Founders Backwoods Bastard Ale

Founders Brewing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Brown to dark brown. Almond-colored head. Fades quickly. Somewhat opaque, cola-colored.

AROMA: 3/4
Whiskey aroma, oaky. Sweet, malty, alcohol is dominant. Too much?

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Woody, whiskey flavors overwhelm. Sweet, brown sugar, dark candy. Some hop bitter, no hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Alcohol warming, alcohol flavor, alcohol last. Lingering bitterness.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Numbs the tongue. Fizzy, smooth, full-bodied but not chewy or heavy.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: REALLY BIG. You can taste that it's 10% ABV. Whiskey notes are nice; a good sipping beer for a campfire on a crisp autumn night.

TOTAL: 15.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Tasty, but I'm glad Ben and I split this one. Big, smooth, perfect under the right circumstances. Great for a nightcap on a frosty night.

Ben: Wow! Whiskey and woody notes are almost too much, but it pulls it off. A good winter warmer, it's a good sipping beer for sure—drink it out of a snifter.

Great Divide Hibernation Old Style Ale

Great Divide Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Red brown in color. White head with big bubbles that laces the glass. Clear.

AROMA: 2.5/4
Sweet cream. Subtle brown sugar and molasses nose. Malty and big. No real hop aroma.

TASTE: 6/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Big and malty. Hop bitterness noticeable. Subtle licorice and cherry. Woody hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Boozy. Goes from sweet malty caramel to noticeable bitter finish.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Alcohol feel. Coats the tongue. Weak carbonation appropriate for style.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: Big that borders on cloying. An English old style beer. Appropriate in the dead of winter versus the heart of spring.

TOTAL: 12.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: If I were in an Arctic igloo in January, I would appreciate this more. For the style, not bad. One is enough.
Ben: This is better than the score indicates. Good for an English old ale although not my favorite style. Borders on the cloying side; a bit too sweet for my tastes.
Note: We reviewed this obviously on a warm April afternoon. We may have to revisit this beer during an appropriate frosty December evening.

Schlafly Christmas Ale

The Saint Louis Brewery
St. Louis, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Nice caramel/copper color. Thin, white head, fine bubbles. Crisp and clear.

AROMA: 3/4
Spice–nutmeg, clove, subtle orange, cinnamon. Smells like Christmas! No real hop aroma.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Malty. Pronounced licorice flavor, clove, apples, caramel notes, bitter orange, cinnamon.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Alcohol fades from sweet malt to spicy bitterness (sweet at the front of the tongue, bitter at the back).
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Alcohol feel, malty. A mouthful of Christmas spice—interesting, complex.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: A good example of a winter warmer, to be served with apple crisp or pumpkin pie after a huge Christmas dinner.

TOTAL: 15/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: I can picture a jubilant, post-haunting Ebenezer Scrooge enjoying this as he forks another helping of Christmas goose on to Tiny Tim's plate. Nice.
Ben: A good example of what a Christmas Ale should be. Clove, cinnamon, spices—a winter warmer to sip by a roaring fire.

Note: We reviewed this on a 72° day in April; it may have done even better had it been consumed in the setting mentioned above.