Theakston Old Peculier

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 5.7%
Brewery: T & R Theakston LTD
Country: England
Beer Type: English Style - Old Ale
2012 Rating: B & I
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  The beer with the peculiar spelling.  Dark brown (website states it is dark ruby ) color with a 2 finger tan head, some lacing.  Dark fruit, yeast and bread malt aroma.   Taste is similar; dark fruits & toasted malt.

Samuel Adams Alpine Spring

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Lager
2012 Rating: C
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a hazy golden color with a 2 finger white head, nice lacing.   Citrus / lemon aroma.  Taste starts with sweet malt  & lemon, followed with a slight bitter hop finish.

Gonzo Imperial Porter (Nitro)

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 9.2%
Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Imperial (Double) Porter
2012 Rating: C+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark brown color with a beautiful 2 finger creamy head, great lacing.  Roasted malt, chocolate & coffee aroma.  Creamy (nitro pour) chocolate, coffee and alcohol taste.  Too strong of an alcohol taste to be truly enjoyable.

Great Divide Hibernation Ale

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 8.7%
Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: English Style - Old Ale
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a medium brown color with a fluffy 1 finger cream colored head.  Caramel malt & alcohol aroma.  Caramel & chocolate roasted malt taste.  A nice winter beer.

Three Floyd’s Pride & Joy

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: American Pale Ale
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: C+

Comments:  Golden / amber color, white head.  Nice hop and malt aroma.  Mild, well balanced, initial caramel malt taste, followed by some hop bitterness.  Easy to drink and with just a 5% ABV, you could drink it all night!

Green Flash Imperial IPA

Reviewed: January 2012

ABV: 9.4%
Brewery: Green Flash Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Imperial (Double) IPA
2012 Rating: A+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a clear golden color with a 1 finger white head, great lacing.  Great citrus / pine hop aroma!  Fantastic bitter citrus hop taste!  Smooth finish.  EXCELLENT

Frambozen Raspberry Brown Ale

Reviewed:  January 2012
ABV: 6.5%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc
Country: USA
Beer Type: Fruit Beer
2012 Rating: F
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  FREE BEER !!!  Two bottles left at my house!   Aroma & Taste = TOO  much raspberry / too F'in  fruity!  Just dump it!

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock
2012 Rating: C
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark brown / black color with a 1 finger tan head, no lacing.  Chocolate & roasted malt aroma.   Sweet chocolate taste - perhaps TOO sweet!

Samuel Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Stout
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark brown color with a 1 finger mocha head, nice lacing.  Aroma is roasted coffee, malt & chocolate.  Taste starts with coffee, followed by  chocolate, dark fruits and caramel.  Serve this beer with bacon and eggs. :)

Slab Cabin IPA

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 6%
Brewery: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: IPA  (India Pale Ale)
2012 Rating: B+
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Copper color with a 1 finger white head, great lacing.  Citrus hop aroma.  Citrus hop taste with a slight malt taste in the background.  Given a choice between the Double D India Pale Ale and the Slab Cabin, I'd choose the Double D - more complex & easier to drink.

Double D India Pale Ale

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 9.6%
Brewery: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Imperial (Double) IPA
2012 Rating: A
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Clear copper color, 2 finger white head, nice lacing.  Citrus hop & pine aroma.  Taste:  Citrus (Grapefruit) hop - with a nice caramel malt flavor in the background.  EXCELLENT (but with a 9.6% ABV- Dangerous)   Thanks Alan!

Bell's Winter White Ale

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Witbier (Belgium White)
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a cloudy straw yellow color with a 2 finger white head.  Wheat, clove and Belgium yeast aroma.  Sweet wheat , lemon & clove taste  A good alternative to the traditional heavy winter warmers.

Roebling Imperial Robust Porter

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 7.8%
Brewery: Rivertown Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Porter
2012 Rating: C
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark brown (almost black) color with a 1 finger tan head - no lacing.  Strong vanilla and coffee aroma, with a hint of chocolate in the background.  Taste is SWEET vanilla, chocolate and coffee

Samuel Adams Holiday Porter

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 5.8%
Brewery: Boston Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Porter
2012 Rating: B
2011 Rating: N/A

Comments:  A traditional, British style porter.  Pours a dark brown color with a 1 finger tan head, great lacing.  A caramel & chocolate roasted malt aroma.  Taste is similar to the aroma, not overly sweet - dry finish.  Very drinkable.

