Winter Lager
Bobcaygeon Brewing Company

473 mL can from the LCBO, included in Bobcaygeon's Winter Cottage Escape mixed pack; coded 23321 (possibly Nov 17 2023). Served slightly chilled.

Pours a clear copper-amber colour, briefly topped with less than a finger of loose, soapy, buff-tinted head that disintegrates within a minute or two. The only remnant is a thin collar and a few wisps of film on the surface; very scant lace generation. Mildly sweet aroma of caramel, toasted bread and baked apples with cinnamon; I'm also getting hints of nutmeg, vanilla and brown sugar.

It's a decent spiced beer - the flavours largely follow the nose, with flavours of caramelized sugars & butterscotch overlapping with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and root beer. Toasted grains and bready malts develop later on, with a touch of vanilla preceding a baking spice/cinnamon toast finish that lingers momentarily into the aftertaste, which is fairly dry for an amber lager. Light-medium in body, with lively carbonation that briskly tickles the surface of the tongue. Reasonably drinkable, with good balance for a spiced beer, but do I really want another?

Final Grade: 3.67, a passable B grade. Bobcaygeon's Winter Lager is your standard American amber lager with some spices tossed into the mix. This is one of those cases where it's difficult to overcome my own bias, as I don't particularly care for cinnamon spiced beers (and that goes double in the case of lagers). This one was fine for a session, but I'd be lying if I said I had any desire to drink it again... so I can't offer much more than a lukewarm recommendation. I suppose if you're looking for a spiced beer on the lighter side, then this is worth a look.