Beer Review: Widmer Brrr Winter Seasonal

Poured a clear, light brown with a one-finger head. IPA-ish in character, lots of citrus, especially grapefruit in the taste. 7.2% ABV. A little strong for everyday use, but not bad for sipping.

Beer Review: Sam Adams/Weihenstephan Infinium

 Infinium is a special release from Sam Adams in collaboration with the 1000 year-old Werihenstephan brewery in Germany and follows that country's Reinheitsgebot, or beer purity, laws. The bottle resembles a champagne carafe more than any beer bottle that you've ever seen and there's champagne-like qualities to the taste as well. It pours, highly carbonated, leaving a head that stretches from the top to the bottom of the glass. The hue is a light honey-amber, while the head itself is a snowy white that dissipates into a clingy lacy-ness. The first thing that hits me is the sweetness, followed by the alcohol heat. (ABV is 10.3%). There's a light maltiness to Infinium, with hints of toffee and butterscotch, reminiscent of Belgian whites. Most assuredly a New Year's Eve at midnight style of thing....yeah.

Beer Review: Rogue - Santa's Private Reserve

Coppery amber in hue, light brown, one-finger head, floral aroma with a sharp hops bite and 6.0% ABV. A little orange on the back of the tongue, a great beer to enjoy while watching A Christmas Story while freezing rain is coming down!

Beer Review: Fade to Black by Left Hand

Left Hand is kind of a quirky brewer, and I've always liked there offerings, and as the cliche goes, this is no exception. Fade to Black  is a smoked Baltic porter, with a smokiness that is obvious yet not overwhelming. The color is a deep midnight black, 1 1/2 finger head that dissipates to some dark tan lacing. Overtones include a rich cocoa aroma, as well as some caramel and cafe latte. Of course, the name is great too.

Beer Review: Schells' Snowstorm

Last year's was a Baltic Porter, and until I cracked it open a scant few minutes ago I thought that's what I was getting. This year's offering is called a Weizen Dopplebock, or Wheat Double Bock. The first thing that hits your taste bud is a banana/bubble gum-esque flavor, followed by some cinnamon and clove. Chugging it back so it hits the back of the tongue reveals some spiciness as well as some strong malt. Similar to some Dunkelweizens that I've tried, but with the classic bock solidity. The pour is a hazy, coppery brown, minimal head. This is a beer that I heartily recommend to anyone.

Beer Review: Old Jubilation

Not much of a head, not that it needed it. Caramel-colored, kind of like cream soda, a kind of tastes like it too! Hints of coffee, toffee and other things that rhyme with 'offee. 8.3% ABV, but none of that distracting alcohol heat. No spices or any of that other stuff; a true winter warmer.

Beer Review: Abita Christmas Ale

Pours a coppery golden brown with a one-finger tan head. Hoppier than I thought it would be, with a medley of aromas including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and lemon peel. There seems to be more lurking beneath the surface, I'll have to have one or two more to properly plumb the depths of Abita Christmas Ale!

Beer Review: Odell Brewing - Isolation Ale

Dark, ruby-red, nice tall head. Crisp, bold, solid...all good words to describe Isolation Ale. There's a 6.1% ABV, which adds to the fun, but this is everything a winter warmer should be: not weighed down with foo-foo flavoring, not over-hopped, just a good, down-to-earth brew for a guy who's had a long hard day.

Beer Review: Anchor Steam Christmas Ale

Poured a dark ruby red, with a two-finger pinkish head. A little bit of alcohol heat, and a strong black cherry taste and hints of clove and cinnamon. Hops are evident, but not overwhelming; not a beer to drink in volume, but one to be sipped and savored.