Thursday, October 26, 2006
10/12/06 Winter Beers Round 2
*** Winter Beers Round 2 ***
Alaskan “Smoked Porter 2006”
This is a dark rich porter that is made with alder smoked malt. It is rich flavorful and intense. It ages very well and will continue to mellow and increase in complexity for some time. For those of you who love the hops, you will probably like it better young, for the rest of us aging it for a year or two smoothes and mellows it.
Alaskan “Winter Ale”
Their winter seasonal is an ale brewed with spruce tips. The spruce gives the beer a deliciously unique sour/bitterness. Not as rich and malty as most winters but definitely one of the most unique. Golden in color with a nice medium body, it is quite refreshing.
Full Sail “Wassail”
Wassail is dark brown / mahogany in color. It pours with a medium head but it settles down to a thin layer. Rich with a malty fruity character and a light hop finish. It seems less hoppy this year, accentuating more of the malt. An improvement to my tongue.
Rogue “Santa’s Private Reserve”
Yes, its true, if Santa was going to knock back a pint it would be one of these. Deep garnet in color it pours with a rather thin head. The aroma is mainly of piney resinous hop with a little crystal malt. The flavor is lightly bready, caramel malt with plenty of piney hop bitterness (44 IBU). Every year I try and convince my kids that Santa is lactose intolerant and would much rather have a beer like this with his cookies then a pint of 2%.
** Now Available Online ***
St. Bernardus “Pater 6”
This wonderful Abbey ale is beep brown / red in color. Ample, persistent head with an aroma of chocolate, caramel, and dark fruit. The flavor is big plum and toffee. Another fine Bernardus brew.
St. Bernardus “Witbier”
Belgian wheat beer spiced with orange and coriander. St. Bernardus Wit has more body and a smoother texture than any other witbier. This provides a beer that is not only extremely flavorful but is also very refreshing.
St Bernardus “Sampler Pack”
This brewery used to brew the beer for the Monks at Saint Sixtus. Although they no longer have a business relationship with the Trappist monks, they still make an outstanding lineup of beers. Beers that are made in the Trappist style (big, smooth and fruity) but are not made by Trappist monks are referred to as Abbey Ales. When looking at Abbey Ales there is none finer than St. Bernardus. This sampler includes three each of their Abt12, 8, 6 and Witbier and a 5% discount but. This makes a great introduction to Abbey Ales, Belgian beers in general or a great gift of any beer lover.
Alaskan “Smoked Porter 2006”
This is a dark rich porter that is made with alder smoked malt. It is rich flavorful and intense. It ages very well and will continue to mellow and increase in complexity for some time. For those of you who love the hops, you will probably like it better young, for the rest of us aging it for a year or two smoothes and mellows it.
Alaskan “Winter Ale”
Their winter seasonal is an ale brewed with spruce tips. The spruce gives the beer a deliciously unique sour/bitterness. Not as rich and malty as most winters but definitely one of the most unique. Golden in color with a nice medium body, it is quite refreshing.
Full Sail “Wassail”
Wassail is dark brown / mahogany in color. It pours with a medium head but it settles down to a thin layer. Rich with a malty fruity character and a light hop finish. It seems less hoppy this year, accentuating more of the malt. An improvement to my tongue.
Rogue “Santa’s Private Reserve”
Yes, its true, if Santa was going to knock back a pint it would be one of these. Deep garnet in color it pours with a rather thin head. The aroma is mainly of piney resinous hop with a little crystal malt. The flavor is lightly bready, caramel malt with plenty of piney hop bitterness (44 IBU). Every year I try and convince my kids that Santa is lactose intolerant and would much rather have a beer like this with his cookies then a pint of 2%.
** Now Available Online ***
St. Bernardus “Pater 6”
This wonderful Abbey ale is beep brown / red in color. Ample, persistent head with an aroma of chocolate, caramel, and dark fruit. The flavor is big plum and toffee. Another fine Bernardus brew.
St. Bernardus “Witbier”
Belgian wheat beer spiced with orange and coriander. St. Bernardus Wit has more body and a smoother texture than any other witbier. This provides a beer that is not only extremely flavorful but is also very refreshing.
St Bernardus “Sampler Pack”
This brewery used to brew the beer for the Monks at Saint Sixtus. Although they no longer have a business relationship with the Trappist monks, they still make an outstanding lineup of beers. Beers that are made in the Trappist style (big, smooth and fruity) but are not made by Trappist monks are referred to as Abbey Ales. When looking at Abbey Ales there is none finer than St. Bernardus. This sampler includes three each of their Abt12, 8, 6 and Witbier and a 5% discount but. This makes a great introduction to Abbey Ales, Belgian beers in general or a great gift of any beer lover.
