Trois Dames Winter Sour: 6.5 – The ginger and orange is certainly a factor in there, but there is so much tart sour and bitterness. A winter beer should be toasty and inviting, or conversely invigorating – this is an attack dog to your face. Sure there is a bit of spice as well here – which one could use to pass it off as a winter beer, but really this is just too powerful and in multiple ways isn’t pleasant.
Price Average: $7 draft
Website: https://www.sheltonbrothers.com
Harpoon Winter Warmer: 5.5 – its almost like a pumpkin ale but replace it with nutmeg and cinnamon instead, its a nice taste, and sure on a Christmas day when i had this it was right, but a novelty needs to be judged as such.
Price Average: Name $9 for 6-Pack
Website: http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/
Stone Xocoveza: 3.5 – Oh god the amount of coffee and mocha there is obnoxious. A coffee flavored beverage can often be okay, but this bitter and dark-chocolate, and spiced monstrosity is for people who want to appear to drink beer. The problem being those people hate beer, and now we’re catering to them. The small number of points here is purely for a serious coffee lover would enjoy this enough to balance the score a little.
Price Average: Stone Xocoveza $16 for 6-pack
Website: http://www.stonebrewing.com/
Bruery 6 Geese A-Laying: 6.0 – It’s interesting, sort of more like a red ale but without any cut. As for a winter ale here you appreciate the 11.5% more than the beer itself.
Google Shop Average: Bruery 6 Geese A-Laying $13
Website: http://www.thebruery.com/
Berkshire Cabin Fever Ale: 5.0 – Of Berkshire’s beers this is likely my least favorite. Their scotch ale is great, and Lee and I are fans of their coffeehouse porter, and the very drinkable Steel Rail. However this winter style ale just lacks a great taste in flavor or drinkability.
Google Shop Average: Berkshire Cabin Fever Ale $5
