Fat Orange Cat Winter Warmer

 Fat Orange Cat Winter Warmer. 

7% ABV, ale with spices. Fat Orange Cat Brew Co., New Haven, CT.

Dark brown color, leaning into black, cocoa toned head above. 

In the nose: nice and roasty toasty. Notes of ginger, malt, vanilla. Comfy-cozy are we. 

In the mouth: flavors of gingerbread, cocoa and marshmallows, spiced Christmas cookies all leap out and play on the palate. Crisp, smooth, delicious. Dark fruits jump into the fray, mixing up with spices. Full bodied and fully flavored. 

One of my favorite new winter warmers of recent memory. I’m going back for more before it’s gone. 

Fat Orange Cat Bavarian Kittens

 Fat Orange Cat Bavarian Kittens  Festbier.  

5.3 % ABV, Fat Orange Cat Brew Co., North Haven, CT.

Despite saying Festbier on the front, the side of the label states “Märzen style lager.” One more example of an Oktoberfest that won’t say Oktoberfest.

 Clear, amber hue, slim ivory head. 

In the nose: sweet and malty, earthy, caramel-y. Perfect Märzen nose.

In the mouth: rich, toasty, delicious. Liquid bread. Hearty and satisfying. Medium bodied when a long, malty finish. Quite likable. 

Two Roads Holiday Ale Biére de Noel

 Two Roads Holiday Ale Biére de Noel.

7.3 % ABV. Two Roads Brewing, Stratford, CT. 

I know what you're saying. You're saying, Al, what's up, Christmas was a month ago, why are you drinking this now? How to explain this? Okay, these cans came into my possession shortly before the holiday, and I enjoyed can #1, stashed the second away for another day and the note-taking. And that day become today because I am a terrible procrastinator. I've definitely done worse. You don't want to know. Believe me.

I didn't purchase any before that day that they became mine because there are so many new beers coming out around the holiday season, it's impossible to get them all. Some fall by the wayside, and, actually, holiday-themed beers aren't my top priority. I like 'em, just don't live for them. 

But every good holiday ale can be enjoyed anytime, and why not now, with snow piled up and temps in the teens. (At least we haven't dipped below zero yet. Fingers crossed.) We're not out of this for a long while. Brrr...

Clear, auburn hue, slim whitish head. 

In the nose: Deep, dark fruit, and slight spice. Figs and berries. Mostly malty. 

In the mouth: More spices grace the palate along with waves of malt. Moderately hopped. Some small sweetness. Like mulled fruit with spices. Definitely delicious. I'm liking this one. I'd drink it anytime of year. 

Evil Twin I Love You With My Stout Imperial Stout

Evil Twin I Love You With My Stout Imperial Stout, 12 fl. oz., 12% ALC BY VOL. Brewed by Evil Twin Brewing, Stanford, CT.

Appearance: full-on ebony, under a tight ring of cocoa-tan head, Looking good.

Aroma: espresso and chocolate greet the nose first, then rich, dark malt, dried fruits,  hints of vanilla and toasted coconut.

Taste: Richness and depth. Dark chocolate, raisins, molasses. Full-bodied, long, bittersweet malty finish. A little bit of black pepper, a portion of plums, and a lot of rich roastiness. Flash flood on the palate of roasted malt, struck with sweetness.

I like this. Don't love it, though. Could definitely be drier. I paid $12.99 for a 4-pack. If I'd went for the tried and true familiar favorites like Old Rasputin or Sierra Nevada Narwhal, I'd have saved four dollars. But, you know me, I've got to try them all.

Let's read the label, shall we? "When I copied the famous Even More Jesus, I had to ask myself as an artist, why am I doing this? I didn't honestly know, it was just an instinct about beer as pure form…in a sense this stout is a metaphor for freedom. The sum of all the beauty that surrounds me and my perfect contemporary existence."--Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergso, brewer and founder, Evil Twin Brewing.

What? (Seriously, if you know what any of that means, let me know.)

Evil Twin Ashtray Heart Smoked Porter (Stout?)

Evil Twin Ashtray Heart Smoked Porter. 8.9% ABV. Brewed by Evil Twin Brewing, Statford, CT.

I haven't had much Evil Twin. This is the first one to enter this blog. They're popping up all over, faster than I can keep up with them. But, hey, you've got to start somewhere, and here's as good a beer as any.

Ultra dark. Black as soot, with a toasted brown head, starting proud and slimming down.

Aroma: Char. Cocoa. Toffee. Smoke. Nice. Deep and complex.

Taste: Sweet at first, then come the maple, the licorice, molasses and more. Full-bodied. Rich and filling. Long-lasting flavors. Vast, malty finish. I can't really find a fault with it, yet…I can't fall in love with it. It's not exactly rough around the edges, but it lacks a certain charm. Eh.

hey, there's words on the label! "Amazingly rich, seductively dark and smoking good. Yes a real heartbreaker. We recommend only the truly skillful, heavyweight beer champions to battle this awfully irresistible smoked stout."

Wait, which is it, smoked porter or smoked stout? It's called two things on the label. Make up your minds!

This falls in the domain of "okay", but don't go out of the way for it.