What We’re Drinking Now: Winter Beer Seasonals!

The tasting table at Imbibe is teeming with seasonal brews, so yesterday we took a break from our computers to sample the wares, and we found a few worth a shout-out. Here are the highlights:

Grand Teton Brewing Co. Coming Home 2011
9% ABV, Victor, ID
This tripel from one of the most consistent brewers in the Gem State stays true to the Belgian style with just the right amount of barnyard funk on the nose, delicate pepper and clove flavors, and a rich, creamy mouthfeel.

Wachusett Winter Ale
6.1% ABV, Westminster, MA
Brewed with four kinds of malts, this Wee Heavy winter ale is light and easy-drinking with notes of ripe apples, subtle spice and a crisp, clean finish. We could definitely drink a second.

Boulevard Harvest Dance Wheat Wine Style Ale
9.1% ABV, Kansas City, MO
A wheat ale mixed with two types of hops and then aged in French and American oak, this is definitely a wine lover’s beer with a great balance of ripe fruit flavors, wine-like acidity and a dry, oaky finish. A great match for holiday turkey with all the trimmings.

Lagunitas Sucks Brown Shugga’ Substitute Holiday Ale
7.85% ABV, Petaluma, CA
When Lagunitas realized they didn’t have the capacity to brew their wildly popular Brown Sugga’ Ale this winter, they instead brewed up a batch of this “cereal medley,” so called thanks to its mix of barley, oats, rye and wheat. But thanks to a generous dry-hopping, this beer explodes with hop flavors of grapefruit, peaches and pine resin. A nice counterpoint to the sweeter beer styles of the season.

Sweetwater Festive Ale
8.5% ABV, Atlanta, GA
This beer pours dark and thick, but it’s surprisingly (and pleasantly) light and dry on the palate with notes of molasses, cocoa and just a touch of cinnamon.