beer Guide” ($17.95), Jackson zeroed in on his perceived 500 best beers in the world, many of which are available in the United States, and offered notes on presenting, appreciating and tasting each one.
To complete a stellar trilogy of his works, consider giving “Great Beers of Belgium” ($36.95), which he revised in a sixth edition shortly before his death. This is the quintessential guide to the dazzling world of Belgian beers from fortifying Trappist ales still brewed by monks to sour lambics that truly put Belgium in a league of its own.
SEVENTH NIGHT: Author Don Russell explains in his book “Christmas Beer: The Cheeriest, Tastiest and Most Unusual Holiday Brews” ($7.95) that, for millennia, agrarians celebrated the winter solstice by brewing beers made heavier with extra with grains as well as fruits and spices.
From the Romans gorging themselves on strong brews during Saturnalia to the Vikings drinking themselves blotto during Yule, pre-monotheists took their winter intoxication seriously.
Russell makes certain to include a short section on Chanukah.
EIGHTH NIGHT: When you get right down to it, the best way to appreciate beer is enjoying it with friends and family.
Tommy’s Joynt, located at 1101 Geary Blvd. in San Francisco, was founded in 1947 by Tommy Harris and is still in the same family hands, currently run by the Katzman family, longtime supporters of the Bay Area Jewish community.
How about a Tommy’s gift certificate for the beer lover on your list? The well-known hofbräu has more than 100 beers to choose from, ranging from bottles from around the world to a cold pint of He’Brew on tap.
Brian Yaeger is the author of “Red, White, and Brew: An American Beer Odyssey.” It also makes a nice Chanukah gift. Contact him at [email protected].