The Beer:
Uber Blitzen by Maumee Bay Brewery
12.0% ABV | 20 IBU
“Based on our famous Blitzen Ale, we amp up the batch with a huge charge of malt
extract to double the ABV while keeping all the Blitzen honey, orange and cinnamon goodness. Careful, you might need an Uber to go home after a night with Uber Blitzen.” - @mbaybrew
C’mon in. Have a seat. Today we’re going to talk about Santa’s reindeer. Specifically, Michael Martin’s favorite reindeer. If you’re asking yourself, “Who’s Michael Martin?” Good question. Because unless you have fairly intimate knowledge of the staff working for Maumee Bay Brewing Company, you probably don’t know who he is. So allow me to introduce him. He’s a 25 year old graduate of Cloverleaf high school who went on to earn his degree in Professional Sales and Finance from the University of Toledo. A big fan of Star Wars Michael hosts MBBC’s annual May the 4th trivia and, like myself, rocks out to Blink-182 on the reg. He grew up just south of the Land in Medina County before relocating to the Glass City for college.
In 2020 he headed to Maumee Bay Brewing after receiving a job offer from their GM Danielle Perkins. The two had previously worked together so when Danielle came calling to join up again Michael jumped at chance. “When she offered me an opportunity to come over to Maumee Bay, it was basically a no-brainer!”
“There were a couple of aspects to what brought me to Maumee Bay.” He said, “...one of the things I enjoy is the fact that the company is full of amazing people.” But, “The main would have to be our GM, Danielle.”
Michael began as a server and bartender while working his way through college. After three short years his studies in Professional Sales and Finance helped in his ascent to his current position of Brewery Sales Manager where he traverses the Buckeye state making in roads and pushing sales.
If you’re unfamiliar, MBBC operates out of Toledo's famous Oliver house. Built in 1859 the landmark former hotel may, or may not, be haunted with its reported phantom cigar smoke, a widow whose husband left her for the war, a woman in a white dress as well as a ship captain and a servant woman who was murder. At least that’s what ghost behaviorist Chris Bores believes.
“I have this device here that will spit out words according to the energy that is in the area, and when I was trying to contact the servant lady, I got two words in succession on here. One was ‘malicious’ and one was ‘highway’. And that told me she was murdered in a malicious way and then snuck out through a highway of tunnels out to the bay,” Bores told Toledo’s WTVG back in 2021.
Despite potential malevolent spirits, Michael finds the brewery itself as one of his favorite things about the job. “I look forward to the days I get to spend at the brewery!” He declares ”...that would have to be my favorite aspect of the job.” Adding, “All of the history and the atmosphere is just indescribable!”
So, his favorite reindeer is, you guessed it, Rudolph. Just playin’. He’s not into that brown-nosing (red nosing?) son of a gun who helped Santa that one time and somehow went from beta to alpha overnight. No. Not talking about him. Not even going to think about him moving forward.
No, today we’re here to discuss the best reindeer by far, drum roll please… Blitzen!
Coincidently, Blitzen is the name of Michael's favorite winter ale which also happens to be brewed by the very brewing company that employs him. Purely coincidental I’m sure…
But before we get into MBBC’s winter ale let’s talk a little about the winter ale style in the contemporary age. The modern craft beer movement rekindled interest in winter ales in the late 20th century. American brewers began to experiment with ales, drawing inspiration from European traditions (winter warmers and even wassail, a type of warm spiced drink) and adding their own unique twists. Anchor Brewing Company’s Christmas Ale, released in the mid 70’s, along with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Celebration Ale, first released in the early 80’s, are considered landmark American winter beers and helped popularize the style nationwide.
Today, winter ales come in a wide variety of styles, from traditional English old ales and Belgian bières de Noël to American-style brown ales and spiced porters.
But what are some common characteristics one might find in these types of ales? Typically, you’re going to find a higher abv. Generally between 5 to 15%, considering the barrel aged varieties, a popular style in the last few years. They’re going to be darker in their color profile with darker rich malts being used. For warmth and complexity, spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves are often added. For sweetness, some honey or the addition of fruits like cherries, raisins, or plums.
MBBC’s Blitzen winter ale fits right in as it’s chock full o’nuts of all the seasonal goodies one might expect. “…when the Christmas Ales come out, that is my favorite season. I love the cinnamon and honey that is added!” Michael said.
MBBC’s Blitzen tosses in a dose of orange peel in addition to the cinnamon and honey. At a tummy warming 7.7 abv, there’s just enough alcohol to make you notice.
But they don’t rest their laurels on one Blitzen Winter Ale, no sir. They have three. The others being Uber Blitzen and Barrel Aged Blitzen Imperial Winter.
