6) Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Xmas Porter. I tried one of these at Clark Street Ale house back in December, served in a big snifter and it quickly became my favorite Christmas Beer. Last night I had it on the hand-pull at Twisted Spoke on Ogden, and it was just as tasty. Although I’m not going to complain that I got a full pint, this deserves a glass you can stick your nose into. Served on the hand-pull it was just the perfect temperature – just about cold. It’s dark, really dark, with a tanish head and a piney hoppy, coffee aroma. It’s creamy, with lots of roasted malts like a porter but really nice and hoppy, with the pineyness that reminds you it’s a Christmas beer. 7.50% ABV.
The owners describe Twisted Spoke as a ‘family biker bar’. They’ve got a good on-tap selection and the place has just enough of an edge to make it interesting. This is the only place I know that has bourbon on tap. Not bourbon beer, real bourbon. I’ll be near the Ogden location every once in awhile for a few weeks, so I’ll be back in to see what else they have.