Alaskan Winter Ale

Brewed by Alaskan Brewing Co
Style: Old Ale
Juneau, Alaska USA

Much better than advertised (only 3.24) I wasn’t expecting much but was pleasantly surprised to find this brew actually being very drinkable. Aroma is spice and malty sweetness. Flavor is quite nice, malts dominating and some spruce coming through in the finish. Carbonation hits nice on the way down which is refreshing. Good beer overall.

Accidentally saved this one for when Spring decided to first peak it’s head out, but it’s not at all the brew I expected it to be. The catch-all category of “Winter Ales” conjures up nebulous memories or dark, somewhat sweet, somewhat resiny beers pushed by entirely unexciting microbreweries, using seasonal sophistication to lure people away from their blizzardy standby’s of Corona and Swiss Miss. I think the beer’s qualities better fit the springtime anyhow. Most notable is (perhaps entirely unintentional) a distinguished rye quality on the palate. It’s a bitterless, grainy dry quality I can only expect on an outing to a deli, and I’m ecstatic to be gulping it down in beer form. Sure, I like rye beers, but there you expect rye. Here it is an unannounced guest - the good kind. Less the rain-drenched murderer at midnight darkening one’s door and more of Santa Clause in July. Accompanying this tasty, toasty rye is a little slice of apple to sweeten the profile, a bit of clove to spice it, and a bit of honey to round the jagged edges. This is an immensely satisfying beer in its simplicity. Between sips you can entertain your nostrils with the sweet, pumpkin, all-spice and yam aroma, both light and spicy. I’m very pleased with this beer, even if the style is somewhat unassuming. On weekday nights like these, a good, solid brew can make all the difference in what would otherwise be a droll, colorless study session.

Bottle thanks to bitbucket. First, maybe not the best time to drink being 75 outside, but it looked good so why not. Was actually impressed by the aroma and flavor. I could taste the spruce, but little fruit or carmal. I was suprised on how much I liked this.

This one has been holding me over all winter. The spruce tips add a delicate spice to the malt and a jasmine character to the nose. Thick and rich throughout, apples, pears and caramel compliment the floral notes up front.

12oz bottle served in a shaker pint. Poured a slightly hazy gold with a thin white head. Caramel malt in the aroma. Fairly rich malty flavor. Some slight fruitiness. More caramel malt flavor. There is some hop bitterness in the finish to add some balance. I didn’t really get the spruce flavor. Decent winter warmer base.

Out of the bottle and into the glass, it poureda bright cloudy orangeish amber colour with a big white head. Quick to dissipate leaving behind almost zero trace of froth. Caramel and wheat notes on the nose, a little bananna as well. Flavour was dominated by noticeable spice and some tropical fruit notes.

clear off orange pour with a large foamy white head. Strong malty lagerish aroma, but closer inspection yielda the spruce tips. Bizarre sweetness coats the roof of the mouth. Spruce and florals also add to the unique taste. Thumbs up for the style and creativity, not so for the taste.

Sunrise-amber with pookfy head. Soothing aroma of malts, caramel, and spices, fruit and spruce. Wellbalanced body. Tasty blend of malts giving a nice variety within a medium spectrum, accented by caramel malt. Some warming spruce and spice with lingering hop fruitiness. A fabulous, sessionable Old Ale.