Colony Christmas is this weekend

PALMER — Preparations for Colony Christmas began more than a month ago at Arkose Brewery.

For the third year, the Palmer brewery has boiled up a batch of its “Olde Colony Winter Ale,” which will be tapped Dec. 12 during the 2014 Colony Christmas celebration set for Dec. 11 to 14.

“As soon as fall hits, people start asking them about Olde Colony,” said Stephen Gerteisen who owns and operated Arkose Brewery with his wife, June.

Timing is everything, he said of the beer-making process, before ending the ingredients’ hour-long boil exactly at 11:35 a.m.

Next came the addition of the secret ingredients.

To mark the occasion, Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Director Ralph Renzi was invited to stop by the brewery Nov. 3 to pour in the orange peel and spices.

When the spices hit the hot liquid they filled the room with the familiar smells of hot pumpkin pie.

Stephen says it’s the Northern Brewer Hops, Hallertau hops, and a blend of five specialty malts that make that dark ale flavorful and complex. Then there is the Belgian Candi sugar added just to help boost the alcohol content.

In its third year of operation, this also is the third year the craft brewery has made 200 gallons of Olde Colony Ale as part of Palmer Colony Christmas celebration.

June said this year’s batch won’t be radically different from last year’s batch.

But there are some little surprises, Stephen said.

June said the brew was inspired by the rich history of the Mat-Su Valley Colonists and the seductive rendition of “Baby it’s Cold Outside” by Ray Charles and Betty Carter.

Renzi said he looks forward to the release of the dark holiday ale every year and was thrilled to be invited to help make this year’s seven-barrel batch at the brewery in the Palmer Commercial Center, 650 E. Steel Loop.

And there’s a lot more going on at Colony Christmas this year, too.

The fun begins Dec. 11 with a 50th birthday bash from 6 to 8 p.m. for the Mat-Su Borough in the Assembly Chambers, 350 E Dahlia. And events continue through 7 p.m., Sunday with the third annual Mr. Christmas Tree Pageant at Colony High School, 9550 E. Colony Schools Dr.

Sandwiched between these two bookends is a range of events, including several craft bazaars, cookie and gingerbread contests, horse-drawn sleigh rides, music and public caroling, canine weight pulls, a triathlon, Christmas Lights competition, a winter holiday parade, special sales in many downtown businesses, and a spectacular fireworks show.

Raffle tickets are on sale now for the Festival of Trees, which are on display at Palmer businesses now, but will be moved to the Palmer Depot Dec. 12. Raffle tickets are $1 each. Proceeds benefit the Mat-Su Special Santa program.

During Colony Christmas and throughout December a display of quilts will hang in the Palmer Museum, including one that will be a gift to Palmer’s Sister City in Japan. During Colony Christmas, the public is invited to stop by and add a few stitches to the quilt.

Saturday only folks can stop by the Colony Inn to drop off entries in the Colony Cookie Contest from noon to 2 p.m., or make Christmas Crane Ornaments from noon to 3 p.m.

New this year, Grow Palmer has organized a free soup social with potato soup made from the Valley’s sweet carrots and potatoes from noon to 2 p.m. at the Edible Park behind the Salvation Army.

Also new this year is a shuttle service that will provide rides to stops around Palmer from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., courtesy of Mat-Su Senior Services.

The “Parade of Lights” is at 5 p.m., Saturday followed by a fireworks display 15 minutes after the parade ends.

For more information, visit palmerchamber.org.

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.

First tap party is Dec. 12 for ‘Olde Colony Winter Ale’

In celebration of Colony Christmas in Palmer, the first tap of “Olde Colony Winter Ale” will take place at 5 p.m., Dec. 12 at Arkose Brewery, 650 E. Steel Loop, Palmer. Be entered to win a one-of-a-kind Olde Colony Winter Ale T-shirt. Drawing at 5:30 p.m. (must be present to win). For more information, call 746-2337.