Old Man Winter Ale
Southern Tier Brewery in Lakewood, New York brews Old Man Winter Ale, a seasonal ale that evokes a northeastern December night. It’s a handsome reddish copper color akin to the darker leaves that fall at the end of autumn. It has a negligible head that pours thin and dissipates quickly, and it’s accompanied by an IPA-like nose signature - hoppy with grapefruit notes.
Old Man Winter has a lot in common with an IPA - citrus, bready malt - but without the bulk. Instead, it’s crisp to sip, and has pine notes and a slightly thick, resinous residual mouthfeel that’s more enjoyable than that description likely suggests. The ale benefits from time in the glass, and becomes both more bitter and sweet as it warms.