Beer of the Week: He’Brew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah Thirteenth Anniversary Ale

By Mario, on November 26th, 2009

It seems like every week I’m looking at another Christmas ale to review. This seems a bit unfair to those that might not be of the Christian faith. Also, many winter brews are an annual release of the same recipe. How about a beer that changes every year, getting bigger, possibly better? It is with this in mind that I reached for my bottle of He’Brew’s Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah for my beer of the week.

THIS YEAR, HE’BREW BEER TURNS 13!
Shmaltz Brewing Releases JEWBELATION BAR MITZVAH, Limited Edition Holiday Seasonal
Brewed With 13 Malts & 13 Hops Soaring To 13% Alcohol

America’s smallest, biggest and most award-winning Jewish (and now Sideshow Freak) Beer Company, Shmaltz Brewing celebrates its 13th year of delicious beer and delicious shtick with the special release of JEWBELATION BAR MITZVAH: their 13th Chosen Beer in 13 years of Shmaltz. Brewed with 13 malts, 13 hops and soaring to 13% alc, Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah will be nationally available in 22 oz. bottles and a very limited amount of draft for select bars beginning October 1, 2009.

Since its inception in 2004, Shmaltz’s Jewbelation series has been touted by critics receiving top accolades including “5 Stars” from Celebrator Beer News, “Best Holiday Beer” by Pacific Brew News, and Playboy Magazine pegging Jewbelation Twelve as one of the “Best Winter Brews.” A recent issue of Beer Advocate (Volume II, Issue VIII) commented, “Today, Jeremy Cowan of Shmaltz Brewing Company is arguably making some of the best contract-brewed beers in America.”

From the new Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah Label:

On April 24, 1982, I chanted, gave a speech about Leprosy, got my first Walkman, 3 pen sets, and 2 swiss army knives. The band was called Hot Borscht. As with all Bar and Bat Mitzvah kids, my parents recited a blessing thanking God for finally being relieved of punishment for their child’s sins. Lucky 13 all around.

At High Holidays, Jews recite 13 Attributes of Mercy revealed to Moses at Sinai. 13 million Jews inhabit the globe. Maimonides wrote the dogmatic 13 Principles of Faith, and died the 13th of Dec. 1204. The mystical Zohar emerged in 13th c. Spain, ascribed to a 2nd century Rabbi who studied Torah in a cave with his son for 13 years. The Jewish calendar follows 13 lunar cycles. Apollo 13 failed to reach the moon after an explosion on April 13 (1970). July 4th falls 13 days after summer solstice. 13 stripes on our flag represent the 13 Colonies. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery. Barack Obama represented the 13th district in the IL State Senate. In 1957 Sandy Koufax made 13 starts, struck out 13 in his first complete game, and pitched the final Dodger strike before they left Brooklyn. 13 attended the Last Supper. 13 bagels make a Baker’s Dozen, began for fear of punishment under a 13th c. English law regulating the price of bread and beer. Genesis 13:13 tells of the wicked men of Sodom. Genghis Khan conquered the world in the 13th century. Black Sabbath released its debut album on Friday Feb 13th (1970). Recording Rain Dogs, Tom Waits told guitarist Marc Ribot “Play it like a midget’s bar mitzvah.” Happy 13, Shmaltzers. Together we rise and holler, “L’Chaim!” –Jeremy Cowan, proprietor

13 Malts: Specialty 2-Row; Canada Munich; Caramunich 40; Chocolate; Crystal Rye; Dark Crystal; Flaked Spelt; Flaked Oats; Kiln Amber; Pilsner; Rye Ale; Vienna; Wheat

13 Hops, 13 Additions: Ahtanium; Amarillo; Apollo; Cascade; Centennial; Columbus; Crystal; Fuggle; Golding; Palisade; Simcoe; Tettnang; Willamette

When getting into this bottle, the first thing I noticed was how immensely big this beer was. Every bit of this 13% beer greets you in the glass, be it aroma, flavor, or impact on the senses, Jewbelation isn’t a timid brew by any means. Aromas of booze and dark fruit set the stage for a chocolatey flavor with incredible depth. Cherries, sorghum (surprisingly not among the 13 malts), and brandy stand out from the flavors but there is so much more lying beneath the surface. Perfect as a dessert, this bottle is best split amongst a few people as the complexity of flavor will encourage you to keep digging and discovering new layers to this beer, but at 13% might be best sampled in moderation. Regardless, this is by far my favorite Jewbelation release and only promises to get better with age.

For the last few years, I’ve been wondering “Where does it stop?” The answer may be soon, as 13 may be the unlucky number. While none of this is officially confirmed, there have been rumors that Bar Mitzvah will be the last of the increasingly potent and complex annual releases. In the place of yet an even bigger beer is an offering that has be just as excited, six packs featuring 12 oz bottles of all six Jewbelation releases (8,9,10,11,12,13). These will be freshly brewed versions of the Jewbelation series, so if you’ve missed any of the previous releases, this would be your chance to taste them fresh. Again, this is rumor at this point but I will be sure to pass along any information as news becomes available.

Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah should be available on store shelves today, so go out and stock up while you can. Hanukkah starts the evening before December 12, so you’ve got a little more than 2 weeks to get ready.