Beer Advent: Ninkasi Sleigh'r

I thought I'd like this from the name alone. Slayer is a truly epic metal band, and any brewer interested in making a pun on their name is OK by me! There was a bit of trepidation, as seasonal beers tend to be full of odd spices and such that can easily get out of hand. The 7.2% ABV was also a concern, as I usually prefer lower-alcohol beers (around 5% or so). I also drank this warm.

It's a dark beer, with quite a bit of effervescence, creating a rather lovely creamy head. The taste however, wasn't at all what I expected. It had characteristics of brown ales which, as I mentioned previously, I absolutely love, but with a piney taste brought on by the hops. At room temp, I think there was a bit too much piney hopness, although not nearly as much as, say, a Pliney (elder or younger). Pliney, to me, tastes like eating a christmas tree. Oddly, I can enjoy that, but only in some situations.

I'd recommend this to other drinkers of good beer, as I am sure there will be many folks who will enjoy it. I'll try it again at the proper temperature, but it's not super high on my list.

Beer Advent: Ninkasi Sleigh'r

I thought I'd like this from the name alone. Slayer is a truly epic metal band, and any brewer interested in making a pun on their name is OK by me! There was a bit of trepidation, as seasonal beers tend to be full of odd spices and such that can easily get out of hand. The 7.2% ABV was also a concern, as I usually prefer lower-alcohol beers (around 5% or so). I also drank this warm.

It's a dark beer, with quite a bit of effervescence, creating a rather lovely creamy head. The taste however, wasn't at all what I expected. It had characteristics of brown ales which, as I mentioned previously, I absolutely love, but with a piney taste brought on by the hops. At room temp, I think there was a bit too much piney hopness, although not nearly as much as, say, a Pliney (elder or younger). Pliney, to me, tastes like eating a christmas tree. Oddly, I can enjoy that, but only in some situations.

I'd recommend this to other drinkers of good beer, as I am sure there will be many folks who will enjoy it. I'll try it again at the proper temperature, but it's not super high on my list.