Take 2. Sam had finals and I was sick so there has been a real lack of anything to say as of late.
First one: Ninkasi's SLEIGH'R - a Dark Double Alt Ale.
As an aside, an alt is an ale that is fermented at lager temperatures; my thinking on this is that because it is a winter ale then it would make perfect sense to brew it at a temperature that you would be able to do anywhere. As for the dark double part, it is a darker and maltier beer, the double part simply means it is a stronger version (perhaps by double the amount of grain as is the case for belgians).
So, the Sleighr:
I think it was a very nice take on the winter ale; very nice flavor upfront, however it has almost no aroma. Big malty flavor upfront with a very subdued aftertaste with a equal mix of winter spice and hops for a very balanced finish. I personally love the approach it takes.
Oh... well I guess that's it actually. Next week we'll tackle a few more, but we were undecided on them. Then figure out the winners.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Winter Beers; Part 1
Finals week makes for a busy schedule.
We've been saving up some winter beers and we'll see which ones we liked the most.
One of the first one's we've had was Abominable Winter Ale by Hopworks.
What an amazingly solid brew, it's pretty much what I expect out of a winter ale. Stronger in alcohol content, with a aggressively dark and malty flavor. Unfortunately that was a while ago, but I do remember having a pitcher of it and a pint of it on another occasion. Definitely a recommended ale.
Next up is Cold Nose by Laughing Dog. Had this on tap, it had a standard winter ale profile and a bit of a strong alcohol flavor. Wouldn't really recommend it, just a little on the mediocre side.
Last one for today is Alaska's Winter Ale (brewed with spruce tips). This one has a nice mellow flavor (for a winter ale at least) and some fruity notes. After a few sips in the spruce flavor kicks in as a lingering aftertaste keeping you warm and filling you with what you might call Christmas spirit. If there is one thing Alaskan Brewery does right, it's beer for the colder months.
Also, as an aside, what's the deal with Guiness? The Extra Stout stuff is not too bad, but the regular ones in bottles are just awful, do they just add water to the Extra Stout or something? On the plus side it is a sessionable stout. I wouldn't feel bad picking up a pack of Extra Stout Guiness if it weren't for the fact that I can get a pack of regional beer for way less.
We've been saving up some winter beers and we'll see which ones we liked the most.
One of the first one's we've had was Abominable Winter Ale by Hopworks.
What an amazingly solid brew, it's pretty much what I expect out of a winter ale. Stronger in alcohol content, with a aggressively dark and malty flavor. Unfortunately that was a while ago, but I do remember having a pitcher of it and a pint of it on another occasion. Definitely a recommended ale.
Next up is Cold Nose by Laughing Dog. Had this on tap, it had a standard winter ale profile and a bit of a strong alcohol flavor. Wouldn't really recommend it, just a little on the mediocre side.
Last one for today is Alaska's Winter Ale (brewed with spruce tips). This one has a nice mellow flavor (for a winter ale at least) and some fruity notes. After a few sips in the spruce flavor kicks in as a lingering aftertaste keeping you warm and filling you with what you might call Christmas spirit. If there is one thing Alaskan Brewery does right, it's beer for the colder months.
Also, as an aside, what's the deal with Guiness? The Extra Stout stuff is not too bad, but the regular ones in bottles are just awful, do they just add water to the Extra Stout or something? On the plus side it is a sessionable stout. I wouldn't feel bad picking up a pack of Extra Stout Guiness if it weren't for the fact that I can get a pack of regional beer for way less.
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