A few Saturday’s ago I, and a few other beer experts, convened to sample an assortment of winter beers. Our results may shock you:
Blue Moon, Full Moon Winter Ale – Not a heavy ale, and slightly bitter, it was refreshing. With a good 
dark caramel color, this went down very easily. If Sam Winter is too much for you, this is lighter in comparison.
Harpoon, Winter Warmer – Probably the most spiced of all the ales we tried. You really can taste the nutmeg, and possibly allspice, brewed in this ale. The spice was a great twist and reminded me of eggnog.
Otter Creek, Winter Ale Raspberry Brown – Very smooth with a good dark red color in the glass. Not a lot of raspberry flavor to report, and a little watery. I was disappointed with this one.
Woodstock Inn Brewery, Wassail – Red amber color in the glass with a little chocolate flavor. A slight bitter finish down your throat. This was very tasty and maybe my favorite.
Sam Adams, Winter Lager – Darkest color of all five. Very strong cinnamon flavor, probably the most consistent flavor throughout, and a clean finish. This is an old standby for many.
There you have it, a small sampling of some good local winter beers. I had been looking for some Smuttynose Winter and Shipyard Prelude, but my usual spot was sold out when I swung by. It just gives me something to write about next time I guess.
After a tough day of shoveling, there is no better way to relax than with a full-bodied ale and maybe some pretzels. Of course, if you drink Budweiser, how do you tell the difference between summer and winter ales?
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