Shmaltz brews blend a birthday and a holiday

The folks at Shmaltz Brewery are wishing themselves "Happy Hanuday," or some such thing. For a company that specializes in quirky concoctions and tongue-in-cheek naming of them, it wouldn't be surprising.

The salutatory mashup refers to the Clifton Park brewer turning 20 this Hanukkah -- or Chanukah -- season as what they call "the largest, the smallest, the most award winning, and astonishingly still the only Jewish celebration beer company in the country."

Shmaltz began as a San Francisco contract brewer (i.e., hiring someone else to actually produce its products), then in 2010 opened a tiny commercial brewery in Brooklyn, then in 2013  opened its own 40,000-square-foot brewery in Saratoga County.

To mark the latest milestone, Shmaltz has created the limited-edition release of four new offerings, including Genesis 20:20 (a barrel aged tart barleywine, 16.7% ABV), Chanukah, Hanukkah ... Pass the Beer (golden strong ale with cocoa nibs, 8% ABV), Jewbelation 20 (a dark American strong ale, 16.8%), and Shtick in a Box (a holiday variety 12-pack).

Shmaltz has a lengthy lineup of tap takeover and other events this month at which it will be introducing the new brews. Go here for the full schedule.

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