I hear the cries of winter ales yet to be opened on a daily basis and
a small stock of barleywines is starting to mount. I'll have this
round and probably on more for winter ales and then I am off to
barleywines and perhaps two or three rounds of Extreme Beer Reviews in
dedication of our fest. Thanks for all of the reads, I am going to try
and stay on top of the seasoanls for the rest of 2008 and if this year
flows good enough I'll just keep on going.



# Magic Hat Roxy Rolles
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/96/33200

Patchy light tan lace crowns the glass, good head retention and
clarity to be looked at. Hoppy aroma that lets some malt in, a nose of
mandarin oranges, wild flowers, caramel and sweet bread. Very smooth
with a medium body. Hop profile flexes with an ample bitterness that
throws a woody, herbal and slightly citric flavor. Malt sweetness is
there but enough to hold the beer together in body and flavor. Hints
of caramel and bread crust. Bit of fruity yeast, mineral and drying
herbal hop flavor in the finish.

Hoppy Amber Ale or American Winter Warmer? It has a bit of a northwest
flare but still holding on to the Magic Hat traits. Either way, I
highly recommend this drinkable ale.

# Ol' Red Cease & Desist
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... /754/39695

No modest froth here, it comes right to the top of the glass. Ok
retention and the clarity is bright. Fruity aroma with a dried biscuit
dusting in the nose. Creamy smooth mouth feel, full bodied. Hit of
harsh solvent alcohol after each sip, caramel and bready maltiness is
there but clouded by the hot alcohol. Hops are minimal. Dry finish
with more lingering alcohol heat.

I'm not even sure if age will do this beer any good. Its far from
being horrible but it is a chore to sip, it has headache written all
over it. A bit too attenuated, hot and fruity for the style.

# Samuel Adams Winter Lager
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/101

Dark orangey color, good clarity with a quick to froth carbonation and
a decent head retention that leaves some lace behind. Wet spicy aroma,
a tad malty with some herbal hop in the nose. Creamy medium body with
an ample sweetness from the toasted and caramel malt flavors. Spicing
and hops keep it balanced with some cininimon and ginger undetones and
a spicy herbal hop bitterness. Finishes a bit sweet with warming
spices.

I remember when this beer used to be a little bit bigger, badder
and ... well better. It used to be closer to 7% abv and with a lot
more brawn you would expect from a bock. Todays version is decent, a
good pick if you are going to a house or dinner party and don't want
to rock the boat.

# Southern Tier Old Man
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... 3818/14368

Head retention is remarkable with a sizable froth to start and lots of
stickage after. Clarity is fine. Deep malty aroma of dark sugars and
raisins, hops are not to modest at all with a thick oily nose of
tangerine and wild flowers. Creamy slick mouth feel with lots of body,
maltiness tries to set in but the bitterness from the hops up roots
almost all of the sweetness and holds fast with bitter herb and hard a
dried orange peel flavor. This does fade a little and some warming
alcohol and caramel sweetness comes through. Finishes bittersweet.

Perhaps some age would be good or not, I like it fresh right now.
Bitter and heady. I am sure a little age will dull the hops and bring
forth the sweetness in hopes that the alcohol ages just as well. A
solid pick for the season.

# St. Peter's Winter Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/296/2437

The head retention on this beer is pretty amazing, some of the
thickest lacing I have seen in a while. There must be a small percent
of torrified wheat in this brew. Dark coffee brown color with some
ruby highlights. Toffee, some salt water taffy and a ghost like anise
in the nose. Very smooth and creamy in a medium body. Sweet caramel
and toffee flavors, burnt raisins in the back with a mild char note.
Little bit of toasted malt and fruitiness middle to end. Big woody hop
flavor has a modest bitterness. Mineral and a tad salty in the drying
finish.

Yeah, this is one kick ass winter warmer. Comes in silent and then
drops this complex malt bomb on the palate. This one is for the
traditionalist.