New Belgium’s 2 Below is an example of what has become a standard season beer, the winter ale.  Now standard doesn’t mean bad, in fact these beers are often a showcase for a breweries talents and ingenuity, in part because they can have a lot of ingredients and a wide range of spices.  As for 2 Below, it has a clean carmel color not unlike most ales, and because it’s filtered it’s fairly clear unlike some winter ales.  Starting with a mild sweetness this beer quickly changes directions to fennel, coriander, and orange notes (the orange is almost a orange candy) and it ends on a bitterness reminiscent of the oak in chardonnay.  2 Below has a fairly thick head and goes down pretty well, while I would be more inclined to drink this as an occasional beer or with a meal, due in part to the strength of the bitterness and the overall complexity.  Now if your into complex beer, spiced beer, or just love bitter hoppy beers, this could be an interesting addition to your night (especially at a decent 6.6% ABV).  As for points of reference I would categorize this beer as being really similar to Blue Moon, but much lighter on the orange and more on the bitter end of things.  If you like bitter style ales or winter ales (such as Sam Adams), or even other bitter beers and want something with some complexity this might be a good beer to try.

Brewery: New Belgium Brewery - Fort Collins, CO
Malty ———|—- BitterLight —-|——— Dark
ABV: 6.6%
-Mike Fournier