winter seasonal

New Beer Blog Widmer Brothers Brewing Brrr Seasonal Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from Widmer Brothers Brewing and the beer is their winter seasonal called Brrr Seasonal Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog on their beer, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into brew.

Widmer Brothers Brrr seasonal ale has a light brown color with a semi white head on the beer. The smell is a citrus to it. The taste is a sweet carbonation little malty with a citrus touch to the beer. The aftertaste is a dry aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable hoppy beer for the winter seasonal.

Here is a description from their website (www.widmerbrothers.com):

Warm Up with a Cold One. Or Two. Our winter red ale is the perfect treat, naughty or nice. The deep red body fills your glass and a citrusy hop aroma fills your nose. Then caramel and chocolate malts reward you with a perfectly balanced, malty sweet flavor and velvety finish.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.widmerbrothers.com

Twitter: @widmer_brothers

Closing, this is an awesome beer from the Widmer Brothers. I really like what this brewery is doing. They are going back to roots and pushing the limits of craft beer brewing. This winter seasonal gives the craft beer drinker something you do not get from the other winter seasonal and it is hops and hops and more hops. It has the malty and warming but gives it a hoppy finish. It is like malty winter seasonal India Pale Ale. Plus, it is extremely drinkable and it will get you in trouble so be careful. This is a beer is part a sampler pack with Redhook Winter Hook and Kona Pipeline Porter. It is hard to get so if you see it, you better grab it. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Redhook Winter Hook

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another beer from the Redhook Brewery and the beer is their winter seasonal called Winter Hook. If you read my earlier beer blog on one of their beers, you know the rich history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into beer.

Redhook Winter Hook has a nice amber color with a semi white head on the beer. It has a sweet caramel. The taste is sweet carbonation caramel with a dry aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable winter seasonal.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Redhook likes a little nip in the air.

Here is a description from their website (www.redhook.com):

Winterhook is the perfect beer to keep warm during cold months after shoveling snow, shredding some powder, or playing hooky to can catch the game. Since it was first brewed, Redhook’s Winterhook has changed slightly each year to celebrate the season and keep everyone on their toes. After all, no one likes getting the same gift twice. The 28th version of Winterhook brewed for this year offers a rich caramel body that balances a big malt backbone with the aggressively dry hopped brew, making this year’s winter ale slightly naughty and very nice.

Style………………….Winter Ale

Abv…………………….6%

IBUs…………………..45 IBU

Original Gravity..15 degrees plato

Brewed Since………1985

Time Frame………..Winter Seasonal

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.redhook.com

Twitter: @redhook_brewery

Closing, this is one of my favorite beers from this brewery and winter seasonals in this season. I love the malty taste this beer gives you in every sip. Redhook Winter Hook is part of that awesome sampler pack with Kona Pipeline Porter and Widmer Brrr Seasonal Ale. This gives you a nice malty and drinkable beer. This beer is perfect for the coldest winter day but yet with a mild winter we are having in the Midwest, it is still perfect. This is a great beer and I am glad to see it back in six packs in the Chicago market. I recommend you trying this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter

In this winter beer blog, we are going to look at another brew from Three Floyds and it is called Klaus Christmas Porter. If you read my earlier beer post on their Robert The Bruce, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please read the first part of that beer post. Let us get into the beer.

It is a jet black color with a tan color head. The smell is an evergreen pine with a touch of toffee in the beer. The taste has a hint of toffee with a ton of pine with a pine cone aftertaste. It is not drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Alpha Klaus is Alpha King’s festive cousin. A big American Christmas Porter brewed with English chocolate malt Mexican sugar and of course, tons of strange American hops. Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.3floyds.com):

6.0% ABV 38 IBUs

Alpha Klaus is Alpha King’s festive cousin. A big American Christmas Porter brewed with English chocolate malt, Mexican sugar and of course, tons of strange American hops. Cheers! November release.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.3floyds.com

Twitter: @3floyds

Closing, I am a fan of this brewery. I was looking forward to try this beer for while. I do not know what they were trying to do with this brew. I feel they wanted to make a black IPA or black pale ale but wanted a porter. I am a huge porter and hop fan so this beer has some promise. There is not enough of the porter here just a ton of hops. It is like you are smelling a pine cone and then eat it in liquid form. I was really disappoint with the beer because I had to pour it out. I never pour out a beer but this was that bad. If you like this beer, I would like to hear your thoughts. Do not get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Flying Dog K-9 Winter Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Flying Dog Brewing and the beer is called K-9 Winter Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into this great brewery.

