Beers in Review: Some locals and a not-so-local (including the first winter seasonal)

And now, I give you four more reviews, including a Georgia beer I had during my trip to Savannah. We'll look at a few beers from pretty widely-available breweries, as well as a first-time tasting of a Wild Heaven Craft Beer. I'll also review this blog's inaugural winter seasonal, but we'll save that for last.

Leading off this review is Left Hand Brewing Company's Fade to Black, Volume 1, one of several volumes. This particular volume is a stout, and shows with a lot of the typical stout characteristics: pitch black, with a fair amount of body to me. There was some creaminess to it, with some cocoa and coffee notes. There was also some smokiness and smoky sweetness present, perhaps the most unique notes in what is formally called a Foreign Export Stout.

Next up is Oskar Blues' Dale's Pale Ale. This canned pale ale leads off with bitter citrusy hops and a slight malty sweetness. While these are fairly well-balanced early on, the hoppy bitterness maintains throughout, and my particular can was quite carbonated, which made it a bit of a tough swallow. This is nothing to dissuade me from having the beer again, I promise. Overall, this is a very solid pale.

My very first experience with Wild Heaven was quite extraordinary, as I was presented with quite the unusually-designed can of beer.

EmergencyDrinkingBeer2.jpg

Emergency Drinking Beer was a very interesting Pilsner-style session ale. Weighing in at just 4% ABV, I put the pint glass up to my nose and immediately smelled Cherrios. Some faint fruit notes were present, but largely the typical Pils characteristics were there: very clean and crackery.

And now, Widmer Brothers Brewing Company's Brrr, our very first winter seasonal. Early on, the hops blend with caramelly malts. For me, the hops lasted all the way through the drink, and there was a good amount of bite in the finish. Now, I will write some more on this later this week, but I am not a fan of the super-spiced fall and winter beers, so I have no problem with a hoppy seasonal option.