Early last week I picked up the SA Winter Classics or Holiday Sampler or whatever it's called.
My mom taught all us boys that if we didn't like something, we had to keep trying it to see if we ever would. So as I harkened back to all those years I had to wince and try some sweet potato each Thanksgiving I pulled the Cranberry Lambic first from the sampler pack and cracked it open. It looked pretty much the same as it always had, sitting in that Duvel glass.
Aroma is of Ocean-spray cranapple and sweetness, with that lingering brett-type character ever so slight in the background. Well, I was prepared to take my medicine this year. The initial sip and no wince! No fruit punch cum Aunt Jemima muddled mess! There was a slight tartness from the cranberry juice, the maple flavor blended quite well with the malt and didn't stick out. I don't think they did but I would almost swear that this is a different base beer this year. Oh, and I also love sweet potatoes these days.
Anyway, it's probably just me - but I actually drank both bottles. I still don't think I would like an entire six pack of this stuff but it certainly isn't a drain pour.
Now, as for the Holiday Porter which I thought was great last year seems to have a distracting amount of diacetyl this year...
_Randal