This beer is part of the 12 beers of Christmas from Countryside Bar. It has a hazel copper color without a head on the beer. There is no smell to the beer. The taste is sweet carbonation malty without an aftertaste to it. It is very warmly so it lives up to being a winter warmer. This is a sipping beer.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.flyingdogales.com):

Alchohol By Volume: 7.4%

Availability: Winter release

Hop Bitterness: 30 IBU

Specialty Malts: Changes with each release

Hops: Changes with each release

Yeast: English Ale

If it tastes like Christmas, it probably works with K-9. Flavor notes: Sweet malt base with roasted, nutty, and spicy flavors Pairs with: Buttery cheeses; sweet breads; spice cake; squash, yams, and sweet potatoes; hearty meats and stews.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.flyingdogales.com

Twitter: @flyingdog

Closing, this beer is not a session beer but it is just a great beer. I love how complex the taste of this winter warmer. This is a sipping beer and take your time in the cold winter days. There is a ton going on in the beer. I love the warmth when this beer goes down my throat and how sweet the beer comes across. I love this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another brew from Sierra Nevada. It is their winter seasonal called Celebration Fresh Hop Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Beer Camper, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer post. Let us get into the beer.

This beer from Sierra Nevada is called Celebration Fresh Hop Ale. It has a deep hazel copper color without a head on the beer. The smell is citrus to the beer. The taste is dry carbonation citrus with a dry aftertaste.

Here is a description from their website (www.sierranevada.com):

Festive fresh hop holiday fun.

The start of Celebration season is a festive event. We can’t start brewing until the first fresh hops have arrived, but once they have the season is officially under way! First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers. Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops—honoring everything we have at Sierra Nevada.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sierranevada.com

Twitter: @sierranevada

Closing out, this is one of my favorite beers in the winter season and Sierra Nevada Brewery. This is everything that I want out of a winter seasonal. I love the hoppy taste and a great malty backbone. Most winter seasonals are jacked up with nutmeg or cinnamon and this brew gives you a different side of the season l. I realize that craft breweries are going back to more the traditional beer styles and getting away from the over hop beers. If you have not had this beer, I recommend you picking up a six-pack and try this great beer. Let me know what you think of this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Bell’s Winter White Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Michigan brewery known as Bell’s. The beer is their winter seasonal which is called Bell’s Winter White Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Pale Ale, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer post. Let us get into the beer.

This Winter White Ale from Bell’s is part of the 12 Beers of Christmas at Countryside. It has a hazel straw like color without a head on this winter seasonal. There is a yeasty to wheaty smell with a little corridor smell to it. The taste is yeasty and species with a dry slight lemon aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable for the beer style.

Here is a description from their website (www.bellsbeer.com):

Taking its cues from Belgian-style white ales, Bell’s Winter White Ale offers a lighter yet abundantly flavorful alternative to the traditional heavy winter warmers. Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast, this blend of barley & wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, all without the use of any spices. Deliberately brewed to retain a cloudy appearance, Bell’s Winter White Ale is a beer for embracing winter.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.bellsbeer.com

Twitter: @bellsbrewery

Closing, I do not know why craft breweries put out White, Wheat, etc in the middle of the winter. It is different then the rest of the craft breweries. I am not saying this is a bad brew. I am not a fan of it but they did a great job on it. I always see this beer in my market in the middle of the summer. The distributor does a really bad job with this brewery’s beer. This brewery will sell more of this liquid in the spring and summer. I recommend this beer, if you are a fan of white, wheats, and hefeweizen. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out another brewery that I have been wanting to try their brews out for a while. Anderson Valley was founded in 1987 by David Norfleet and Kim and Ken Allen in Boonville, California. This brewery was sold to Trey White with two silent partners in 2010. They still brew several of David Norfleet’s beers and have added on since he sold the company. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color without a head on it. The smell is a strong cinnamon and a little caramel to the beer. The taste is a smooth and silk caramel with a touch of cinnamon. There is really no aftertaste to the beer. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brilliantly clear dark copper color with a dense tan head. Caramelized malty and spicy aromas redolent of cinnamon, allspice, black currant, and black licorice. Pleasantly creamy, with a silky body, sweet caramel flavor, hints of seasonal spices and a clean, malty finish.

Here is a description from their website (www.avbc.com):

The holidays are a special time in Anderson Valley. The days are darker, weather colder, and foods richer. And Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is perfect for this time of year. Deep amber in color, with an inviting aroma of spice and nutmeg, it was made for the turkeys, cranberries, hams, and yams of the holidays. WinterSolstice Seasonal Ale evokes a crackling fire, drifting snow, and smells of home. A hint of spice and hop bite to balance out the creamy and smooth mouthfeel, and medium sweetness.

As with all of our products, Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized.

