I absolutely love beer, and tonight I am again like a kid who’s discovering something new. Who wouldn’t be amused at the thought of drinking winter beers in a tropical country? The weather’s been chilly this January, though, especially in the evenings.

“This is ale?” was my silent reaction as I poured my first beer, the Snow Cap. Color was Coke-dark, quite different from the India Pales I’ve been used to seeing and tasting. So this is true seasonal beer. Distinctive and purpose-driven. It isn’t ale just because it’s colored dark orange or copper. It’s ale because it has the distinctive bitterness that’s suddenly quite refreshing on a cold January night. I wouldn’t like an ale when it’s summer and searing hot, but I’d appreciate a good seasonal ale when the clime is cold like tonight.

And it goes well with the food I’m pairing with the beers tonight — a mishmash of East and West. Beef sausage sauteed in olive oil, dried onions and chili garlic paste. The strong spicy flavors best complement the ale’s signature taste and serve as a counterpoint to the beer’s bitterness.

The Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale is less bubbly and more dark iced tea, color wise. The taste is fruity, masking the bitterness with a heavy yet assuring tanginess that makes you retain the liquid a while longer inside the mouth, swirling the brew and making you curious about the subtleties of the ingredients.

The two beers tonight are true cold weather beers.

Con-Con Rating System:
F=forgettable
G=good and will drink if available
D=desirable, will opt for seconds or more
W=wow, would go places just to seek out this beer

The verdict (assuming the beers are drunk at cold weather):
Snow Cap Seasonal Ale (Full Bodied Winter Warmer): D, alcohol 7%
Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale: D, alcohol 6.9%

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Tags: Ale, Beef Sausage, beer, Philippine, Seasonal Ale, Snow Cap Ale, winter Solstice Seasonal Ale   Posted beer, review |