Tag Archives: Winter Warmer

Beer Reviews, Maine Beer

373. Sea Dog Brewing Winter Ale

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Sea Dog Brewing Winter AleI had lunch at Sea Dog in South Portland and realized I did not have one of their growlers. Before leaving I was sure to ask my waitress for a growlers and ended up deciding on their Winter Ale. I was hoping it would be similar to Shipyard Prelude since they are made at the same brewery but I was wrong.

Beer pours a nice light brown with minimal head that disappeared almost instantly. Aroma had a bit of spice and caramel malts. The taste was entirely malt with some spice and a bit of alcohol warmth which is surprising as the beer is listed at 6.3% ABV.

Overall I was happy to get the growler for my collection but did not finish the 64 ounces of this beer. With so many other great beers waiting I just couldn’t do it.
Pros: Growler
Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 6.3% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Sea Dog Brewing
Brewers Description: A rich winter ale made from the finest English malts.  Its malty character is well balanced with a complex  selection of English bittering hops.

Beer Reviews, Maine Beer

370. Shipyard Brewing Bourbon Barrel Aged Prelude Special Ale

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Shipyard Bourbon Barrel Aged PreludePrelude has long been one of my favorite winter beers. I drank Prelude in college while others were drinking the cheapest beer they could find. When I saw Shipyard was releasing a Bourbon Barrel Aged version of Prelude I knew I had to try it. Fortunately Bier Cellar in Portland was able to put a bottle aside for me and I decided to open it today. This is a 750 ml cork and cage bottle with the year and bottle number on the label. Not sure how many bottles were produced but it is a 5 digit number so I assume there were a lot of bottles.

The beer pours a very dark brown with lots of bourbon aroma. Minimal carbonation and taste has a fair amount of bourbon flavor with a nice alcohol warmth. Be sure to let the beer warm slightly as it has a much more complex and enjoyable flavor. Overall this is a powerful beer that is entirely different from the original Prelude Special Ale. I only purchased one bottle of this beer but it certainly would be a good candidate for aging with its high ABV. Overall a really nice example of barrel aging and something you should try if you get a chance.
Pros: Complex flavor
Cons: 
Alcohol Content: 9.5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness):
Rating: ★★★☆
Brewers Website: Shipyard Brewing
Brewers Description: We are excited to announce the release of our new Bourbon Barrel Aged Prelude Special Ale! Our winter favorite has been enhanced by a 6 month stint in Bourbon Barrels which added smoky notes and a bourbon enhanced finish. This amped-up, 9.5% ABV, winter warmer will be available in select markets and in limited supply this December.