The Uber Blitzen adds supplemental malt extract early in the brewing process, amping up the final abv to 12%.
“The noticeable flavor difference is the Uber Blitzen has a much more “boozy” flavor to it. You can definitely tell the ABV difference…” Michael noted.
And then there’s the Barrel-Aged Blitzen Imperial Winter. “...the BA Uber essentially adds a light oak flavor to the Uber Blitzen! And typically I prefer the Uber Blitzen with that little extra kick to it!” Michael stated.
The BA Blitzen gets that extra kick from its time spent in bourbon barrels. MBBC lets the brew age for a year and a half in Basil Hayden oak barrels which is counter to the standard 6 to 12 months. When it’s all said and done the aging super charges the abv, maxing it out at 14%.
Blitzen in Real Life
His name is derived from the German word for "lightning," and it perfectly captures his essence, Blitzen that is, not Michael. By far, he is the fastest reindeer of the pack, and is known for his incredible stamina, agility and unwavering determination. While what’s his name may guide the way with his glowing nose, it is Blitzen's (and his partner in crime Donner’s) raw power that truly propels the sleigh forward. While Blitzen’s name refers to lightning, Donner's is German for “thunder” and the two form a formidable team as they are positioned nearest Santa’s sleigh.
For over two centuries, Blitzen has been a cherished part of the Christmas story with his name evoking images of snowy landscapes, reindeer hooves drumming on rooftops, the distant chime of sleigh bells and the joy of Christmas morning. This is due in large part to poets of the 19th century.
Historically speaking the first mention we get of Santa and his reindeer is in a poem. Incorrectly attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, “Old Santeclaus with Much Delight” was published anonymously in 1821. In the poem the mention of reindeer leading Santa’s sleigh is brief, just a single line (“His reindeer drives this frosty night,”). Since reindeer is both the singular and the plural form we don’t technically know if the poet is referring to one or multiple reindeer. Especially as there is no mention of a name or names.
It’s not until a few years later in 1823 that Clement Clark Moore’s now famous, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (you might know it as Twas the Night before Christmas) named all 8 of Santa’s reindeer and introduced the concept of a team of reindeer driving the sleigh.
“And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!”
And with that the legend was born. Henceforth, it was reindeer leading Santa’s sleigh, guiding him to all of the children of the world every Christmas.
Reindeer though, in my opinion, have been co-opted so much by the Christmas season that you probably can’t think of one without thinking of twinkling lights, sleigh bells ringing through the snow, Santa Claus and, of course, Christmas. However these magnificent creatures are so much more than just members of Santa's loyal team. They're survivors. They adapt to the harsh Arctic environment with impressive resilience and grace. Yes, I said grace.
They are built for some of the coldest weather on earth, having evolved some tricks to keep them warm. What tricks, you ask? Well, hair and lots of it. Like hair everywhere. Even on their noses and hooves. They have so much hair that there’s actually two layers. A fine soft wooly undercoat sits against their skin and a top coat of long hollow hair. Hollow hair? Weird, right? This top coat of tubular hollow hair helps to trap and hold cold air which is warmed by the reindeers body heat. This warmed air then remains captured helping to regulate temperature keeping the reindeer warmer on the coldest of arctic nights.
The hairy hooves help with traction in mud, snow and frozen plains. Their hooves will eventually harden allowing for digging and scraping frozen ground, ice and snow as they search for grasses, moss and their primary food source during winter lichen. An enzyme within their stomach helps break the nutrient dense lichen which has a growing number of health benefits including anti-inflammatory properties and provides key anti-oxidants.
Guess what. There’s more hair. Of the roughly 40 species of deer (caribou included) reindeer are the only ones whose nose is hairy as opposed to shiny and moist. For obvious reasons a moist nose in arctic winters would be less than ideal. So the hairs (or fur) helps keep the nose dry, lessening the build up of frost and ice. The nasal cavity is lined with a network of blood vessels that act as a heat exchanger of sorts. As cold air enters, it heats up against the warm blood. This is so icy arctic air doesn’t enter its lungs. If it did, the reindeers core temp would fall, risking hypothermia. Exhaled air loses heat and moisture, preventing frost and ice buildup on their nose. This ingenious system keeps their snouts from freezing in sub-zero temperatures. Their nose is not just a festive accessory; it's a testament to the power of adaptation and a vital tool for survival in the harshest of environments.
Remember, reindeer are not just Santa's helpers. They're incredible creatures with a fascinating story of adaptation, resilience, and cultural significance. So, the next time you see a reindeer, whether prancing across a Christmas card or grazing on lichen in the tundra, take a moment to sip on a Blitzen Winter Ale and appreciate their amazing journey and the vital role they play in our planet's ecosystem.
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