The Swill: Bison Organic Gingerbread Ale
The Still: Bison Brewing Company
Berkeley, California
http://bisonbrew.com
The Drill: Seasonal Porter brewed with ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon, 12oz bottle, 6.8% ABV, available October through December.
The Spill: The nose truly is reminiscent of gingerbread men, with an inviting, sweet and spicy aroma. Roasted malts add a hint of just-baked goodness. The taste is more that of a medium or light-bodied porter, but the spices are evident enough in the nose that they accompany the taste nicely.
Says Bill: To be honest, I need a redo on this one. It was another one of those beers that I let sit for a long time, like the Full Sail Wassail, but I don't think this one faired quite as well. For one thing, I think the yeast stayed active, because when I opened the beer and poured it into a glass, the head threatened to go over the top by the time I'd only emptied the bottle of a third of its contents. The scent was inviting, however, so much so that I'll definitely give it a second go-round to get the full, fresh experience next time.
Refill?: This is a fun concept, perfect for Christmas parties. More a novelty than an everyday beer, however: 2 taps out of 5.