Welcome to the Retro-den's
2017 seasonal review!
Enjoy the holidays with a delicious and flavorful beer. Check out our reviews, which we love to create, and keep an open mind when trying something new. Remember to enjoy responsibly so we can all have a
Very Merry Christmas!
Very Merry Christmas!
Nordskye - Session IPA
Blackrocks Brewery - Marquette, Michigan
Pours a slightly cloudy golden color with a big thick head that leaves a lacy trail along the glass. Has the scent of sweet citrus and fresh rubber bands. This IPA does not disappoint with its flavors of pink grapefruit, mosaic hops, and a light bitter finish. On a crisp, clear winter's night, this beer is perfect for watching the norther lights or enjoying the view in the bright moonlight.
Blackrocks Brewery - Marquette, Michigan
Pours a slightly cloudy golden color with a big thick head that leaves a lacy trail along the glass. Has the scent of sweet citrus and fresh rubber bands. This IPA does not disappoint with its flavors of pink grapefruit, mosaic hops, and a light bitter finish. On a crisp, clear winter's night, this beer is perfect for watching the norther lights or enjoying the view in the bright moonlight.
Ski Patrol - Belgian Wit Ale
Brewery Vivant - Grand Rapids, Michigan
Pours with a big white fluffy head, like a big snow drift. Your mouth is tickled by the fizzy carbonation as it releases flavors of ginger and citrus, then leaves behind a light orange peel bitterness. A great treat after a day of hitting the slopes!
Brewery Vivant - Grand Rapids, Michigan
Pours with a big white fluffy head, like a big snow drift. Your mouth is tickled by the fizzy carbonation as it releases flavors of ginger and citrus, then leaves behind a light orange peel bitterness. A great treat after a day of hitting the slopes!
Einstok - Icelandic toasted Porter
Einstok Olgerd - EHF, Akureyri, Iceland
A black brew with a thin tan head and the aroma of roasted coffee beans. The is a fairly smooth easy to drink porter. You are treated with the tastes of coffee and sweet toffee, finishing up with bitter chocolate. Porter lovers will enjoy this rich, medium bodied brew when relaxing at the end of a cold winters day.
Einstok Olgerd - EHF, Akureyri, Iceland
A black brew with a thin tan head and the aroma of roasted coffee beans. The is a fairly smooth easy to drink porter. You are treated with the tastes of coffee and sweet toffee, finishing up with bitter chocolate. Porter lovers will enjoy this rich, medium bodied brew when relaxing at the end of a cold winters day.
Gnoel De Abbey - Holiday Brown Ale
The Lost Abbey - San Marcos, California
A very dark brown ale with a nice thick, foamy head. It has a Belgian ale sweet aroma with a light citrus note.
There is a lot of carbonation with this beer, which holds the flavor until this liquid goodness hits your mouth. It has a fresh feel with the light flavors of dark chocolate and molasses. A light citrus bitterness follows, and ends very smooth. Enjoy this with friends after a day of fun in the snow!
The Lost Abbey - San Marcos, California
A very dark brown ale with a nice thick, foamy head. It has a Belgian ale sweet aroma with a light citrus note.
There is a lot of carbonation with this beer, which holds the flavor until this liquid goodness hits your mouth. It has a fresh feel with the light flavors of dark chocolate and molasses. A light citrus bitterness follows, and ends very smooth. Enjoy this with friends after a day of fun in the snow!
Celebrator Doppelbock
Ayinger Brewery - Ayinger, Germany
With the scent of roasted caramel, this double bock beer pours a dark brown with a medium body tan head. It has a rich malty character with the light flavor of caramel and toasted oats. This one sits a little heavy so leave room after dinner! A delicious choice for the season.
(comes with a little charm to hang on the tree!)
Ayinger Brewery - Ayinger, Germany
With the scent of roasted caramel, this double bock beer pours a dark brown with a medium body tan head. It has a rich malty character with the light flavor of caramel and toasted oats. This one sits a little heavy so leave room after dinner! A delicious choice for the season.
(comes with a little charm to hang on the tree!)
Christmas Bomb
Imperial stout with spices
Prairie Artisan Ales, Krebs Brewing Co.-Krebs, Oklahoma
The stout pours black as coal and has a thin brown head. The aroma is of roasted nuts and dark chocolate. Christmas Bomb is bursting with a multitude of flavors. Served chilled, every sip yields a slightly different taste experience, such as sweet molasses, chocolate, cloves, black licorice, pinchy cinnamon, bitter orange peel, and even a little heat. A good sipper for the evening!
Imperial stout with spices
Prairie Artisan Ales, Krebs Brewing Co.-Krebs, Oklahoma
The stout pours black as coal and has a thin brown head. The aroma is of roasted nuts and dark chocolate. Christmas Bomb is bursting with a multitude of flavors. Served chilled, every sip yields a slightly different taste experience, such as sweet molasses, chocolate, cloves, black licorice, pinchy cinnamon, bitter orange peel, and even a little heat. A good sipper for the evening!
Samichlaus
Castle Brewery - Eggenberg, Austria
This special beer is brewed once a year on Dec. 6th, then aged 10 months before bottling. This one was bottled in 2015. I left it mature until this year. Served slightly chilled, this brew is a very clear brown with a very carbonated head that disappears quickly. It has the sweet aroma of raisins, molasses, and fruit. Subtle flavors of Plumbs, Raisins, and a balance of bitterness and sweetness provide complex flavors to this creamy, malty beverage. There is a definite alcohol presence, like a good brandy or cognac. An excellent choice as a dessert! This would be an annual favorite if I could find it every year!
