Mike Loves Beer

Name – Full Sail Wassail
Country – United States
Type – Winter Warmer

Appearance – Poured a very deep reddish brown color.  It really depends at what angle you look at it that it will look more red or more brown.  Thin off white head is gone pretty quickly.

Smell – Quite sweet malts with some spice being picked up.

Taste – Sweet caramel and straight up maltiness.  There is not a lot of spices going on compared to most winter warmers.

While it didn’t have as much spice to it that you would think from a winter warmer I still enjoyed the maltiness of this one.  It was sweet and enjoyable to sip on.  One of the better winter warmers I have had this season.

Overall Grade – B+

Name – Special Holiday Ale – Nøgne Ø/Jolly Pumpkin/Stone Collaboration
Country – Norway
Type – Winter Warmer

Appearance – Pours a very bubbly dark brown color with a big little brown head that disappears quite fast.

Smell – The nose has spices and a slightly minty/menthol like smell.

Taste – Juniper and mint right up front and it sticks there through out.  Kind of candy cane like.  Some other warming spices and a little bit of a dark fruit taste.

The strong juniper and mint taste really caught me off guard.  Upon reading the bottle I do see that juniper berries were used in it.  For the season it fits quite well.  It has the nice warming effect and the juniper taste just screams festive at you.  I know not many of these can be found but if you can still find it and are feeling adventurous do pick one up just for the experience alone.

Overall Grade – C+

Name – Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale
Country – United States
Type – Winter Warmer

Appearance – Poured a dark red that is very close to brown.  A good sized almost tan head but it was gone rather quick with no real lacing.

Smell – Spices and some sweet malts.

Taste – Sweet caramel like malts with the spices that you would expect from a winter warmer.  An ever so slight bit of citrus to it.

I bought the Samuel Adams winter pack specifically to try this one and the Holiday Porter, which I have not had yet.  It’s very straight forward and nothing different going on here for a typical winter warmer.  Since it only comes in the mix pack you might have a tough decision to try this or not based on your liking of desire to try the rest of the brews in the pack (Boston Lager, Winter Lager, Coastal Wheat, Holiday Porter, Cranberry Lambic).  But maybe a store by you will  break some of these open and sell singles.  Overall a standard winter warmer.

Overall Grade – C