Anchor - Our Special Ale 2012

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

After somehow missing the 2011 version last year, I picked myself up a 6 pack of the 2012 while at Trader Joe's.

A strong whiff of ginger. Fine enough. 

Anchor - Our Special Ale 2010

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Still tastes slightly like a molasses cookie, except now with very mild spices. Enjoyable enough, but I don't think the year aging really did much for the beer.

Avery Old Jubilation Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This wasn't too bad. Pretty sweet. Not overly spiced. One was enough though.

I think I may just be burned out on spiced ales between the winter/christmas ales and pumpkin ales.

21st Amendment - Fireside Chat

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The spice mix does not work in this. The aftertaste lingers and isn't pleasant. Like bad, bitter medicine?

Appalachian Brewing Co - Batch No 666 Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I had no idea what was going to be in this bottle. It has no description on it at all and there was nothing on the shelf (except the price of $5).

And... its fine. Nothing spectacular or terrible. According to their website, its a "devilish halloween brew" whatever that means. Slight roasted and caramel malt taste. No real hop bitterness. I'd pass.

Schlafly - Christmas Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Hmm. Really sweet, not very carbonated. The spice mix is... I don't know. I don't think it works. It's okay, but I wouldn't get it again.

Widmer Bros. - Barrel Aged Brrrrbon

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I think that's the name of it.

It's okay. Definitely barrel aged. I think I like it better than the Backwoods Bastard, but that's not saying much. The primary flavor is vanilla vanilla vanilla bourbon. Eh.

Anchor Steam - Our Special Ale 2010

Fairly sweet. Hint of molasses. Actually, almost tastes like a molasses cookie. Maybe some ginger and clove in the taste. Not bad. Still prefer the Winter Solstice.

Anderson Valley Winter Solstice

In honor of the winter solstice, I'm drinking a Winter Solstice. I will not be staying up to view the first lunar eclipse on the winter solstice in 342 years.

Its not often that I remember the first time I tried a beer. First time I had this was at Wonderland in Columbia Heights probably 5 years ago. Some dude brought a 3 liter bottle of Corsedonk Christmas Ale to the bar. He was offering tastes to anyone that wanted them. Later in the night I got a pint of the Winter Solistice.

Tastes pretty sweet and caramely. A slight hint of vanilla and maybe cinnamon? It tastes like Christmas to me. My favorite winter seasonal.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale

Pretty good. Probably not worth the $4 I paid for the bottle though I do appreciate actually being able to find some to buy.

Moderately spiced with cinnamon and some ginger coming through. Slightly sweet.

Blue Moon - Full Moon Winter Ale

I have two problems with this beer.

We'll start out with the brewer - Coors. They like to do everything they can to not acknowledge that this is their beer. Now, I suppose the other large brewers do this also, but Blue Moon is consistently positioned as a micro-brew. This bothers me for some reason. I won't even mention the Coors family political leaning.

The second is that it is described as an abbey ale. It does not come close to tasting like an abbey ale. In fact, it does not come close to tasting like anything at all. Maybe I'm being too harsh. It has a slightly metallic taste with no aftertaste. It has more maltyness (is that a word?) than a Coors Light. (Mandy also pointed out that the label touts a "balanced taste" which could be accurate if "no taste" and "balanced taste" are one in the same.)

It is probably easier to drink with a meal than a Sam Adam's Winter Lager, but that's about the only positive thing I can say for this offering.

Overall, I can't recommend that anyone spend their money on this beer. Go buy yourself any other winter ale/seasonal offering that you can find (I recommend either this or this).

Official Joe Cooks Dinner and Stuff Beer Rating:
Blue Moon - Full Moon Winter Ale
1/5