Winter Ale Buyer's Guide!

With so many local winter releases available, it can be difficult to decide.
Luckily for my readers, I have the obligation of trying all of them and giving you a heads up!
Here is a guide to some of the Winter offerings available to my PNW followers.


Elysian's Winter Ale is a well balanced IPA with a distinguishing earthiness and frothy mouth feel. A nice winter ale that as usual was incredibly affordable!

Elysian: Bifrost: 7.5%abv: Seattle, WA.

Another hoppy winter offering from the Seattle area, Pike's Holiday ale is an easy drinking amber ale with a nice blend of citrus hops and caramel malt.

Pike Brewing: Auld Aquantaince: 5%abv: Seattle WA.

 Snoqualmie's Winter ale was a bit of a disappointment. Lacking any distinguishable character aside from the medicinal aftertaste, this could have been a bad bottle. Snoqualmie brews an amazing unfiltered Ipa and a solid Porter.

Snoqualmie: Avalance: 6.8%abv: Snoqualmie, WA.

A different take on the holiday seasonal, Scuttlebutt opts for a very chocolaty Imperial Dunkel. Rich and refreshing, their augmentation of a traditional German style was awesome. This would have to be my favorite winter seasonal, thus far!

Scuttlebutt: 10 Below: 7.4%abv: Everett WA.

 As usual, Hopworks Urban Brewery didn't disappoint. The artwork for their Winter Ale is awesome, and the beer was a tasty organic treat as usual with a nice balance of citrus hops to their distinct caramel/grainy malt back.

HUB: Abominable: 7.3%abv: Portland, OR.