Watch City Frostbite Winter Ale

The aroma is composed of a pleasing combination of winter spices. The color is amber, and it’s got a good white head. It’s almost a liquid gingerbread cookie, the spices are nicely balanced. It has a smooth, light mouthfeel. This is a well done beer.

(2005 edition, clocks in at 4.2% ABV and 39 IBUs, spiced with allspice, cardamom, cinnamon and orange zest) Clear dark red-brown body with off-white head. Aroma is medium sweet, allspice, cardamom. Taste is medium sweet, chocolate, cardamom, some caramel. Soft, light-medium body.

Winter 2004-2005 Edition on draught at the brewery February 2005. This year’s version is 5.6% ABV and was brewed with chocolate, ginger, cranberries and chamomile.
Good dark black with some dark brown shades and a whispy, disipating off-white/beige head. Looks similar to Anchor OSA and the aroma proves to be similar as well. Ginger is easily distinguished as is some chocolate malt and yeast. Flavor starts with a light ginger flavor, some chewy chocolate and light coffee notes developing in to a medium-full bodied malty treat with some sweetness from the cranberry, more chocolate and finally the herbal finish. Like the majority of Watch City’s beers, it is very well balanced and not too sweet. A touch of thinning on the end, but overall, very well done and a massive improvement on the Anchor OSA 2003 (which was horribly unbalanced due to too much ginger). Instead, with this one, the ginger is just one small element and adds a good level of spice.

Copper in color with a small off-white head.Essence of ginger with a spicy hop bitterness.

Medium clear-brown pour, nice thick, creamy, tan head that laces nicely. Aroma is malty, and some spices (nutmeg and cinnamon?). Flavor is initally malty and sweet, followed but a slight spicyness, which lingers on for a bit. Good, slightly chewey mouthfeel.