Slick Nick Winter Ale

THE POUR: Sebego’s Slick Nick Winter Ale pours a light and clear amber.

THE AROMA: A malty spice, usual for a winter beer. Not an overpowering smell here.

THE TASTE: Smooth, and and slightly sweet. Very crisp, and I would almost say “light” for a winter ale. Lots of caramel malts produce the sweetness.

THE DECISION: A malty winter ale, and a nice one. The sweet-spiciness works well and produces an original winter brew that stands out from the pack. I wouldn’t say it is in the head of the pack, but stands out nonetheless.

THE GRADE: B+

Wachusett Winter Ale

THE POUR: Wachusett Winter Ale pours a lightly clouded, red-amber.

THE AROMA: A mild sweet malt smell, with light spiced hops. This beer is labeled as a “Classic Scotch Ale” with little spices. As you would expect, the aroma is that of a classic ale.  Nothing out of the norm here.

THE TASTE: Smooth, and malty mouthfeel, with light spice and mild hops.  This is a classic ale – not too spiced up as in other Christmas/Holiday seasonals.

THE DECISION: Maybe a little too ordinary – yet highly enjoyable. This is a great holiday go-to, when you are in the mood for a mellow, yet full-bodied Winter Ale.

THE GRADE: B+

Harpoon Chocolate Stout

THE POUR: Harpoon Chocolate Stout poured dark and opaque topped with a thin brown head with almost a twinge of purple

THE AROMA: The beer smelled strongly of roasted malts and an occasional sniff of chocolate.

THE TASTE: Good bitter flavor, likely from the roasted malt. Hop flavor is not very present, not should it be in this style. The chocolate gives the taste an added element of sweetness.

THE DECISION: Very good beer, would go great with a piping hot bowl of chili or beef stew. I’ve seen it suggested to top  a bowl of vanilla ice cream, I’d prefer Hershey’s Syrup.

THE GRADE: A-

Beer Stats:

16 degrees Plato, 190 EBC, 5.9% ABV, 40IBU

From Harpoon Brewery – Chocolate Stout

2009 Black As Night Winter Lager

THE POUR: This beer poured a thick inky black. Virtually no light was visible through the glass. A foamy, khaki-colored head topped the pour, but settled to a thinner layer.

THE AROMA: Virtually no scent to this lager, just a small sniff of sweetness.

THE TASTE: Thin mouthfeel and lightly carbonated. It tastes strongly of roasted malts with some bitterness.

THE DECISION: Surprisingly dark for a lager, I am reminded more of a mild porter. Still, I’m a dark beer fan in these colder months, regardless of style.

THE GRADE: B

I poured it into a snifter and heavily enjoyed it. I should also note that the beer was drank at room temperature.

The initial pour left about a quarter of an inch of head and a very pleasant pumpkinny (pumpkinish?) Smell. not spicy or syrupy sweet smelling. It held an Orange amber color after the pour.

The Smell Beget the taste. It was a very solid ale. Pumpkin notes in it but not like drinking liquid pumpkin Pie. It had a very crisp aftertaste and I felt was an excellent beer.

The Initial pour left a decent head, That retains well throughout the drink. It Is dark amber in color, translucent but not light by any accounts.

Very sweet aroma, you can tell it’s spiced by the smell.

Medium malt taste to start and finishes with the spices. The label states that they use Cinnamon,Ginger and orange peel. You can taste the bite of the cinnamon and ginger faintly at the finish. I do not detect the orange at all though.

A decent spiced lager at an affordable price.

THE POUR:
Light copper color with a spicy nutty pumpkin aroma, not much head.

THE TASTE:
Spicy full bodied and fairly hoppy, a good pale ale. Alcoholic content is there but didn’t destroy the taste.

THE DECISION:
All in all this is a very different beer than pumpkinhead. Not as sweet and mild, much more hops are used here. A little bit of that bitter bite. Warning; at 9% abv it is a strong brew only available in 1pint 6 oz bombers. I was left with a great taste and a buzz. Pairs well with pumpkin pie.

THE GRADE: A-