Brrr is a Winter/Christmas beer from Widmer Brothers Brewery in Portland, OR. I’d seen it at the store a few times, but I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. The 6-pack says “Bold Hop Flavor, Candy Sweet Finish”. This led me to believe I’d be hit in the face with a fistful of hops then left with a mouthful of candy cane. My curiosity eventually got the best of me (it didn’t hurt that it was on sale), and I’m glad it did! The beer is a pleasant amber color. The first taste is full of those great Pacific Northwest hops. Now, I am not a huge hop fan; I have too much of a sweet tooth. However, the hoppiness is not overwhelming in this beer. After the introductory hops, the beer quickly goes to a malty, bitter finish. If the beer were fresher, I bet it would have sweeter notes at the end. That said, this beer is definitely drinkable. The mouthfeel is that of a good winter ale, thick but not syrupy. As a good winter warmer, it’s got a deceptively high ABV. The taste that lingers in the mouth is a satisfying slightly bitter beer flavor. I will definitely try this beer fresher next year!

12 oz Bottle
ABV: 7.2%
IBU 50