Blow the trumpets! Gather the drinkers! Alert the pubs! The Beer Reviews are back. (Now that I’m writing from the “perilous realm,” I need a few good ales and lagers to keep me sane in the midst of danger.)
Time to tell you all about some winter ales and lagers to get you through the remaining weeks of cold.
Today’s selection comes from Middle Ages Brewing Company, based in Syracuse, NY. Wizard’s Winter Ale is a good beer. It’s not as hearty as I prefer my winter beers to be, but it’s got a really nice blend of malts, caramel/butterscotch, brown sugar sweetness, hops, and spices, with a slightly bitter finish and a nice aftertaste. (Balancing those spices is really important; overdone spices is the death of many winter beers). It pours a dark amber color, and the smell is a bit fainter than you’d expect, so the initial taste takes you a little bit by surprise. I was expecting it to be a bit too weak. Like I said, weaker than I prefer for my winter beers, but very smooth; I could easily move through a couple of these in a short period of time.
A worthy brew.
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I’ve always enjoyed Middle Age’s brews, but I’ve never had their winter ale. I’ll have to try that soon. My personal favorite of their lineup is Wailing Wench. My wife makes me pour it immediately and dispose of the bottle once it enters the house, though. There’s something about the label art that she doesn’t quite like.