It's cold. My laptop says it's 31°, and I believe it: The two most prominent sounds in my aural arena are the wispy winds rapping against my window and the hiss of the radiator readying itself for combat against the evenings projected low of 23. It's Saturday night and I don't dare go outside: I shudder at the thought that winter doesn't officially start for another month.

Luckily tonight, I find myself prepared with a couple selections from Magic Hat's Feast of Fools winter variety pack. In South Burlington, Vermont, they must realize winter doesn't always wait until December 21st, so these bottles have been tucked away in the fridge for a few weeks now awaiting such an opportunity. I'll speak about the merits of the beers themselves, but they also stand as excellent examples of the variety of ways a winter beer palate can be whet.

Typically, winter makes me think of stouts: Big, dark beers with roasted barley and creamy textures, maybe an extra kick of alcohol to make you feel a wee bit warmer. And speaking of alcohol, the depth and density of a Belgian style ale is usually next on my list for cold weather consumption with the strength and complexity to keep the mind off the freezing temperatures.

But winter beers don't have to be big undertakings with high ABVs. Evidence #1: Magic Hat's Roxy Rolles. Roxy Rolles is a lighter Amber Ale that doesn't look imposing off the pour. What makes it worthy of its winter seasonal status is a caramel nose leading to a flavor of stringent hoppiness that almost emulates the sensation of breathing in piney winter air -- perfect for that first crisp breath after stepping outside on a cold evening.

Taking a somewhat opposite approach, Magic Hat's Winter Odd Notion seasonal which somewhat secretly goes by the name "Braggot" (it's not clearly written on the bottle's label) takes aim at the idea of sweet winter candies with a nose that goes beyond caramel into the realm of brown sugar, butterscotch, even icing. It's brewed with honey which explains the previous explanations, but it's also given a touch of chamomile which is surprisingly apparent on the palate keeping things balanced. The finish is lingering vanilla essence. Halloween kick starts the cooler months with a candy fix that leads us all the way to holiday sweets: Braggot fits in right along those festive winter lines.

The moral: A milk stout might still be my go to guy when the snow starts falling, but realize winter isn't all about packing on pounds for insulation and hibernation (or blowing yourself out with ales heavy in alcohol to help you forget your frozen troubles). Crisp fresh air, northern pine trees, and holiday sweets are just a few of the other things we associate with winter. It's good to see brewers such as Magic Hat are able into integrate those essences into our winter beers as well.

Have your own favorite winter beers? Let me know in the comments!

[Photo Credit: magichat.net]