Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale

INFO:

Sam Adam's Old Fezziwig Ale is a seasonal brew now found only in the Sam Adams Winter Classics Variety Pack. I ended up picking up a bottle from the Winter 2010 run (I presume) over the summer while buying beer in cases to circumnavigate the high alcohol prices of New York City

Year: 2010

ABV: 5.8%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

COLOUR: deep brown colour, with a dark coppery tint

FOAM: nice thick head of foam (poured with little finesse easily an inch or two)

off white, not very lasting

SMELL: sweet yet hoppy

TASTE:

(initial) sweet slighty roasted hoppy flavour

(body) nice, smooth

(aftertaste) slightly bitter

Lindemans Kriek

INFO:

Lindemans Kriek (or Kriek Lindemans) is a lambic from Belgium. If you don't know what that means, bascially it is a wheat beer that has fruit added and is naturally fermented - often giving it a more wine or champagne style taste than a specific beer (it also doesn't taste like crap, as many 'flavoured' beers in the USofA taste like because of the low quality esters used to impart taste). Lindemans Kriek was introduced to me by one of my friends when I was at this crazy awesome bar in Belgium, and so when I moved I was ecstatic t find that a lot of stores in the United States stock it.

Though it is pretty pricey as a niche import, I still probably count it as one of those beers I am always recommending to people; especially if they are not beer drinkers.

Year: 2010

ABV: 4.0%

From: 12oz bottle (chilled), and poured

DRINKING NOTES:

COLOUR: full, deep red

FOAM: light pink

SMELL: sweet cherry, red wine

TASTE:

(initial) slightly sweet, cherry flavour

(body) continuation of previous taste, slight taste/heavyness of hops

(aftertaste) slightly sour

Chocolate Bock

Sam Adam's Chocolate Bock

Info:

Seasonal: Winter (Nov.-Jan.)

Exclusive to the Sam Adam's 'Winter Classics' variety pack

Bottle Description: Cocoa with Natural Flavours

5.8% alcohol

COLOUR

dark, black colour

deep red tint

¼ inch head, creamy colour like guinness, but not the same consistency

TASTING

smoky, chocolaty odour

sweet taste, burnt carmelly initial taste

smooth, but tasteless midde

acidicy, bitter after taste

verdict: pass

kinda nice to mix things up a bit, but it wasn't really full bodied enough for me to really want again. If they have it, try it out, but I wouldn't buy a six pack