The Twelve Beers of Christmas - Redhook Winterhook
Singing: “On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love…” Okay, I promised I wouldn’t sing on his blog. The fifth beer of Christmas is 
Winterhook, a muddy, brownish red Winter Ale brewed by Redhook Ale Brewery. This is a national brand and should be readily available in North America.
Eyes: The beer pour clear and had a ruby red glow in the light, not especially dark. Decent head that disappears after five minutes. A little sediment.
Nose: Mostly phenols and malt.
Taste: Dry, not overly sweet, but is slick in the mouth with a tang of citrus and grapefruit. The sweetness comes out in the aftertaste when the other flavors have dissipated.
Overall: Initial bitterness dissolves into sweetness (a persistent aftertaste). The bitterness is tea-like, reminiscent of an English style Bitter.
My Rating: 10/20 or 5/10
Pro: Readily available, this beer is drinkable and satisfying at colder temperatures.
Con: The beer is thin and out of balance. The bitterness is suspended with nothing to support it. It only gets more out of balance as the beer warms up.
