Fife Street’s wonderful, warming winter ales

Finding four big and rich, winter-warming ales on a small brewery’s tap list is pretty rare these days. That’s why it’s such a treat discovering the current winter tap list at Fife Street Brewing in Charleston, WV.

The four featured big beers include Marleywine Barleywine, Sternwheeler Imperial Stout, Weiz and Shine Weizenbock, and Liver Quiver Quad Belgian-style Quadruple Ale. Together they are the perfect winter-warming beverages for this season.

No doubt Fife’s head brewer, Gil Peterson, loves to brew these big & rich beauties. The proof is in the pudding (or should we say in the beer glass). Each of these works of brewer’s art delivers at least 9% A.B.V., making them sippers, not quaffers. But lovely sippers they are.

So sip away, we say, and discover as luscious a display of brewers malts as you’re likely to find anywhere this side of the Ohio River.

Gil’s mastery of big beer shines through in each entry. We recommend buying them in a flight of four so you can experience these tasty brews side by side. And if you find one that especially hits your sweet spot, you may order it in a full-12 oz. pour. You’ll find the 12 oz. pours bargain priced at $7.00 each.

The perfect winter beer flight

Four intense, high-ABV beauties. Serious beers. Not something you’d find at every brewery taproom. Enjoy them while they last. 

Weiz and Shine

Style: Weizenbock
ABV: 9.1%ABV

Light toast and fruit esters in the aroma. Initially hits the mouth with a lightly sweet, wheat-bread first impression, then quickly rolls to full-bodied, richer pastry flavors as it coats the tongue. Notes of plum. Luscious. Delightful. Lingering smooth bready-beery finish. This beer is a winner. Would pair well with a plate of traditional Appalachian-style chicken & dumplings.

Marleywine

Style: American Barleywine
ABV: 10.5%

Instant malt classic. Intense toasted bread aromas jump out of the glass. Taste delivers a background of sweetness, but not at all cloying. Toast and caramel notes prevail with a moderate balancing bitterness. All sides of the mouth are fully involved. Smooth, hides that alcohol. Brilliant Stream’s Beer Academy Award for best in Big Malt category. Great for pairing with hot Thai-style curries (as recommended by beer expert Randy Mosher.)

Sternwheeler Stout

Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 9.8%

The outstanding feature of this beer: Lovely dark roasted malt aromas leap out of the glass as you bring the glass up to your mouth. Considering its high ABV, its medium body is a bit of a surprise. Not thick or over-sweet, but full-flavored none-the-less. Goes down easy. Lingering roasty finish. Would love to try this beer paired with schmears of fig jam and gorgonzola on bagel chips.

Liver Quiver Quad

Style: Belgian Quadruple 
ABV: 9.9 %

Soothing aromas. Notes of dried fruit and spice. Take a sip and this Quad’s carbonation massages the tongue. The malts shine through immediately. Light astringency is balanced with a toasty light sweetness. Some candy flavor. Hops add just enough bitterness for balance. This beer longs for a big slab of char-grilled beef steak. Would be a match made in beer heaven.  

LINKS

Fife Street Brewing website
Fife Street Facebook page