Widmer Bothers BRRR Winter Seasonal Ale

I reviewed this last year, and it was more like an IPA or a strong pale ale, this year's version is still pretty hoppy, but with some interesting notes. Lots of sweet caramel and a hint of maple perhaps. The color as it pours is a dark copper, with an off-white head. The hops lend a grapefruitiness to the mix, with a bit of orange as well. Strong, but smooth. Thumbs up.

Goose Island 2012 Christmas Ale

Like last year, Goose Island's 2012 Christmas Ale is an American Brown Ale. Pours a hazy brown with a fast disappearing tan head, sweet malts march out in front, reminiscent of a lower ABV (7.3%) barleywine in some respects. I'm catching some brown sugar, maple along with some black cherry balancing the citrus and pine from the hops. Lighter than I expected, a perfect complement to a Christmas Eve celebration.

Here's the 2011 review for comparison: http://ill-gottenbooty.blogspot.com/2011/12/goose-island-christmas-ale-2011.html

Powder Hound Winter Ale

Another offering from my friends at Big Sky Brewing of Missoula Montana. Pours orange-amber with a three-finger head that stands up after five minutes. The texture is similar to a porter, thick and creamy, but even with eyes closed, the citrus from the hops belies the porter connection. No spices that I can detect; did they just take a regular amber ale and slap a "winter ale" label on it? Who can say. Not a bad option for the porter-phobic among us.

Moos Joos Oatmeal Milk Stout

Found a new one! Yay! Moos Joos, brewed by Brau Brothers out of Lucan Minnesota (http://braubeer.com/) this Oatmeal Milk Stout pours a deep, deep, brown, almost black with a head that never did appear, even though I poured straight down the middle. Waves of milk chocolate and coffee, leavened with caramel and toffee. Sweet, as you'd expect from a milk stout with the backbone of a typical oatmeal stout. More carbonated than your usual stout. About halfway through, dark fruits - figs, raisins and plums start to appear as if by magic...visions of sugar plums dancin' in your head! Enjoy one...or two...happy winter!

Snow Day Winter Ale by New Belgium

First off, much darker than I expected, holding it up to the light I absolutely cannot see through it. Despite the color, it's not at all heavy and has a distinct hop bite. The first flavor that peaks out at us is caramel, and then the telltale taste of wheat (I looked it up, it is a wheat beer). I kept waiting for some spices, but apparently there aren't any. I'd classify Snow Day more as an IPA than a winter warmer, but that 6.2% ABV does keep one warm!

A few additions to last year: not sure if it's the same recipe, but I'm getting some coffee & chocolate this time a round and a little bit less hoppiness. All in all, a fine winter ale. 

Pyramid Snow Cap Winter Warmer

Pours a deep mahogany with a generous but quickly dissipating head. Despite the dark color, it's not a porter, and has the lighter feel that is typical of the winter beers. Pretty hefty hop bite, but nicely balanced by the chocolate and caramel malts. there are some spices - maybe nutmeg and cinnamon in there, but very subtle, not at all clamoring for attention. Good representation of the style.

Sam Adams White Christmas

Cracked into the Sam Adams Winter Classics variety 12 pack tonight (actually technically I didn't buy the 12 pack, but got this cute little guy as part of a mixed seasonal six pack) - White Christmas is the newbie in the mix and it's a winner. This might be a good one for some of my loved ones who are leery of dark beers. It poured the color of ripe pineapple with the aroma and taste of orange peel very prominent, with cinnamon, nutmeg and some cloves hovering in the background. It's an unfiltered wheat, so some of the typical 'wheatiness' is evident, along with a weizbier's bubblegum and banana notes. While there are many, many seasonals that it is my duty to sample these next three months, I will definitely be purchasing some more of these.