Seasonal Craft Beer Review: Sierra Nevada Celebration 2011

As someone who appreciates most of what Sierra Nevada has offered to me in the past it is tough for me to not be biased for this one. It has all the characteristics of the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: it has a pine aroma and an unmistakable citrus hop flavor. But what is a little different is the darker reddish brown color and the flavors, which are more bold. It does have a higher alcohol content than the Pale Ale, which greatly increases the flavor. Plus it also enhances the fruitiness that pokes its head out from time to time.
The Celebration is for the season, but also to celebrate the freshly harvested "whole cone hops". There is some discussion among brewers concerning hop storage and the effects of time and the environment on the whole cone hops, as opposed to the pelletized hop product that the great majority of other brewers use. Maybe a California brewer who uses them fresh off the vine can manipulate them better. It seems that SN has been able to successfully do this, so more power to them, I say.   
As far as being a Winter Beer, it is successful, in that it is a more refined and higher alcohol version of another beer they make. It is, without a doubt, a Sierra Nevada IPA. But just to remind you of the season the label has a snow covered log cabin and poinsettias all around.
I had tried last year's version of this brew, but it didn't take to me as nicely as the 2011 did. Maybe my IPA tastes have changed a little. Also, I have tried to remain in the season of the beer a lot more this year ( I have practically shut down all my Weiss and Kolsch beer drinking since early fall).

CBC Rating: 5. This, again, is thanks to its being a winter welcoming IPA and for SN to continue to do what they do really well: use the wet and dry hops to their advantage.

Poured into an Imperial Pint Glass from the bottle given to me by Stevo. ABV: 6.8%.

Seasonal Craft Beer Review: Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale

Just spoke to a friend of mine, who grew up in Wisconsin and who has turned me onto some good Wisconsin beers like Hinterland, among others. We have a beer exchange at work too. He tells me he is moving to the Maryland/Delaware area and switching jobs. I'm going to miss him, but I'm also a little jealous. While he has to move away from the land of New Glarus and Lakefront, he is moving right into the territory of Flying Dog, Dogfish Head, Yuengling, Troegs, Yards and Flying Fish.
I have seen Flying Dog before, and they have always looked interesting mainly because of their label art, I think. It is really unusual.
The taste of this winter beer was really familiar. I knew I had tasted it before, even though it was not this exact one. I tasted sweet caramel, nuts and a strong malt character. It had the smokiness too that I sometimes encounter in a winter warmer.
I figured it out: it tasted almost exactly the same as Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown.
The color is reddish brown with a tan lacing that lasts a while after pouring, and the sweetness hits your nose immediately, along with some woody notes. Very little hop character is present as it remains sweet throughout the tasting.   
I think it is a little too sweet for me, enjoyable for maybe one bottle but I couldn't have any more than this one. A difference this one has to the Leinenkugels is the higher alcohol content, which easily makes the tastes a lot more bold.
CBC Rating: Between 2 and 3. Too much of a copy of the Leinenkugels and too sweet for repeated tastings yet a little daring with the higher alcohol.
Poured into a tall pilsner glass from the bottle given to me by my BIL for Christmas.
ABV: 7.4%