Alaskan Winter Ale

From Alaskan Brewing – From the seafaring adventurers of the 1700s to the homebrewers of today, adding spruce tips to beer has a rich history in Southeast Alaska. The tender new growth of Sitka spruce tips lends a delicious, yet subtly sweet floral aroma to tea, jelly and now Alaskan Winter Ale.

Alaskan Brewing – Alaskan Winter Ale – 22 oz. bottle poured into a goblet. 6.4% abv.

Appearance: Pours a beautiful bright amber with visible rising bubbles. After the initial pour, there was a decent size white head, that eventually dissapates to a 1/8 inch layer of creamy white froth.

Aroma: A little hop spice, a little dry malt, some brown sugar and a little bit of pine. I say little because all those objects can be found, but in moderate doses.

Taste: Chocolate, spicy hop bitterness,spicy malt, slight berry twang that finishes with a definite spruce tip note.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with a lingering semi sweet aftertaste.

Overall: Judging the book by its cover, I thought this beer was going to be boring. I know, its a horrible thing to do. With that said, this beer was super balanced, and really flavorful. The spruce tips turn it from a plane Jane Old Ale or English Strong Ale to a really nice Winter Warmer.