These beers are in very limited distribution, but well worth the find.

First up: North Coast Brewing's 20th Anniversary Ale (Grand Cru)

Appearance: brilliant golds and coppers. Small and tight head the color of pith which fades fast, leaving just an itsy bitsy teensy weensy collar of miniscule bubbles. Swirls without lace.

 Nose: boozy cidery fermented apples with a touch of apple vinegar. Further boozy spicy honeyed notes of peaches, apricots, and cantaloupe. Rhubarb and raspberries get their equal treatment of boozy delights. Whisper of granny smith apples for tartness. Essence of single-malt saturated oak barrels.

 Palate: light up front, long and sticky and warm in the middle, with a dry spiced boozy honeyed finish. Honeyed apples, peaches, and apricots followed by more honey followed by single-malt spicy boozy delights. Not heavy or overpowering at all. Liquid essence of rhubarb and raspberry in the middle. As she loses her initial chill, the chest-warming delights of oak, spicy, and booze kick it up one more notch. Honey holds everything together. Red apples than granny smith apples.

Final Thoughts: yowza!! Wasn’t sure what to expect when I first poured this anniversary beer into my glass. Typically anniversary beers are big bad imperial stouts, but not so at North Coast and for that, I am so glad. Their Twentieth Anniversary Ale probably won’t become a seasonal staple which means I need to hunt down another bottle or three.

Next find: Cigar City Brewing's Sugar Plum Brown

Appearance: chestnut browns under an average khaki head with bubbles ringing the side. Head fades into a small filmy puddle in the middle. Swirls thick along the sides but no lace.

 Nose: cooked melted caramelized brown sugar and sugar in the raw. Meaty dates, prunes, and raisins find a home in dense, moist, chewy cinnamon laced bread. Fig cake, fruit cake. Maraschino.

 Palate: yummy! Cooked brown sugar sweetness mingles with prunes and dates. Fruitcake underneath finishes with maraschino cherries. As it warms up, tannic tartness nips at the back of my tongue with plum skins, leather, and dry red wine. Surprisingly medium-light body with a clean, slightly silky mouthfeel. Stewed and boozed prunes, raisins, plums, and purple grapes.

Final Thoughts: I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this beer. I feared excessive sweetness and cloying tendencies and got the exact opposite. Delicately rich and sophisticated, I hope Cigar City releases this winter wonderland again this year.

Kristyn Lier can be found at our 20th Street, Vero Beach store. More of her beer finds and other writings can be found on her personal blog at beerambassador.net.