Goose Island King Henry Barleywine Ale

Aged in bourbon barrels, King Henry is a burgundy hued English-style barleywine with aromas of vanilla, oak, and dark fruit. Caramel and toffee flavors blend together with bold notes of bourbon delivered in a smooth body followed by a malty finish.  (from the Goose Island web site)

This barleywine was aged in the same barrels as Bourbon County Rare Stout, giving it that bourbon-y tinge. King Henry poured a deep chocolate brown with a thin khaki-colored head. Strong tastes of plums, raisins, figs and black cherries; honey and maple and brown sugar too. Silky smooth. The 13.4% ABV provides a little heat, but not overwhelming. 

Definitely not a session beer, but good for a nightcap.

Goose Island Christmas Ale 2011

Part of the Christmas Eve Joyce get-together, Goose Island is one of those brands where you just can't go wrong. This year's offering for the Winter seasonal is an American brown ale. Pours a hazy orange-brown with a small tan head and a distinct, yet subtle hop bite. There's also an additional sting from some ginger and an overlay of spices, maybe some cinnamon, nutmeg and even a little lemon. After the initial hoppiness, I got some toffee-like sweetness. Very nice, a perfect Christmas brew.

Euphoria Pale Ale

I'd not heard of Ska Brewing heretofore, but my first experience was definitely positive. It poured out of its can (yes, can) a clear ambery orange, with a tall frothy head. Very hoppy, but with out the graprefruity signature that one would expect with an IPA. Citrus notes were not absent, there was some lemon evident, but with a strong maltiness on the back of the tongue. Very crisp, very clean...great session beer in my opinion. Great label too. 

Schell's Snowstorm 2011 - Wee Heavy

Strong Scotch Ale is also known as "Wee Heavy". Examples of beers brewed in the USA under the name Wee Heavy tend to be 7% abv and higher, while Scottish-brewed examples, such as Belhaven's Wee Heavy, can be found between 5.5% and 6.5% abv. On the other hand, Scottish brewed exceptions include Traquair House Ale which is brewed to a strength of 7.2% abv, and Traquair Jacobite Ale which is 8% abv. McEwan's Scotch Ale is also 8% abv. - from Wikipedia: Scotch Ale


Pours a dark amber with a healthy foamy tan head. A good representation of strong Scotch Ales, with a sweet smoky taste, with undertones of toasted malt and a little vanilla wafer. A get a little bit of black cherry and maybe some fig as well. The 7% ABV doesn't overwhelm, but it warms up nicely. Pretty smooth for a high octane. 

Weyerbacher Winter Ale

Creamy, malty taste, with some unidentified spices. Pours a dark brown and in some respects approaches a porter, but with a bit less heaviness. Doesn't stand above the pack, like most Weyerbachers, but a good solid Winter seasonal.

Boulevard Nutcracker

Pours a dark orange with a foamy white head; hoppier than I thought it would be, but balanced by a rich malt character. There're some spices hidden amongst the hops, but subtle enough that I can't really make out which ones! Some pine and citrus from the hops, and a nice brown-sugary finish - a passable session beer for a holiday get together.

Buffalo Bill's Blueberry Oatmeal Stout

The blueberry overwhelms and there isn't much resemblance to a stout, oatmeal or otherwise...run away...run away fast