I asked for your favorite winter warmers, those highly flavorful ales with a higher alcohol content that produce a warming sensation as they go down. The response shows we have many English beer fans in the area.

        Your most popular recommendation was Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale — one of my favorites.

        A seasonal specialty, Celebration is above average strength at 6.8 percent alcohol by volume. You probably need to be a hophead to truly appreciate Celebration. It's absolutely loaded with the delicious flavors of several different West Coast hops. Its fame comes mainly from an extra flavor kick caused by still more “dry” hops added in the final fermentation stage. It's usually released around Thanksgiving, but you may still find some in better beer stores and is worth the search.

        Another multiple mention was Bigfoot Ale, also from Sierra Nevada. At 9.6 percent alcohol, you can sometimes find very limited quantities at a few Northern Kentucky retailers. I've hosted beer tastings where this was my final selection, and I like to use it to demonstrate how many different things can be found in a single beer.

        The blend of malt, hops and fruity ale character is so intense I don't think I've ever found a beer quite like Bigfoot. You could describe it as a traditional English barleywine taken to an American West Coast extreme.

        Old Rasputin, a Russian Imperial Stout from a California brewery, is another stunning example of a West Coast twist on an English standard. This beer is well over 9 percent alcohol, so the warming effect is immediate. Powerful chocolate, coffee and hop aromas and flavors assault your senses, making it a sipping beer to enjoy at leisure. Old Rasputin also seems easier to drink than the imported versions of this style.

        Harviestoun Old Engine Oil was another recommendation. Here is a black, smooth ale with a definite sweetness married to coffee and chocolate flavors. It's barely strong enough to be considered a winter warmer, but it's a delightful brew nonetheless. Two other reader favorites, Great Lakes Christmas Ale and the seasonal Winter Ale from Watson Bros. brewpub in Blue Ash, are also in this category.

        I'll finish with another of my favorites that might be a surprise. How about a Scotch ale that is actually from Belgium? The Belgians have long been such great fans of Scottish beer styles that they now make some of the best examples of the style.

        Scotch Silly is a rich, deep amber beer with toasted caramel notes in both the aroma and flavor. Typical of Scotland and its thrifty use of hops, there is an almost candylike sweetness to the finish. Yet the substantial caramel palate is subtly altered by the distinctive Belgian yeast, making this so much more interesting than other examples of the style. The not-so-silly name comes from the fact this beer has been brewed in the town of Silly (pronounced see-yee) for more than 150 years.

        Finally, I'd like to ask for your help again. If you've been to a beer tasting in the last couple of years, please send an e-mail telling me what you either liked or didn't like about it. I'll include the results with a column on beer tastings planned for next month.
        Contact Ed Westemeier by e-mail: hopfen@malz.com.

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