It's that time of year again. Time to break out the stash of Christmas and holiday beers that I've kept safely ensconced in my DBR (Dedicated Beer Refrigerator) since last winter. After all, what better way to cool off in the oppressive July heat than with a little bit of winter holiday cheer?

And so, each year, I celebrate Christmas in July, in a beery sort of way of course. I've been known to string up a few lights and play Christmas carols while I do it. Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it. But the beer is certainly my favorite part, hence the annual tradition.

First up for 2010 is a beer that I picked up for the first time last December, Smuttynose Winter Ale. This one is not a spiced holiday brew, but rather is a, well I'll let the brewery describe it to you:

Smuttynose Winter Ale is a full-bodied, amber beer brewed with a special Trappist ale yeast. Stylistically reminiscent of a Belgian Abbey Double, it features fruity aromas and flavor, balanced by soft Crystal hops. Warming, mellow & pleasantly complex, Smuttynose Winter Ale is your perfect cold weather companion.

Here's what I think:

Smuttynose Winter Ale pours to a rusty brownish red color with a moderate but very creamy head formation and an enticing dark malty nose. The palate is all malt, cookie-like, slightly sweet, very chocolaty and a little nutty. There's a hint of soft fruit as well (black cherries to my taste). I get a little funky Belgian yeast character, too, and the finish is balanced nicely with an herbal hop bitterness.

The beer is bottle conditioned, too, meaning it's packaged with yeast. This helps preserve it, and my sample held up well for the past seven months or so. Admittedly, it's been hidden away in the beer fridge, safe from harmful heat and light. I am not sure it would survive so well on a store shelf, however.

Smuttynose Winter Ale does have a surprisingly low alcohol content, at least for a Belgian Dubbel. It weighs in at 4.8% by volume; most beers in the style clock in at 7% or higher. But I think Smuttynose was going after a beer in the vein of a dubbel more than they were really trying to brew one.

The lower alcohol content makes the beer more drinkable, and I very much enjoyed quaffing it during the holiday season. A tasty little brew for Christmas in July or December, and I recommend you try some when it's released in October.



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