Castle Brewery - Eggenberg, Austria
This special beer is brewed once a year on Dec. 6th, then aged 10 months before bottling. This one was bottled in 2015. I left it mature until this year. Served slightly chilled, this brew is a very clear brown with a very carbonated head that disappears quickly. It has the sweet aroma of raisins, molasses, and fruit. Subtle flavors of Plumbs, Raisins, and a balance of bitterness and sweetness provide complex flavors to this creamy, malty beverage. There is a definite alcohol presence, like a good brandy or cognac. An excellent choice as a dessert! This would be an annual favorite if I could find it every year!
Spencer Trappist Holiday Ale
Brewed by the monks of St. Joseph Abbey - Spencer, Massachusetts
A special holiday treat that was a pleasure to the taste buds. Cloudy brown with a light head and pleasant, slightly sweet aroma. The beer has a malty character with hints of banana and seasonal spices like cloves and nutmeg. Has a light sweet finish. An excellent choice while mingling with your holiday guests.
Brewed by the monks of St. Joseph Abbey - Spencer, Massachusetts
A special holiday treat that was a pleasure to the taste buds. Cloudy brown with a light head and pleasant, slightly sweet aroma. The beer has a malty character with hints of banana and seasonal spices like cloves and nutmeg. Has a light sweet finish. An excellent choice while mingling with your holiday guests.
3 Scrooges Winter Ale
Griffin Claw Brewing Co. - Birmingham, Michigan
A festive dark brown color with a medium frothy head. Brewed with seasonal spices, your senses are greeted with a pleasant aroma of hops, honey, and cinnamon. Along side the flavors of a winter ale are hints of nutmeg and orange peel that leave a slightly bitter finish. Enjoy this with your favorite scrooges as you turn from "bah-humbug" to "Merry Christmas to all"!
Griffin Claw Brewing Co. - Birmingham, Michigan
A festive dark brown color with a medium frothy head. Brewed with seasonal spices, your senses are greeted with a pleasant aroma of hops, honey, and cinnamon. Along side the flavors of a winter ale are hints of nutmeg and orange peel that leave a slightly bitter finish. Enjoy this with your favorite scrooges as you turn from "bah-humbug" to "Merry Christmas to all"!
Fistmas Holiday Ale
Revolution Brewing - Chicago, Illinois
A nice fist-bump to Santa! This is an IPA-style brew with classic citrus and piney notes eminating from the rich brown ale with a thick foamy head on top. It has a medium bitterness and a fresh, crisp mouthfeel. A perfect choice while wrapping gifts or at a gathering with friends.
Revolution Brewing - Chicago, Illinois
A nice fist-bump to Santa! This is an IPA-style brew with classic citrus and piney notes eminating from the rich brown ale with a thick foamy head on top. It has a medium bitterness and a fresh, crisp mouthfeel. A perfect choice while wrapping gifts or at a gathering with friends.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Ale
Anchor Brewing Co. - San Francisco, California
The 43rd annual special ale pours a solid brown color with thick tan head. This ale has the aroma of a stout, and very smooth roasted porter-like finish with a hint of plum. Another festive beverage to enjoy while trimming the tree!
Anchor Brewing Co. - San Francisco, California
The 43rd annual special ale pours a solid brown color with thick tan head. This ale has the aroma of a stout, and very smooth roasted porter-like finish with a hint of plum. Another festive beverage to enjoy while trimming the tree!
Hibernation Ale
Great Divide Brewing Co. - Denver, Colorado
This visually inviting English-style ale pours a dark raddish brown with a thick head. The aroma is of roasted hops and charred oak. It has a malty character with some roasted hops, a woodsy character more like a peaty scotch, and a coffee like finish of a porter. A great beer to have by the fireside.
Great Divide Brewing Co. - Denver, Colorado
This visually inviting English-style ale pours a dark raddish brown with a thick head. The aroma is of roasted hops and charred oak. It has a malty character with some roasted hops, a woodsy character more like a peaty scotch, and a coffee like finish of a porter. A great beer to have by the fireside.
Old Fezziwig Ale
The Boston Beer Co. - Boston, Massachusetts
Another one of my seasonal favorites. This reddish brown ale has a medium-light head with an aroma of hops and raisins. The flavors are a balanced blend of candied orange rinds, light hops, hint of cinnamon with a malty sweet finish. My best description of Old Fezziwig is "Festive Awsomeness". Enjoy with friends and family.
The Boston Beer Co. - Boston, Massachusetts
Another one of my seasonal favorites. This reddish brown ale has a medium-light head with an aroma of hops and raisins. The flavors are a balanced blend of candied orange rinds, light hops, hint of cinnamon with a malty sweet finish. My best description of Old Fezziwig is "Festive Awsomeness". Enjoy with friends and family.
Celebration Fresh Hop IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, California & Mills River, North Carolina
Were kicking of the season with this perennial favorite. This IPA has a keen copper color with a thick foamy head that leaves a lacy trail as it dissipates. We are treated with the scent of fresh citrus and pine that reminds us of a crisp winter morn. The flavor is the same as the scent, piney with citrus which leave us with a rind peel bitterness. Hopness is not over the top. Just a delicious brew for IPA lovers.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, California & Mills River, North Carolina
Were kicking of the season with this perennial favorite. This IPA has a keen copper color with a thick foamy head that leaves a lacy trail as it dissipates. We are treated with the scent of fresh citrus and pine that reminds us of a crisp winter morn. The flavor is the same as the scent, piney with citrus which leave us with a rind peel bitterness. Hopness is not over the top. Just a delicious brew for IPA lovers.