I'm slammed with the amount of winter seasonal beers I have in stock right now, a quick trip to my local packy last week yielded a cart full of six-packs which only added to this problem. Thankfully I've been to a couple of holiday parties to go through most of my stock. Hell, I have to start making room for all of the barleywines and imperial stouts that usually come out mid to late winter and soon after that the bocks will be invading. A never ending problem that always ends up being a good problem right? So here is to December
22nd ... the first day of winter.# Full Moon Winter Ale
So the switched up this years seasonal to an abbey style ale. I do remember a good while back when the Blue Moon brand first came out they did an abbey ale and at the time it was pretty damn good. No problem in the head department, lots of sticky foam with a nearly crystal clear amber color. Watery spice, a hint of peppery alcohol and some husky toasted grain in the aroma. Decent malt character at best, a tad wet and thin with a toasted husk note throughout. Mild hop bitterness is trumped by a mild mannered spicy flare from the yeast. Hint of fruitiness and sweetness in the end like all of the other Blue Moon beers.
People new to good beer might enjoy this, mild and a bit weak in flavor for even a small Belgian. I'll pass next year when this comes around again.
# Our Special Ale 2007 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
Damn, I think I forgot about the rest of last years which probably tucked away somewhere deep in my cellar. I'm better off because I still have some 96', 99', 02' & 04'. Lots of mid-sized brown bubbles show an active carbonation and a healthy head. Very dark with brownish garnet hues when put up to the light. Smells of molasses cookies and fruit cake. Very smooth with a spicy character from start to finish. A hint of char and deep caramel malt sweetness in the middle. Quick breath of alcohol and hop bitterness meld with the spicing well. Finishes spicy and a tad dry.
Without a doubt a must have every year, it ages very well for the most part and is a great switch up beer during the winter months.
# Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale
Perhaps one of the most talked about beers that Boston Beer Co. has, right after Cranberry Lambic. Another spiced winter warmer but its limited availability drives the demand up IMO. Big towering densely rocky tan head from a hard pour, glowing reddish brown color. You can smell all of the spices used; cinnamon, ginger and orange peel ... mild chocolate malt tone in the back of the nose. Smooth and creamy with a slick full body. Mild burnt tone goes away quickly as the malt sweetness layers the palate and the spicing picks it right back up. Hint of woody hop gets lost with the spicing. Finishes off semi-sweet with a vague chocolate flavor.
Spicing does not go too far, maltiness is big enough to hold the beer together. A solid beer all around and a bit of a conversation beer as well which is good around this time of year.
# Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (2007)
Yeah, here is my hop fix. This one always makes its way into my cart during my hunt for winter seasonals. As for cellaring this beer, its still up for debate. In the past I have had versions that were aged up to 6 years and tasted damn good, others did not last more than a year. Go Figure. Shiny copper penny color, impeccable head retention from the hops. Nose full of hops with each whiff, without a doubt this beer is one of the best examples of a Cascade and Centennial hop aroma combo. Just and smooth as it is crisp with a hardened medium malty body that is quickly surrounded and consumed by the sizeable Chinook hoppiness. Yeah there is malt here, toasted and a touch of caramel. All of that is cleared out from the hops ... love the hop.
2007 is great, I'll be going out to grab a case of this ASAP and I'll save a few to cellar. Yeah, the hops just don't want to leave your palate and that is a good thing.# Wachusett Winter Ale
They made a great choice from killing off their Winter Fest Ale, a spiced winter warmer that was always seemed too spiced and too sweet. Scotch Ale is what they are all about now. Head retention is ok, clarity is fine as well. Malty and a bit of smokiness with a spicy alcohol in the back, clean aroma for the most part. Smooth and crisp medium body with a long drawn out malt character that never reveals all of it sweetness because the smoke flavor masks some of it. Mild hop bitterness. As the smoke faded with alcohol kicks in with a slight spice and lead to a dry toasted malt finish.
Solid all the way, nothing earth shattering ... just flavorful, drinkable and a bit alcoholic which seems to sneak up on you. More than two is enough as the smoke started to get to me.
# Winterhook Winter Ale
One winter seasonal that I have probably seen the most improvement over the years is Winterhook. Its been around since 1985 in one form or another but seems to be on the stable path for several years now. Bright clarity off of the deep copper color brew, awesome looking lacing as it leaves a web like trail down the glass. Malty aroma of toasted grain and caramel, hint of floral and grassy hops as well. The smoothness is certainly there with a small crispness that drops off quick in the medium body. Spicy, herbal and bit time floral hop flavor don a balanced bitterness that lingers far into the drying finish.
High in drinkability, flavorful and a bit complex yet approachable enough to bring to a holiday party. By far its one of my favorites each year.