January is a buffer month. A cold, bitter buffer month. Nothing noteworthy ever happens in January. But unlike, say, August or September, you can’t embrace the season by cracking open a White Claw by the pool or having your friends over for a Blue Moon barbecue. Instead of blue skies and picture-perfect sunsets, you have to contend with frozen windshields, more rush hour highway accidents than any other month of the year (probably), and darkness. So much darkness.
And as an adult, snow loses almost all of its appeal. You don’t get to sled on it; you shovel it. Build a snowman? Please, who’s got the time. But the unquestionable worst part about this dark, dank month is that, unless you’re a teacher, you don’t even get the surprise and delight of an unexpected snow day arriving to break up the monotony that is January. This is a travesty of adulthood that we at Brown Bag Liquor simply can no longer ignore. Just because we’re ‘adults’ doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the fun things that winter brings. So this year, we’re supplying you with the ultimate snow day drinking guide for adults. Whether you get an actual snow day or are just looking for wintry weekend activities, we can beat the January Blues together.
The Drinks
Morning: Irish Coffee (before you shovel, you need energy)
Start your Adult Snow Day off with a big mug of Irish Coffee. You’re going to need your energy, as the snow unfortunately isn’t going to shovel itself. There’s not much to a good cup of Irish Coffee – all you really need is a freshly brewed pot of (believe it or not) coffee and 750 ml of Irish whiskey (just to be safe). For the most important piece of the equation, we recommend Jameson or Bushmills. If you want to get fancy, you can add your favorite sugars and creams. And of course, a healthy topping of whipped cream.
Noon: Sam Adams Cold Snap
When you have an Adult Snow Day, there’s no such thing as actual time. The clock might say noon, but it’s always 5 o’clock as far as you should be concerned. So when lunch rolls around, it’s time to crack open a beer. But not just any beer: a winter beer. We’ve got too many to mention, but Sam Adams Cold Snap, Mother’s Winter Grind and KC Bier Winterbock are just a few we can’t get enough of this year. If wintertime means seasonal beers as good as these, maybe winter isn’t so bad after all.
Night: Spiked Hot Chocolate
They say it’s not a good idea to have a lot of sugar before bed, but you can make an exception on your Adult Snow Day. And while your day boozy snow day may be coming to an end, there’s no better time for a drink that recalls the childhood snow days of old: spiked hot chocolate, of course! There are no wrong ways to make spiked hot chocolate, but the right ways are obviously with Peppermint Schnapps or Rumple Minze. But if those aren’t your cup of tea, just add literally whatever your preferred liquor is to your preferred hot chocolate maker (but if it’s not Swiss Miss, we don’t want to hear about it), and boom, spiked hot chocolate. And the more marshmallows, the better.
There you have it! All you need for a boozy adult snow day is a quick trip to Brown Bag. For more tips, weekly specials and upcoming events, be sure to like Brown Bag Liquor on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. Happy drinking!