Winter Beers... Part Duex

Well..still trying to get caught up with the winter beers, and go figure, I see that summer beers are out already, DAMMIT!  Well, this one's gonna be the random seasonal offering I managed to scrounge up.

Gritty McDuff's Christmas Ale!  A pretty badass name for a brewery and a sick label!  This guy is a 6.2% ABV and has 28 IBUs and is categorized as an ESB by the brewery (Extra Special Bitter).  Gorgeous coppery pour..  slightly buttery aroma, tons of malt..caramel, fruity, bready... some spice notes I can't quite pin down.  Despite being an ESB, the hop profile is rather toned down.  Tons of caramel malt taste, slightly creamy.  The hops come through in the finish.  In between it's got your standard 'winter' tastes, probably some nutmeg and other spices, a bit fuller-bodied malt taste, but a bit of a dried fruit/dark fruit taste as well.  Not as spicy as most Christmas or winter beers, but very flavorful and warms you right up, a great winter choice!

Long Trail Hibernator!!

A hazy copper/brown pour and weighing in at 5.6% ABV and 25 IBUs...stated as a Scottish Ale..never had one, so can neither confirm nor deny, but it was definitely a beer so of course I'm gonna drink it!  A very sweet nose to this one, bready..think cupcakes, or muffins..caramel malts, maybe some candy-like toffee scents too, a bit fruity.  Not too spicy at all, hints of it from time to time, a pleasant change from some I've had in the past.  Somewhat malty taste, the candy-like tastes and sweet caramel malts mingle with slight toasted malts and then give way to piney hops..the muted spice notes.  Ends with a solid mix of malt and hop..lingering metallic, earthy hop taste.  A nice beer, easy drinking.. kinda wish the hop profile was pushed to the side a bit and there were more toasty malts and some more spice to make it stand up to a New England winter...C'mon Long Trail!  You're from here!  (but still a very good winter brew!)

Woodstock Inn Wassail.  Local packie had an overstock of these and was selling them for $6 a 4pk, steal!  Doing a little research, wassail (pronounced woss-ul apparently) is a tradition to ensure a good cider apple crop, and also a drink associated with the Christmas time of year.  Not the most reliable source, but the most extensive description in one place..check it, yo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassail
Pretty cool, eh?  Well this one is a Winter Warmer style...8.0% ABV..unknown IBUs.  A deep ruby brown color and nice head, as well as an immediate spice/alcohol aroma greet you upon pouring.  Rich molasses, raisins, spices (faintly cinnamon..some nutmeg, something else mixed in), deep caramel malty aroma.  A fair amount of carbonation up front, surprising for the ABV, gives way to dried/candied fruit..apples, cherries, but also some lemon/citrus notes and and earthy, maybe woody-type taste.  The spice and alcohol of the winter warmer style are in the finish and lingering taste.  Sweet, bready malts..creamy vanilla notes mix with the spices.  Flavor profile-wise, this could be the scotch of the beer world, thankfully, alcohol-wise it's definitely NOT a scotch!  This is a Winter Warmer, for sure...the alcohol tingles!  Probably the most complex and flavorful beer I've had this winter..fantastic!!