Leinenkugel Big Eddy Imperial IPA

Part of Leinie's "Big Eddy" series of exception beers, the Imperial IPA is the latest offering (although I saw mention of a Baltic Porter on their website that has not been offered in Lincoln yet). Pours a deep ripe apricot hue with a teeny-weeny head with a strong whiskey-like aroma and taste. Floral hops are balanced by pineapple, orange and even a little butterscotch. A little bit of pine and grapefruit, but not as much as one might expect from an "imperial" (or double) IPA. As it warmed up a bit I detected some honey and brown sugar. Overall a superior brew.

Your Black Heart Russian Imperial Stout

Russian Imperial Stouts...I've been a sucker for them ever since I was introduced to Old Rasputin; I hadn't spotted this brewery before: O'Dempsey's - from Savannah Georgia - a former home brewer who "went pro" in 2009. Black Heart poured into a tulip glass an impenetrable black - so black that I held it up to a lamp and couldn't see the 100 watt light bulb through it. Pretty hoppy at 90 IBU's, but plenty of sweet malty flavor as well. Even at 8% ABV not much heat from the alcohol - to me that's a good thing; sometimes with the high ABV beers the alcohol content detracts from the taste. And taste there is aplenty - raisins and figs, as well as coffee and dark chocolate. Very thick and hearty. Excellent nightcap to herald the first snow of the year; hail to the gods of snow and beer!

Wasatch Winterfest Ale

From 2010: I'd not heard of the Utah Beer Cooperative before, but I'm glad that I did. Pretty strong, and not just from the 7% ABV. Lots of piney hops flavor, caramel brown color, tall tan head. Very creamy. Not a lot of "extra" flavor, just good ol' American brewing ingenuity!

New notes: I had forgotten that Winterfest was the first Wasatch beer that I had tried, or at least reviewed. Still pretty damn good! This time I'm detecting some orange peel and maybe a little nutmeg and a trace of cinnamon. Wasatch has shaped up to be one of the most solid breweries that I have sampled over the years. Looking forward to many, many more! 

Weyerbacher Winter Ale

I've reviewed Weyerbacher's Winter Ale before, but it's so good I thought it deserved another shot. It pours a deep chestnut color with a subdued tan head. It's full-bodied but not heavy, porter-like in its taste, but not as thick and creamy. The chocolate malt adds a sweet candy bar quality to it. There are some toffee and nutmeg notes to the mix as well. As the glass becomes less than half full I'm picking up some hop bitterness as well. Not nearly as outstanding as most of Weyerbacher's other brews, but a head above the crowd nonetheless. And here's a tidbit from Weyerbacher's web site:

 Although winter ales predate history, they are believed to have their origin in the pagan celebrations of winter solstice. Later, when monasteries produced the local brew, winter ales were made each year to commemorate the birth of Christ. Back then, winter ales were brewed full-bodied as a source of nutrition for the upcoming winter months. Today, winter ales are typified by their seasonality, their rich, malty flavors and by their deep, dark coloration.  

I'm not sure where they get their information, but it sounds like good mythology to me!

Wasatch Ghost Rider White IPA

Another brewery that just never seems to get it wrong, Wasatch Brewing Company out of Utah. Ghost Rider, an aptly named White IPA, which basically means a Belgian-IPA fusion. Pours a lemonade hued yellow with a tall white head. Powerful citrus flavor, especially lemon, with grapefruit undertones. Kind of spicy, with aggressive, yet not at all annoying, hoppiness. At 6%, a bit strong for a session beer, but a nice all year 'round brew. Yum...

Widmer Brothers Milk Stout

A little light for a stout, and not as sweet as I'd expected from a milk stout, but overall a good sippin' beer. Low carbonation, smooth mouthfeel, subtle taste of chocolate and some coffee as well. Hoppier than I expected too. If I had tried this without reading the label I would have called it a Baltic Porter. Still, all and all a good cold beer for a cold winter night.

Schell's 2012 Snowstorm: Biere de Noel

Each year Schell's puts out a completely different beer for their winter Snowstorm offering. I'm not exactly sure what a "Biere de Noel" is, but it tastes like a Belgian Dubbel, with that sweet Belgian taste and the smooth texture. There are a lot of flavors and aromas mixed in: a hint of pepper, along with dark fruits such as fig, raisin and even some cranberry. Kind of a whiskey aftertaste - not very hoppy with minimal carbonation. One of the better Snowstorms over the last few years.

Budweiser Project 12 Batch 91406

An amber lager from Los Angeles. The third of the three Project 12 beers. Pours an orange/copper with a small white head. Noticeable hops balanced by malty sweetness. Some caramel and some orange peel. Like the others, serviceable but nothing to write home about.

Budweiser Project 12 Batch 63118

This offering is from the St. Louis brewery and is a golden Pilsner. Very crisp and clean with hints of pear and apple with some smooth yet distinct hoppiness. Similar in taste to the regular Budweiser, but a cut above. Another sessionable beer, but like the first one that I tried, fairly unremarkable.

Budweiser Project 12 Batch 23185

Anheuser-Busch challenged the brew-masters at each of their 12 breweries to come up with unique recipes, six of which were selected for inclusion in sampler packs. Batch 23185 (the zip code of Williamsburg Virginia  where it originated) is a light amber lager aged on bourbon staves and spiced with vanilla beans. It reminds me a little of Michelob Winter's Cask Ale, back before every stab at a craft type beer was under the Michelob label and not the Shock Top. Overall it's not a bad beer, if unremarkable. The bourbon and oak comes through subtly, as does the vanilla. Might make a decent session beer, but not enough of a personality to hold its own.