Sebago Brewing Company – Slick Nick Winter Ale

Sebago Brewing Company – 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 Brewing Company – Winter Ale

Wachusett Brewing Company – 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+

Magic Hat – 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

Review- Sam Adam’s Winter Lager

Today I cracked my first Sam Adam’s winter Lager of the season. Poured into my trusty Sam Adam’s perfect pint glass. (What do you expect? I live a block from the brewery.)

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.