##[2° Below][1]
| New Belgium Brewing | 6.6% | N/A |
New Belgium is always a mixed bag for me. I really dislike Fat Tire and that seems to be everywhere these days. It’s sad too, because I think most of the other beers I’ve tried from them are far superior. 2° Below is a really good example of such a beer. It’s somewhat crisp and spicy and finishes like an ale. New Belgium calls it a [Winter Warmer][2], others call it an [ESB or strong bitter][3]. I think it’s closer to a winter warmer though. Anyway, It’s a really good beer and I would recommend it.
[1]: http://www.newbelgium.com/beers_2below.php
[2]: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/47/
[3]: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/66
I can’t say I’ve tried any thing from Big Sky Brewing before, but this Powder Hound Winter Ale is a really good beer. It tastes like a cross between a winter warmer and a porter with those wonderful winter ale flavors. It has a deep reddish brown color and decent head and smells oh so good. I picked this up at Bev Mo strictly because of the name (being a dog owner) and I have to say, it was a *very* good call. I even picked up a second sixer over Thanksgiving to share with the family.
A true winter warmer. Anchor has been brewing their Christmas Ale since 1975. While not a top-ten contender (for me), it is definitely an enjoyable beverage. It pours a nice dark brown color with thick, brownish head. The first thing you’ll notice is it’s strong spiced aroma. Hints of fruits and spices mixed together with a malty goodness and tangy finish, this is surely a good holiday beer. I’d even go so far as to say it’s the epitome of Christmas ales.
I have to say I was expecting more from Samuel Smith. While this beer was good, I can’t say it really stands out as a must try holiday beer. It has a nice color and smells of the typical English style ale. Even tastes like an average English ale; not that *that* is a bad thing, but I guess I was expecting more. It has a dry finish which I thought was kind of nice (different from most holiday beers I’ve tried).
Samuel Adams (or, Boston Beer Co) is *the* [largest American-owned brewery in the U.S.][1] (since the Anheuser-Busch-InBev marriage) but that doesn’t mean they don’t brew a good beer. I have always enjoyed Sam Adams Boston Lager and their seasonal Winter Lager is a fine example of a really decent beer. It’s a darker than average lager (I’d like to give a better description, but it was dark, and the cups were blue [thank you DH]) and certainly heavier in taste. It has a really nice rich malty flavor with a little hint of hops. It’s slightly sweet and has a pretty smooth finish (I’d say this would be a good session beer aside from the slightly higher ABV). Overall, a very enjoyable beer and one that is perfect on a cold winter Sunday on the couch, watching the tube.