Ebenezer
Upstream Brewing Company - Legacy

Although this year's version of the Ebenezer was listed on the menu as being "classified as a double stout", I've entered it here as a Winter Warmer. I could have gone with English Strong Ale or Olde Ale, but neither seem to fit too well (if it was one or the other, I'd call it a strong ale0. As it's spiced, however, I thought that "winter warmer" suited it best. And although I could have used "spiced ale" instead, it does have a very English character. In any case, it's certainly not a "double stout" as it contains no roasted malt whatsoever; and with a starting gravity of 1.073 I'm not sure it could be classified as "double" either. Onward...

It was delivered in a small glass with a hazy dark-reddish mahogany body beneath a creamy tan head. The retention was fair, and it left some nice lacing about the glass at the outset, and into the middle.

The aroma was richly caramelish with a hint of chocolate, and accented by cinnamon and nutmeg. The flavor followed suit, and it was well-balanced by a low-level bitterness (30 IBU's) that allowed the maltiness to come through, and then let the spices help to dry the finish. The alcohol is well hidden, perhaps by the spice, which becomes fuller, and perhaps a bit cloying as you progress through the glass and it warms.