Beer Review: Winter Hook

Funny how these seasonals change from year to year. last year I wasn't too impressed with Winter Hook, thought it was kind of thin and uninspiring. While this year it's very impressive. Still no head to speak of, but high hoppiness, almost like a pale ale or even a mild IPA, plenty of grapefruity citrus, I'm glad I came back to the Hook.

Lindeman's Kriek Lambic

Since I couldn't get any Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic this year, I thought I'd go with a well-known brewer of lambics, Lindeman's. To start off with, a lambic is a style of beer that relies on spontaneous fermentation:

Lambic is a very distinctive type of beer brewed only in the Pajottenland region of Belgium (southwest of Brussels) and in Brussels itself at theCantillon Brewery and museum. Lambic is now mainly consumed after refermentation, resulting in derived beers such as Geuze or Kriek.^[1]

Unlike conventional ales and lagers, which are fermented by carefully cultivated strains of brewer's yeasts, lambic beer is instead produced by spontaneous fermentation: it is exposed to the wild yeasts and bacteria that are said to be native to the Senne valley, in which Brussels lies. It is this unusual process which gives the beer its distinctive flavour: dry, vinous, and cidery, with a slightly sour aftertaste.

I find that the lambic style is a great substitute for wine or champagne. Lindeman's is highly carbonated, pours with a tall fluffy head and due to the infusion of black cherries (kriek means cherry in Flemish - or possibly Dutch). I drank it out of a tall glass exactly like the one pictured. Not for everyone, but perfect with turkey and stuffing. 

Beer Review: Lakefront Bridge Burner Special Reserve

Creamy, fluffy, tan head perched atop a nut-brown ale. Assertively hoppy, plenty of citrus, as well as wood smoke and caramel. 8% ABV, but kind of thin in body. Good stuff.

Beer Review: Summit Winter Ale

Dark brown, very hoppy, almost could be classified as a porter. And like a porter, there was some coffee taste to it, along with some nuttiness, almost cashew-ey. Definitely a solid brew that stands up there with other holiday portrs.

Shiner Holiday Cheer

Hmm...peaches? Hmm...pecans? Not what I'd expect from a holiday beer, but Shiner is known for throwing curves at ya! It pours a ruby red, little bitty head and minimal carbonation. Fun to drink, but it would have made more sense to have called this an Autumn Ale.

Beer Review: Hibernation Ale

Oh yeah...now this is a winter warmer! Full bodied hop aroma, tall frothy head, dark mahogany hue, subtle chocolate taste. I enjoyed every drop of this beer and would definitely pick up a few again.

Beer Review: St. Benedict's Winter Ale by Steven's Point Brewing

Best offering by Point yet...I've not been overly impressed with their beers, but this one is a winner. Coppery tint, taste of plums, brown sugar, easy on the hops. Some cinnamon as well. Very drinkable.

Beer Review: Never Summer

From the Boulder Beer Company, a brewer that I have heretofore not heard about, Never Summer - although I found out on da web that they also make Hazed and Infused. Let's start off with the color: a coppery bronze hue, with a dinky little head. Hops are evident, with some pine and citrus notes, as well as some raisin and perhaps a touch of caramel. Since I mentioned the hops, paradoxically it's not at all bitter, but has all the rich body and complexity that requires more than one. Alas, I brought only one home and I have to be at work at 6:00AM.

Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale

Blue Moon's seasonal offering, it pours a tall foamy head, orangey-golden, with a smooth, refreshing taste. I caught hints of maple, toffee and some orange peel. Kinda nutty in the aftertaste as well. Pretty simple taste profile otherwise, a good one to seduce the neophytes into the world of seasonals.

Beer Review: Sam Adams White Ale

Hazy orange-gold, medium white head. I haven't had a white ale for a few years and had forgotten that it was a wheat beer. Moderately sweet taste, esy on the hops with lemon and a hint of grapefruit. maybe a little coriander and orange peel. Very refreshing. Not sure why it's in the winter pack, but what're ya gonna do?

Beer Review: River West Stein Beer (by Lakefront)

Nice coppery amber color, medium head, fluffy, dissipated fast. Citrussy; surprisingly so for a lager. Kind of sweet; maltiness with some toasted grain flavor. the hops are there, but they don't slap you upside the head like some; but then again, it's a lager, not a pale ale. Light, refreshing, drinkable. I'd drink it again...and even offer one to Bob Rosenthal.

Beer Review: Shipyard Brewing Company - Blue Fin Stout

Poured deep black, not much of a head, creamy and smooth with overtones of chocolate. Some smokiness, but not overwhelmingly so. Very drinkable, but overall a good, but run of the mill stout.

Beer Review: Eastside Dark Lager

Nice & dark, with a malty taste balanced with the sting of hops. Roasted toffee/caramel aroma. Smooth and very drinkable.

Sam Adams Winter Classics Variety Pack

Pictured above is the Winter Classics lineup from a few years ago. Sam Adams changes up their offerings every year. Last year they mystified many of us by including the Coastal Wheat, indisputably a summer ale, in the Winter Classics 12-pack; this year the head-scratcher is the White Ale, formerly their spring seasonal (until replaced by Noble Pils)

This year, in addition to the ubiquitous Boston Lager, and winter favorites Winter Lager, Old Fezziwig Ale and Holiday Porter, we can sample the new (or is it?) Chocolate Bock and the previously mentioned White Ale. I'm going to miss the Cranberry Lambic - I always liked to have a bottle or two with Thanksgiving dinner. Coming up tonight, previous year's reviews on these beers, followed up next week with new thoughts.

Beer Review: Wild Blue

I didn't realize that this was an Anheuser-Busch product when I bought it, thinking it was an independent, but I'm not sorry that I did. Despite my lingering aversion to fruit beers, this one was a winner. At 8% ABV it had a sharp bite, and the blueberry didn't bury the hops. Pretty fun to drink, and I'd recommend it, even to those who don't normally like fruit brews.

Beer Review: Seadog Porter (with Hazelnut)

There might have been a good porter lurking under all of that hazelnut, but the flavoring was so overwhelming I couldn't really enjoy it. as I choked it down I kept looking for something positive to say, but why bother when there are so many good porters out there?