Winter Hop
Alewerks Brewing Company

This poured a hazy dark amber with tan head. It smelled like sweet vanilla with some light caramel and cultured yeast, and a bit of copper hops. It tasted like copper hops and vanilla and cultured yeast, with a bit of oak and roasted barley. It was fairly thick with a bit of carbonation, and had a metallic bitter aftertaste. Overall this was a nice winter brew. It had good flavor, but nothing terribly exciting, and wasn't totally clean. It had great body, but drinkability was hit by general harshness of the brew. Decent but needs refinement, not terribly far from Eye of the Hawk. Not sure if age would help or hurt this one, but if they scaled this back to 8% or so, it might improve a fair amount.

Beer pours a deep mahogany color with a 1 finger head that dissipates quickly. Decent lacing left in glass. Smell is of caramel and sweet malt with a good citrus aroma. Taste is or toasted malt and caramel with a nice citrus hop flavor. Excellent balance between malt and hops. Alcohol is well hidden for the amount present in beer.

A really good beer and one of my favorite styles due to the great balance of malt and hops. Even though it is not an everyday beer, I would definitely like to have a sixer sitting around the house.

On tap at the brewery.

A: Dark copper body with small off-white head, decent retention. Nice clarity.

S: Similar to an I2PA, like a malty, slightly less-hopped version. Nice caramel and sugary malt aroma with a strong but not assertive hop note that's piney and herbal with a touch of citrus.

M&T: Slick, medium body, ample carbonation. A little syrupy on the tongue.
The balance is very good here, with the sweet, fruity caramel malt flavor coming first, then a rush of leafy, herbal and piney hops. Dry, nicely bitter finish with residual leafy hop flavors. A touch of alcohol is evident (especially when burped).

D: 9.3% ABV?! I would have never guessed...drinks very easily for the strength. A beer I wish they'd bottle and send to my doorstep immediately. Not perfect but a worthy winter warmer to accompany dreariness in general.