Full Sail Brewing makes special beers for release only in it’s Hood River, Oregon pub. Occasionally, one of these makes it into limited production. Wassail is a limited release winter warmer from the Full Sail Pub Series. It’s available for only 90 days!
Wassail pours deep mahogany with very little head. Aromas of caramel malts and a slight nuttiness greet your nose. It tastes well-balanced with rich toasted malts and floral hops. I pick up nutty, bready malts, with bitter hops through to a pleasant finish. Wassail is bright, clean, and fits the profile of an English Strong Ale. It carries 56 IBU and is 7.3% ABV with no booziness.
Why the name Wassail? Aside from the word “sail” embedded in it, Wassail is a classic old English Yuletide drink. Associated with cider, ancient versions of wassail were a spiced, mulled beer. The first line of the carol Gloucestershire Wassail sings of the place of wassail in the holidays:
Wassail! wassail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl, we’ll drink to thee.
Full Sail Brewing’s Wassail isn’t a mulled beer, so enjoy this clean bitter brew.
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