>Brian Campbell

When you imagine Imperial Stouts, let alone one named Sleepy Time, the first thing that pops into mind is boozy alcohol and double digit ABVs. Well, Beau’s Matt’s Sleepy Time Belgian Imperial Stout, an imperial stout fermented with Belgian Ale yeast and aged on oak staves, contradicts those inclinations with its light, for the style that is, 8% ABV. Though it’s a bit thin in that regard, this stout isn’t really all that lacking in terms of other imperial stout hallmarks. There’s chocolate, dark fruits, cherries, nuts, caramel, molasses, peppery spice, vanilla and coffee throughout. The addition of Belgian yeast makes for a nice variation on the style, and if nothing else, Beau’s Matt’s Sleepy Time Belgian Imperial Stout is a truly unique brew because of it. It’s better as it warms, as is to be expected, and is easily approachable, one of its better qualities. It could easily find a home in your next bottle share. If you’re new to imperial stouts, then Beau’s Matt’s Sleepy Time Belgian Imperial Stout is a logical jumping off point for you, given its amicable strength and alcohol content. This is far from a sipper, like say Oskar Blues Ten Fidy or Hardywood Gingerbread Stout, and can easily be consumed by the pint, though it will work just as well for you when you’re sitting in front of an open fire as the snow is flying just outside your window.

>Chris Groves, Certified Cicerone®

Beer drinkers in Western New York are lucky. We literally have thousands of options to choose from when shopping for beer in our local stores with some of the best beer available on the planet. As far as styles go, we also happen to have one of America’s best Belgian-Style breweries available to us; Allagash. Started in 1995 in Portland, Maine with just one beer; a cloudy yellow, yeast and spice forward ale with a stark white pillowy head called Allagash White. This style of beer is not lost on me during the cold months. It is a refreshing alternative to Imperial Beer season and a crowd pleaser that won’t let you or the strangers at your party who you didn’t invite who are drinking your beer down. Wheaty twang interleaved with layers of coriander, citrus and spicy phenols from their proprietary yeast make up this delightful and zesty ale. As it warms, a sweeter malt character begins to show. With food, specifically spicy enchiladas, this beer is muy buena. White is now one of seven year round offerings in their portfolio alongside dozens of specialty and barrel-aged beers that come from their impressive cellaring program. Allagash has experienced tremendous growth in the past several years and we are excited to partake in it. I can’t remember the last time there wasn’t a bottle of Allagash in my house.