6.9% ABV6 IBU

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.avbc.com

Twitter: @avbc

Closing, this beer was an awesome beer. I was pretty stun on how good it was to the rest of the winter beers I had so far this season. It is kind of drinkable beer. I love all the flavors that this beer has kicking around in my mouth. I really hate when breweries uses the term “winter warmer.” It is really not a beer style but more and more it is starting to become a beer style. This is why. Most brewmasters I talk to about their beers and I bring up what is the beer style of your “winter warmer.” Pretty much all of them could not nail it down to a beer style. With all of this said, I recommend you as a craft beer drinker to try this beer. Please, let me know what your thoughts on this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Ska Euphoria Pale Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Ska Brewing. The winter seasonal is called Ska Brewing Euphoria Pale Ale. If you read my earlier blog on their Ska Mole Stout, you know a little history on this brewery. If you have not, please read the first part of that beer blog post. Let us get into the beer.

This beer is part of the 12 days of Christmas at Countryside Bar. It has a clear copper color with a semi white head on the beer. There is a slight sweet malty citrus smell to it. The taste of the beer is a carbonation citrus with a grapefruit aftertaste. It is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.skabrewing.com

Twitter: @skabrewing

In closing, I really enjoyed this beer. I love the fact you can get in cans, which is starting to become a huge trend in the craft beer world. This a good beer for the winter season but I wish it was a beer all year long. I enjoy the beers I had from this brewery asides their Mole Stout. I can only drink 6oz and I need to move onto another beer. It is still good but just do not like the feel that beer does to my throat. If you love pale ales or india pale ales, you will enjoy this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Smuttynose Winter Ale

In this winter beer blog, we are going to take a look at a beer called Winter Ale from Smuttynose Brewery. I do not know this brewery that well so I was looking at trying this beer out at Countryside Bar. Smuttynose Brewing was founded in 1994 by Peter Egelston in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They brew several different beer styles. I will be trying some other brews from this brewery. Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear brown color with a constant white head on the beer. There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a sweet malty with a dry aftertaste. It is a pretty warm beer going down the throat. It is a nice beer for the winter months. I would say this is a marathon beer not a speed drinking beer. It is a nice Dubbel.

Here is a description from their website (www.smuttynose.com):

Smuttynose Winter Ale is a full-bodied, amber beer brewed with a special Trappist ale yeast. Stylistically reminiscent of a Belgian Abbey Double, it features fruity aromas and flavor, balanced by soft Crystal hops. Warming, mellow & pleasantly complex, Smuttynose Winter Ale is your perfect cold weather companion.

SMUTTYNOSE WINTER ALE CONTAINS NO SPICES

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.smuttynose.com

Twitter: @smuttynosebeer

Closing out, I did enjoy this beer and I am looking forward to checking out their other beers that they have out in my market. I love the looks to the taste of this beer. This is a great beer sitting by the fireplace with a nice cigar. I recommend you trying this beer and let me know what your thoughts. If you had some of their beers, please let me know which is the next brew I should have from this brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Southern Tier 2xmas

In this winter beer blog, we are going to sample out Southern Tier 2xmas. Southern Tier was founded in 2002 in Lakewood, New York by Phineas DeMink and Allen Yahn. They ship beer around the world and of course most of it is in the United States. They brew several different beer styles and putting their stamp on these classic beer styles. Let us get into the beer.

It has a cloudy amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a cinnamon to nutmeg to the beer. The taste is sweet carbonation cinnamon to nutmeg. The aftertaste is a dry slight bitter with cinnamon and nutmeg to it. It is perfect for winter and not really drinkable.

Here is a description from their website (www.stbcbeer.com):

Swedish flags are a fairly common sight in our part of the country. Holiday parties often have warm concoctions of spices and booze at the ready to knock the ice off of toes while raising spirits. We were inspired by a Gloggy party, deciding on the spot to brew a beer that pays tribute to this Nordic tradition. 2xMas Ale combines traditional brewing ingredients with figs, orange peels, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and ginger root. Its a holiday addition to the 2X line and another reason to toast to the season, but unlike Glogg, we recommend serving this one chilled.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stbcbeer.com

Twitter: @stbcbeer

Ending, I will be honest on this beer. I do not know how I feel about this beer. There is a ton going on in the beer. It is complex and ton of flavor. To me, it just seems like this beer wants to be sweet but then wants to be hoppy for the winter season. It is not one of my favorite but it is not a bad beer. There are fans out there for this beer. I am starting to think I do not like Christmas beers and it is not because of this beer. I love winter warmers and winter seasonals. I wanted to try this beer and it is out of my system. I will have at least a few every Christmas or winter season. This is a beer you can have pass Christmas and yes, it is still in code after Christmas. There are beer drinkers that see Christmas on beer packaging and think the beer went bad. I recommend this beer and this brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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