Belgian Frostbite Winter Ale -- River Horse (Lambertville, NJ)

I first learned about River Horse this past winter at a friend's wedding.  The standard lager and pale ale were decent craft brews, but nothing that hinted directly at this beverage.  It's hardly fair to compare this dark Belgian ale to the more conventional over-spiced winter ale that gets syrupy after about ten minutes.

Characteristics: Dark brown (but still translucent), medium body and carbonation, and a progression of bittersweet chocolate (maybe coffee) and spices with that characteristic Belgian/abbey ale sweetness at the end.

Minor Gripes: That sweetness can be a little overbearing, though it varies with temperature... there's a spot where it all falls apart and then settles back into balance.

Bottom Line: This is a fantastic winter ale... well-balanced, flavorful, smooth.  Thankfully, I should be passing through central New Jersey at least once more before this batch runs out or goes stale.   

Rating: 7.25 / 10