Winter Ales: Bridgeport Ebeneezer Ale

Tonight I'm having Bridgeport's Ebeneezer Ale, one of my favorites from last year.

I got to visit Bridgeport's pub in Portland a few weeks back. If you ever get to Portland (and if you are reading this page with even the slightest interest--you should, because Portland is the North American Mecca for beer drinkers), Bridgeport is a must-visit in city jam-packed with brewpubs. Busy, cool crowd, good service, good food, and great beer. Don't miss the ESB.

But back to old Ebeneezer...

The thing I like most about this beer is probably the same thing that might put off the casual beer drinker. The beer tastes almost like it could be a really well-made homebrew. It has a subtle complexity of flavor tempered by the mellow, soft mouthfeel of natural (in bottle) carbonation. Dark brown (they describe it as "mahogany") with a creamy, thin head that dissipates quickly but clings to the sides of the glass all the way down. The aroma is mild and roasty. It tastes primarily of roasted malt with a bit of fruitiness in the background, but almost paradoxically finishes dry and lingers long on the palette. Not as spicy as some winter ales, and actually a bit more hoppy (40 IBU) than most. Bold alcohol (6.4%) throughout--it'll warm you up! This winter ale is a real treat for a hophead like myself.