21st Amendment Brewery 'Fireside Chat' Winter Spiced Ale. 7.9% abv. 45 IBU. Dark red color with thin ivory head that falls to a sustaining collar. Fair retention, moderate lace. Nose of caramel, cloves. Front taste of amber malt, caramel, bright tangy fruit, mild herbal hops. Aftertaste is bitter botanical, cloves, juniper, astringent sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, sticky.

This is a fine winter brew, my first of 2016. Fall and winter beers are usually a treat, and this beer surely comes across as such. It's caramel flavor is supplanted with bright bitter spice notes, all in a body that's sticky, clingy, and a touch boozy. This is not the best nor last winter beer I've had, but it is memorable and worthy of having again. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Like FDR’s Depression-era radio addresses, which were like a kick in the butt and a hug at the same time, our Fireside Chat is a subtle twist on the traditional seasonal brew. We begin with a rich, dark, English-style ale and then we improvise with spices until we know we have a beer worth sharing with the nation. Fireside Chat is our early winter seasonal brew available from October through December in six pack cans and on draft. Brewed like a classic, warming Strong Ale but with a subtle blend of hand-selected spices for just the right festive flair."

[source: 21st-amendment.com]

Sierra Nevada 'Flipside' Red IPA. 6.2% abv. 60 IBU. An alternative summer beer. Red-amber color with off-white head. Low retention. Nose of herbs and citrus peel. First taste is hops and bitter fruit, like grapefruit. Balanced hop aftertaste. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, small-bead carb.

This is a good beer that tries to strike a middle ground between different styles. It’s got the easy drinkability and citrus notes of a summer beer, but with the slightly malty back of an amber. It’s not as good as many IPAs, but better than most red ales. I could certainly have a couple of these in one sitting. That being said, it is far from the best that Sierra Nevada has to offer.

From the brewery:

"A hop-forward fix for the first days of fall. Just when it feels like the dog days will never end, suddenly, the switch is flipped, the air gets cooler and it’s clear that autumn is on the way. Featuring a ruby-red hue and abundant tropical fruit and citrus hop flavors, Flipside Red IPA is the perfect beer for the final flash of summer."