In southern California, we don't really true seasons. Sure it gets a little colder in December, January and February, and it gets almost unbearably hot in July and August, but there is such little change from day to day that it all kind of starts to blend together. Early March is that weird kind of in between time when it's not quite winter anymore, but spring hasn't quite broken either. It's a weird meteorological no mans land, and it can be tricky to decide what to wear because it might be freezing cold, but it could just as easily be unseasonably warm. However, winter is ever so gradually giving way to sunshine and warm breezes here in Orange County, and with it production of winter brews are beginning to shut down for the season. In honor of the dying season of winter, I'm drinking Pyramid Snow Cap tonight.
Does the Pyramid part sound familiar? If you're an avid beer drinker, you've undoubtedly come across Pyramid Hefeweizen at your local bar or grocery store. Pyramid is one of the most successful brewers of Hefeweizen in America, but tonight I'm drinking Pyramid Snow Cap, which is a winter ale. Winter ales were first brewed in England where the winters are often harsh, and beer lovers required a heartier ale to satisfy their drinking needs. True to the standards of the first brewers of winter ales, Pyramid Snow Cap is a thick, dark and hearty ale. It's much more substantial that the hef that they're famous for brewing, and it's got a great dark mohogany color to it. This winter ale has a very sweet kick to it, that sort of releases a bite of bitterness perfectly with each sip. I usually have to be mentally and physically prepared to take on a heavy winter ale, but Pyramid Snow Cap was easier on both my taste buds and my stomach than most winter brews. I was a bit disappointed with the lacing and head of this beer when I poured it into my glass, but the taste more than made up for it. There have been few beers since the start of the 365brews project that I really wished I had more of, but Pyramid Snow Cap was one of them. It's too bad this is a seasonal brew, because I'm really going to miss Pyramid Snow Cap now that they've stopped brewing it for the year.
Cheers,
Ian
http://www.pyramidbrew.com/our-brews/snowcap
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