Big Sky Powder Hound Winter Ale

3.8/5

AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best by 02/15/2012. A bit of a gusher upon opening. Pours crystal clear golden amber color with a nice 2 finger dense off white head with great retention that reduces to a thick cap that lingers. Some decent lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of caramel, orange, pine, herbal, bread, pine, toasted malt, and light spiciness. Some nice aromas with good strength and balance. Taste of orange, grapefruit, pine, caramel, herbal, toasted malt, bread, and spiciness. Decent amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of bread, caramel, herbal spiciness, and citrus on the finish for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth and slightly creamy mouthfeel. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Very drinkable and smooth for 7.2%. Overall this is a very nice and drinkable amber ale. Nice hoppy and spicy flavor, with good malt balance.

Another nice beer from Big Sky out of Montana. I will be routinely trying more of their offerings in the future now that I am in Michigan, and they are widely available.

Big Sky Slow Elk Oatmeal Stout

3.7/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20

12 ounce bottle, best by 01/12/12 printed on the bottle. "Big Hole Cologne" printed inside the cap. Pours crystal clear dark brown color with a nice and fairly dense 1-2 fingers of light tan head with great retention that reduces to a lacing cap that lasts. Some fairly thick lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of chocolate, caramel, roasted malt, oatmeal, and bitter coffee. Some surprisingly nice aromas with good strength. Taste of light chocolate, oats, caramel, light coffee, and roasted malt. Finish is fairly dry, but there is some light bitterness with lingering notes of roasted malt, caramel, light chocolate and coffee. Alcohol is completely hidden as expected for a beer of 5.4%. Medium body and carbonation, with a decently creamy mouthfeel. Very smooth and easily drinkable. Nice balance of flavors. Overall a nice oatmeal stout I thoroughly enjoyed.

A surprisingly nice oatmeal stout from Big Sky, my first from Montana. Now that I know they date the bottles, I will try and find some of their IPA fresh to see how it is.