Full Sail ‘Wassail’ Winter Ale

Full Sail 'Wassail' Winter Ale. 7.2% abv. 56 IBU. Dark brown in color, nearly black. A finger of thick head slowly falls to half. Good retention, outstanding lacing. Nose is malty, sweet, spicy, alcohol. Front taste is roasted malt, caramel, chocolate, dark fruit. Aftertaste has a nice long sustain with strong alcohol, ample piercing hops, caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate. Dry finish, a contrast to its sticky mouthfeel. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is thick, sticky, creamy, warm-hot. This is an excellent winter warmer. Fans of winter/xmas beers should seek out this limited edition brew. Highly recommend.

From the brewery:

"This holiday treat is deep mahogany in color, has a full malty body and a pleasantly hoppy finish. LIMITED EDITION ALE - AVAILABLE FOR 90 DAYS ONLY. OCTOBER-DECEMBER. A few unmistakable signs tell us when winter has arrived here in Hood River. The waterfalls in the Gorge start kicking out the jams. The snow report for the backcountry regains its hold over us. And the Wassail starts flowing once again. We’ve brewed Wassail every holiday season since 1988, and it’s now as much a part of the festivities as sharing a roaring fire with our closest family and friends. It's no wonder this multi-medal winning Winter Warmer is one of our favorite beers to brew. Choosing our ingredients for Wassail is like taking time to choose the perfect gift. Each year we carefully select the best hops and malts to brew this special beer. This year’s Wassail is brewed with a range of caramel malts and dark chocolate malts giving it a deep mahogany color and a full malty body. We used a blend of Pacific Northwest hops for a pleasant hoppy aroma and finish creating a deliciously balanced beer that appeals to both hop and malt lovers alike. In other words, a Christmas miracle."

Head retention was good, but the lacing was magnificent, all the way down.