Beer of the Week

The beer: Cinnamon Roll Imperial Ale

Brewed by: Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, New York

Description (from Taphunter): "The scent of our brewery on brew days is irresistible. Akin to the morning’s first brewed batch of perfectly roasted coffee, the aromas envelope you and cause the corners of your lips to curl into the slightest unconscious smile. In this brew, lightly toasted malts with subtly spicy hops blend into cinnamon flavors and creamy lactose sugar. Their coalescence is so uncannily close to fresh baked cinnamon rolls that it was impossible to name this beer anything other than Cinnamon Roll Imperial Ale! Pairs perfectly with eggs benedict at brunch, after dinner, or next to the fire for an unforgettable nightcap."

Would I buy it again?: I love cinnamon rolls. Like, a lot. So I thought: Hey, cinnamon roll in beer form, what could go wrong? And to be fair, it does taste a lot like a cinnamon roll. There's certainly plenty of cinnamon flavor. And that's fine for about a third of the beer. Then the sheer density of the beer starts to set in, and you realize that you're not even halfway through it yet. I'm not necessarily saying I wouldn't buy it again, but it's such a heavy, thick beer that you really need to give yourself plenty of time to drink it. The flavor is very strong as well. I'm sure there's someone out there who could drink this beer quickly, but I'm not one of them.