Day 5 of the 3rd Annual Advent-ure Calendar
Day 5: Alaskan Brewing Co. Winter Ale
For four days straight we were going strong with “Christmas” ales. We decided to switch it up for day five and go with a “Winter” ale. Ok, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but this one does also use spruce tips just like yesterday’s. Let’s see how they compare! From their website: “Brewed in the style of an English Olde Ale, this ale balances the sweet heady aroma of spruce tips with the clean crisp finish of noble hops. Its malty richness is complemented by the warming sensation of alcohol.” It definitely still sounds like a cold weather beer.
REFLECTIONS
Beard & Broad
Beard: I’ve generally been a big fan of Alaskan’s brews. Their Alaskan Smoked Porter is one of my all time favorites, but this misses the mark for me. I want to say it’s because the six pack we bought had been sitting on a warm shelf for too long. It just doesn’t taste fresh and the flavors are all kind of muddy to me. It’s definitely not crisp and the finish is way too malty sweet for me. I am intrigued by the style and use of spruce tips in it, so I’m going to try and hunt down a bottle I know is fresh and hopefully form a different opinion.
Broad: I’m having a hard time describing this beer and deciding my thoughts. I don’t get a lot of spice or maltiness or hops but I get a decent amount of sweetness (you know how I feel about sweet things). It tastes just like an average winter beer that’s slightly toasty but also unnecessarily thick. I just wish there was more of a spruce tips flavor to this.
Adam & Alex
Adam: Not in love with this beer at all. We kinda felt the same with the flavors. It’s very malty and kinda thick like syrup. I get none of the pine. I don’t want to drink any more but it’s better than getting beaten by a rubber hose.
Alex: This beer is okay. I don’t hate it, I don’t love it. It’s tastes very malty to me and kind of syrupy. I don’t really taste the spruce tips that are advertised on the bottle. Little full, lotta sap.
Scott & Christa
Scott: This beer has perplexed me. It’s malty, not too spicy, not too sweet but I can’t put my finger on what this tastes like. It really doesn’t help that the label gives me no clues other than it’s brewed with spruce tips. I’m probably not going to buy this in the future, but I’m happy I got to to try this oddball.
Christa: It took me awhile to figure it out how to describe this beer. I felt like I would take a sip, forget, take a sip, forget, and so on. It’s very malty, a little sweet and deserving of it’s place on the winter list. But, I don’t get the hint of spruce that’s promised and I feel that would make a difference here in the taste balance. I also got a weird metallic after taste but Berry didn’t so that might be a weird “me” thing. Alaskan Winter Ale isn’t a bad beer by any means, it’s just not a very memorable one for me.
Tony & Megan
Tony: Just when I thought I couldn’t dislike spruce tips any more you bring me something like this……..AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF! This beer has just a hint of pine smell and when you drink it you get this very pleasant, clean and crisp taste of smooth hops and those same hints of pine (or spruce I should say). I really enjoyed this one. It’s light, airy and smooth with good flavor. In the running for my favorite so far…..and its from Alaska! Doesnt get much more legit in the winter ale world than that. Good stuff.
Megan: I can get down with this! Alaskan ale is smooth and malty without an overpowering sense of hops or bitterness. The spruce tips also give it a refreshing crispness. It’s actually a little sweeter than I anticipated but I could drink this one all night. I also enjoy the fact it’s from Alaska because what could be more festive than beer from a snowy winter wonderland?!
