Nogne Winter Ale makes me yearn for the Northern Lights

I started doing Krav Maga again yesterday after a 7 month relapse and in a cruel bit of voodoo magic, my body feels like it was hit for an hour instead of the heavy bag I was punching. I decided to start drinking new beers again on my days off as an incentive (like I really needed one) and today is the first in the timetable. I'm trying to drink as many winter beers as possible before the season runs out and will be doing a 21st Amendment winter warmer on Thursday as well.

Nogne has been good to me in the past and I feel it's one of those breweries everyone should know about, like The Bruery. It's from Norway and if you see a label carrying it's signature O, I cannot advocate enough you purchasing one. Their Imperial Stout received a Bad Boys rating back in September (http://www.beereveryday.com/2011/09/nogne-o-imperial-stout). I had a feeling that this brewery was the real deal, but will their Winter Ale prove me wrong?

This is ravenously good and it tastes like something Santa's elves would make. Crisp and spicy, a fireplace beer originating from a part of the world where it's mostly night during several months of the year. It warms the soul at 8.5% alcohol and incorporates flavors such as clove, licorice, raisin and cocoa nibs in a fantastically smooth way, like a bobsled track. COOL RUNNINGS!

Winter Warmers are generally a mixed bag, a complex bank heist that either happens according to plan or goes horribly wrong. This is definitely the former. With the later, the spice usually wears on you worse than watching the latest Dr. Pepper commercial:

Really not a fan of that commercial. An interesting insight that becomes muddled in the execution. Anywho, this Nogne Winter Ale is not as perfect as The Bruery's Two Turtle Doves but it's sublimely delicious and becomes addictive at first sip. What are the elves putting in the Norwegian water? BAD BOYS rating. 

Samuel Smiths Winter Welcome Ale puts me at ease

 I needed a break and Trader Joes delivered with a 3 cheese (blue, grana padano and parm) pizza as well as a sterling brewery in Samuel Smith's.  Sersiously, look at that pizza and realize it's only 3.69. The beer was 2.69. I can get fat and happy for $7. God Bless America.









This label is wicked sweet and reminds me of an old vaudeville or traveling circus poster, which is funny because I have no idea what either of those actually look like, so I guess the label just seems like it would. Here's my research, and I think I'm right - what do you think?

Anywho, I'm unwinding to the tune of ARCHER season 1 while perusing home brewing info because I want to formulate my own recipes and the Winter Welcome really scratches my itch. It has a fruity aroma and sweet malty notes with caramel base. There isn't a big mix of winter spices and at 6% alcohol, it goes down nice. This is a really excellent winter warmer. THE ROCK rating.

Winter Hook Winter Ale watches David's legos and helps me vanquish my online enemies (who are probably teenage kids)

David had his beer at Library Alehouse so I'm absorbing one of his gifts from his Washington trip, the Winter Hook ale from Red Hook. It's a solid Christmas ale with a lil' spice, lil' hop, and lil' caramel malt. Put them together and you get a TRANSFORMERS rating. Or a Lego Star Wars set. YEP

Merry Christmas to David, from David

As I destroy people in Call of Duty Black Ops, alternating between the Gun Game/Sticks and Stones Wager Match, I realize it's been a while since I imbibed a Red Hook and I'm quite happy about being reintroduced to them. Red Hook ESB changed my life and now Mr. Hook has caught my attention again. I'm looking forward to the next brew from them.

Btw, this Wager Match is incredibly addicting. Do you realize these people are geniuses? They designed an entertainment platform that combines gaming and gambling, the two greatest addictions ever (outside of drugs and cookies). If David and I weren't so cool and social, a serious problem could definitely develop that requires intervention (says Walker as he stares pas his Shark Slippers at David who is building Star Wars Legos with the focus of a Zen master).

Bik Sky Powder Hound Winter Ale finishes Utah

I spent the better part of my final morning getting all the black and double black's in, including my favorite, Daily Chute #9, which is in the left 1/3 of the picture below, where that first hump is:

Here is Rob about to dive in:

Everywhere there was really great powder that morning. Couldn't have asked for a better way to end the trip.

 

Mandatory tourist picture with the new run bearing my middle name. 

A fitting beer at the end of my powder filled day.

Back at the lodge, I closed out my Utah run with a Montana Big Sky brewing Winter Ale. This Powder Hound has a sweet caramel malt and a nutty finnish. It is a very different type of winter ale and reminds me more of a spring or even fall beer. It's a good brew, but not for me. If you enjoy malty concoctions then pick it up. THE ISLAND rating.