Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Is winter the best beer season?

Last summer I was really impressed with some good "summer ales" coming out. You know, not just the brewery's most bland offering, but some good crisp, often hoppy, and innovative ales. It's getting better, but winter is just the best, the absolute best. Not only do you get all the great special releases and holiday ales that come out, but you get the big stouts and barleywines for the cellar. But wait, it gets even better, then you get, the really great strong hoppy beers. I'm talking about Bell's Hopslam and Troeg's Nugget Nectar, two perennial late winter all-stars. But this year it got even better, there was Firestone Walker Double Jack and Founders Double Trouble, then Ithaca 13, then Fegley's Hop'solutely. Pretty awesome, I can't imagine it getting any better than this. I can drink a huge stout with a nice fresh double IPA to back it up, craft beer at its finest. I do wish it was warm though...