The Swill: Full Sail Wassail
The Still: Full Sail Brewing Company
Hood River, Oregon
http://fullsailbrewing.com/
The Drill: Seasonal Winter Ale, 12oz bottle, 7.0% ABV, available around Christmas.
The Spill: Bold, fun ale, brewed with a generous amount of malt, giving the ale a hearty consistency and a somewhat alcoholic kick. Rich and warming with a definite brown sugary character. Balanced with hops, but the malt definitely wins out. A tasty holidaty treat.
Says Bill: I received this beer as part of a holiday 12-pack in 2007 from my brother-in-law, Jon. It sat in my fridge for over a year, and the more time that passed, the more hesitant I was to try it. I was concerned that its age would affect its quality, but when I drank it in December 2008, I was pleasantly surprised. The beer held up very well, and didn't flatten or lose dimension as far as I could tell. I'll definitely pick up a six-pack at the end of the year and try it again. If it's any better fresh, I'm certain I'm in for a real treat.
Refill?: This is a great example of a seasonal beer that is brewed for fun and adventure. It goes great with the cold winter weather that prevails during its release. 3.5 taps out of 5.