Hey dear reader! Do me a favor. Next time I’m complaining about my inability to find a certain beer, please do this. Tell me rather loudly and in no uncertain terms to get me hence to Green’s Liquors. You see, this past December I was frantic trying to find three beers, The Bruery Seven Swans a Swimming, Prairie Bomb!, and Prairie Christmas Bomb!. Of course, I had no luck. Total Wine, Bullocks, Sherlocks-all sold out.

Then, Christmas week you see, my beloved wife Barbara asked me if there was anything more that I would really like to have for Christmas. And you know, I really could not think of anything, except those three beers. And then it dawned on me. A trip to Green’s Liquors in Atlanta! I hadn’t been to Green’s in quite some time, and a trip was in order. Happy news, I found all three beers and a bunch more there.

The Bruery beer has to wait until next year, of course, but the Prairie Christmas Bomb I popped on New Year's Day as a special treat. I had already enjoyed the Prairie Bomb!, and assumed that Prairie Christmas Bomb! Was just that same beer with some holiday spices tossed in. That’s not the case; although both are spiced imperial stouts they differ in strength and gravity.

The label for Prairie Christmas Bomb! Is a take on that classic holiday film Home Alone. And just like Kevin made his family disappear in that beloved film, I made my Prairie Christmas Bomb! vanish in short order as well. If you are interested, there are two other beers I’m aware of themed for holiday films, Black Box Cleveland’s Own Christmas Ale and Karbach Yule Shoot Your Eye Out.

Prairie Christmas Bomb! has an alcohol content of 11%, compared to 13% for Prairie Bomb! I paid $6.99 for my 12-ounce bottle at Green’s, a dollar more than I paid for the Prairie Bomb!

Prairie Christmas Bomb! pours to a jet black color with a thick creamy tan head formation and a really wonderful nose of coffee, chocolate and chili peppers. Taking a sip, it’s the chili that hits me at first with a little heat and more vegetal peppery flavor. It’s followed by waves of very dark chocolaty notes that remind me of a Lindt Chili Chocolate bar, cinnamon and vanilla, and then a lot of coffee flavor, and then a long dry alcohol warmth. I got more chili here than in Prairie Bomb!, and less alcohol and a tad less body. I get a bit of ginger I think, and a light hint of nutmeg. What I really like the most here are the waves of cocoa, pepper and coffee that come at you relentlessly.

Yes, it’s expensive, very expensive, but this is one of those beers that can back it up, I think. Not to be missed.

Update 7/12/2018: 2017 Christmas Bomb in July! Jet black color with a thick creamy tan head and a chili, cocoa and cinnamon nose. Taking a sip, it’s the chili that hits me at first with a little heat and more vegetal peppery flavor. It’s followed by waves of very dark chocolaty notes that remind me of a Lindt Chili Chocolate bar, cinnamon and vanilla, and then a lot of coffee flavor, and then a long dry alcohol warmth. Yeah, just like it was when I first got it. Only the coffee seems to have subsided, but that is still very apparent too. Wonderful!

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

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