<b>18-Jan-08</b> <i>&#40;Draft: 2008 Great Alaskan Beer and Barley Wine Festival in Anchorage, AK&#41;</i> This "quadruple" pale ale comes across as a light barley wine. Concentrated grainy flavors are fairly sweet and are balanced by the medium bitterness of the hops. Hops are neither citrusy or piney. After a few sips, the beer begins to seem sugary and overly sweet, though the bitterness still helps relieve the mildly cloying nature. The nose is sweet and intensely malty, but with a grainy overlay. When swirled in the glass, the aromas are even sweeter. Full-bodied on the palate, the beer is somewhat syrupy as well. Carbonation is light. Dark-gold to light-amber in color and hazy in appearance. Sizeable off-white head settles to and holds a thin layer and leaves a fair amount of lace. Overall, the beer lacks complexity and is awfully sweet and grainy. It doesn’t fair too well against all the great barley wines at this festival, though on its own, it might be fine.

Magnam hops and an ABV over 9% tells you pretty much all you need to know about what this one is going to taste like. Somewhat surprisingly light in color, this nonetheless is the quintessential winter beer in the sense that drinking it is like taking a workplace-approved tolerant holiday pine tree and throwing it into a blendtec. Oh yes, it blends.

On tap at Elysian Winter Fest. Slightly hazy dark amber. Big hops in the aroma and taste make this right up my alley. Drinks pretty darn smooth for >9%. Spicy mix of hops. Not too sweet. Love it.

a lights out winter that you can drink to the cows come home. If you are ever in the Seattle area during the holidays make sure you stop and get a pint of this refreshing winter brew.

Draft from Toronado Barley Wine Festival. Amber colored, rich hoppy aroma. Some caramel malt backing. Maybe some light spice notes as well. Cool stuff.