Winter Rain Day - New Belgian Snow Day Winter Ale

So we are in the throws of winter in South Louisiana, not that you could tell by the 70+ degree temps this weekend in New Orleans. This temperature in and of itself is not that unusual for this time of year, however the torrential rains that have and continue to plague the region is somewhat out of the ordinary. It has rained so much recently that my daughters' school was closed this past Thursday due to possible flooding in the area. So this winter, instead of a snow day off, they got a rain day off. 

At this point in the season, breweries that produce seasonal brews likely have put out their winter seasonals. These are particularly appealing to me since they are usually dark and designed to keep the drinker warm on the cold winter days. One of these winter seasonals is the Snow Day Winter Ale from the New Belgium Brewery in Ft. Collins, CO.  My friend from work, Jonathan was kind enough to pick up this one for me in Houston since it is not available in Lafayette. 

Appearance: Beer poured a pitch black. There was some carbonation noted, but the darkness of the beer gave it an almost still appearance. Three fingers of fluffy light tan head was present and stayed a long time, with some lasting until the last sip. The lacing appeared to be almost like a snowstorm on the side of the glass.

Smell: A very piney hop aroma was the first smell I picked up from this beer. It gave me a clue that this one may be more like the Brekle's Brown by Anchor Brewing, a dark beer with some  unexpected hoppy flavor.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Somewhat like the nose, I noted some hoppy flavor, but not overpowering. Lingering bitterness was present, but did not last long enough to be off putting. As it warmed, the spice notes became more apparent, typical of winter seasonals. This beer had a medium mouthfeel and not too much carbonation.

Overall: A really good looking beer (enough to warrant two pics). Taste was pleasant and not too spicy or hoppy. A nice dry finish made it quite drinkable. I enjoyed this beer very much and more so than the aforementioned Brekle's Brown. For more info on this beer, please see Snow Day

Like most winters in the South, I don't imagine we will be having any of the cold white stuff on the ground. Much to the dismay of my girls. They don't know just how quickly the novelty of snow wears off.  This beer will be the closest I want to get to a snow day this winter.

Cheers!