Its February in Pittsburgh, and its colder than Hell.  So far we’ve had some wicked wind storms, a few inches of snow here and there, and the usual shitty road conditions.  So I figured what better time than now to review a winter ale.  This one goes by the name of K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale from Flying Dog Brewery.  Lets see how this brew can warm you up in those harsh winter months.

Before I get into reviewing the beer itself, let me speak a few words about Flying Dog Brewery.  This is my third beer from these folks, and they have yet to disappoint.  Often times guys at various six pack shops will give me a heads up about Flying Dog and tell me how good their stuff is.  Also if a brewery has enough balls to put the words, "Good Beer, No Shit" on its website, thats always a plus. Will this seasonal winter ale live up to my already high expectations?  Lets find out:

This guy seems to pour with a lot of head, however I fucked up the pour by holding my camera, so that may be the reason why.  In appearance, its a its a mixture of brown and copper tones.  The smell of this beer is somewhat rich, as you’ll smell a lot of malt with some hints of spices mixed in.  No real complaints there (I’ve had some beers smell like sewage, which is definite turn off even if it tastes great).  The taste reminds me of a mixture of malts and toffee, however I can’t really taste the spices that appear to be present in it’s aroma.  You can taste some alcohol in this guy slightly, as its 6.4% ABV.  Thankfully, It goes down pretty well, and I can stand by that because I’m sipping it as I’m writing this very review.

K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale is a good winter brew and really gives you the "warmth" feeling as you sip it.  I can see why they chose this beer to have as their winter seasonal, as its perfect to drink on those freezing winter nights.  I’d be interested in trying this guy again, and perhaps I’ll get to try it out once more before the winter is through.

Taste: Above Average

Smell: Slightly Above Average

Drinkability: Above Average

Final Words:

This beer is another solid entry from Flying Dog.  It really does give you that "warm up" feeling that you’d need in a winter brew.  The significantly high ABV is sure to give you some extra warming up as well.  I haven’t tried a ton of winter ales, but thus far this beer is on the top of the list for those seasonal brews.  Its meant to be sipped rather than be chugged, but thats a quality I don’t mind in beers like this.  I’d be happy to pick this one up again next winter.

View the Pour:

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