2006 vintage. Red-brown body, thick, creamy buff head. This bottle was shaken (thankfully not stirred) in a vehicle for about a week, joining me on trips to the UP’s finest patterned peatlands, cedar swamps, red pine forests, and granite outcrops, and then, finally, to my glass (hotel cup). I think the cork shot through the ceiling, but there was no Mulholland Drive-style yelp from the room above. The aroma is classic holiday fare, with abundant spices; nutmeg is what I pick up the most strongly. Malty body with strong but not overwhelming spices, again including nutmeg; cinnamon also abundant. There is a cider-like quality to this beer due to the spices used. Chewy, creamy mouthfeel. 750 mL is a bit much to drink, but the cork wouldn’t let me save this to share, so I’ll try...

Canette 355ml, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur jaune et aux très faibles notes voilées. Nez de houblon herbeux et légèrement floral et aux notes citriques, malté de grains pâle, léger de levures fruitées (agrumes et leur zest) avec des notes de biscuits et de pain. Plutôt mince en bouche avec un pétillement élevé et croustillant ainsi qu’une texture aux faibles notes crémeuses. Goût de levures fruitées (agrumes peu sucrées, surtout citron avec son zest) avec un goût de grains de malt pâle lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût moyennement amer et sec de houblon à la fois herbeux (herbes fraîches et foin) et floral (qui dure jusqu’en fin de gorgée, avec de faibles notes citriques) parallèlement à un goût malté rappelant des notes de biscuits et accompagné de notes de pain puis en finale l’on retrouve également de faibles notes de levures épicées (traces de poivre) avec de très faibles notes métalliques. Post-goût moyen-long et un peu sec, moyennement amer de houblon herbeux et floral avec des notes fruitées (zest d’agrumes).

Sampled on draft this beer poured a pale golden color with a small white head. The aroma was funky barnyard with an earthy element and light pepper. The flavor was dry , funky, barnyard, earthy and yeasty with a peppery finish.

Draught at Ginger Man, 36th NYC
Dark amber color; creamy head. The aroma has some salame smokeyness (strange). Good malty body, sweet, with sweet caramel and nice, light smoked. Pleasant.

Draught at Hop Devil, NYC
Black color. Nice aroma of roasted malt. Roasted malt flavor, but a bit metallic. Average.

12 oz. can from willblake. Pour is a hazy orange gold with a nice big white head. Aroma is bananas, wheat and earthy yeastiness. Taste is really spicy, with cloves, banana and a bunch of wheat. Real nice, slightly tart wet finish. Some citrus in the body as well. This is certainly the best Hefeweizen I have had in a can. Very refreshing. Thanks Jon!

Can from JB175; Nose is grainy, yeasty, and lemon hops; Crystal clear yellow gold with a huge white head; flavor of lemony hop bitterness, breadiness from the medium light body with a big hop finish; maybe not 44IBUs as the can says but close. Great Pils!

Draft. I tried this the same weekend I tasted the Sly Fox Galena IPA. Hands down, this outflavors the Galena. Creamy, off-white head atop a cloudy amber body. Average to strong aroma of grapefruit, flowers and perfume. Light caramel in the background. Flavor is moderately sweet and moderately bitter, though the bitter lasts throughout a long finish. Medium body with a sticky texture. Lively carbonation. A very good IPA.