Heavy Seas Winter Storm

Reviewed: January 2012
ABV: 7.5%
Brewery:
Country: USA
Beer Type: ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
2011 Rating: N/A
2012Rating: B+

Comments:  Amber (Killians Red) color.  I  only make this color comparison because Pat ordered a Killians and it look IDENTICAL to the Winter Seas.   Some lacing.  Strong hop  / mild malt aroma. Taste:  malt & spice start, nice bitter hop finish. Great beer - I switched to an IPA, but came back to the Winter Storm!  Very Complex!

12 Dogs Of Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 8.3%
Brewery: Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: C+

Comments:  Brown color, 2 finger off white head, nice lacing.  Smell: spices and caramel, toasted malt & honey.  Taste: honey, spice (cinnamon, ginger & nutmeg ) & caramel malt.   I would have rated this beer an "A", but it is almost too intense for me.

Goose Island Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery: Goose Island Beer Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Brown Ale
2011 Rating: A+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a nice brown color with a 1 finger creamy tan head, great lacing.  Aroma is sweet malt & yeast.  Taste is toasted biscuit malt, yeast and a slight pine hop finish. Excellent!  My favorite beer on the 2011 Christmas Beer Menu!

2011 Anchor Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 5.5%
Brewery: Anchor Brewing Company
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: (different recipe each year)

Comments:  Pours a DARK reddish brown color with a 2 finger tan head, nice lacing. A dark, rich Belgium style spiced ale.  Aroma is sweet fruit, nutmeg and cinnamon.  Taste is spice (cinnamon & nutmeg), dark fruit and a hint of caramel.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 7.5%
Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Brown Ale
2011 Rating: B+
2010 Rating: N/A
2009 Rating: A

Comments:  Copper color, small cream / tan head, cinnamon & nutmeg aroma, sweet spicy ginger & nutmeg  taste with a hint of hops at the end.  Very drinkable.

Mississippi Mud Black & Tan

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 5%
Brewery: Mississippi Brewing Co.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Black & Tan
2011 Rating: C
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Great packaging - comes in a 1 qt "moonshine" style bottle.  Pours a clear dark copper color, with a 2 finger tan head, minimal lacing.  Not much aroma.  Roasted malt & molasses taste.  Not bad.

Corsendonk Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV:
Brewery:
Country: Belgium
Beer Type:
2011 Rating: AAA
2010 Rating: N/A
2009 Rating: AAA

Comments:  Corsendonk Christmas Ale is a long time favorite of mine.  In 2010, I searched for this beer in three states and couldn't find it.  This year I found it at Jungle Jim's and immediately bought 12.                 
Dark ruby color, massive cream color head, decent lacing.  STRONG fruit aroma dried fruit, (raisins, etc.) Taste: roasted malt, dried fruit - SMOOTH & CREAMY - very Belgium.  EXCELLENT!

Bell's Special Double Cream Stout

Reviewed: December 2011ABV: 6.1%
Brewery: Bells Brewery, Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Stout
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Brewed with a blend 10 malts.  Pours a black color with a 1 finger tan head.  Cocoa, chocolate & coffee aroma.  Roasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate taste.  Drink this beer warm, to enjoy all the flavors.  Smooth & creamy!!!

Cains Finest Bitter

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 4%
Brewery: Robert Cain & Company Limited
Country: England
Beer Type: English Bitter
2011 Rating: B
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a light caramel brown color with a creamy off white head, nice lacing.  Caramel & toasted bread malt aroma.  Taste is similar to the aroma, not overly sweet.  A great example of an English Bitter style beer.  Easy to drink!

Breckenridge Christmas Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 7.4%
Brewery: Breckenridge Brewery
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2011 Rating: C+
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Pours a dark reddish brown color with a 1 finger off white head.  Caramel & spice with a nice hop / malt balance.

Snow Day Winter Ale

Reviewed: December 2011
ABV: 6.2%
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Inc.
Country: USA
Beer Type: Winter Warmer
2011 Rating: A
2010 Rating: N/A

Comments:  Nothing better than a Snow Day.  Pours a dark brown color with a 2 finger off white head, nice lacing.  A great hoppy aroma.  A nice hop taste with chocolate and caramel in the background.  Just the right blend.  Not your normal "winter warmer".  EXCELLENT