Weyerbacher Brewing Company in Easton, PA has been in business for 16 years.  Starting with Decadence in 2005, the company has released a new anniversary ale each year, brewed once to commemorate each operating year.  This year Weyerbacher brings us Sixteen, a braggot style ale.  

This is my first ever braggot so the name alone led me on a search for answers.  Braggot (brackett or Bracket as my search informed me) is a fermented beverage made with malt, honey and spices.  Its history dates back to mentions in Chaucer as well as the Canterbury Tales in the late 13th century.  It can be made from two separate batches, one mead and one beer, blended together well before or at serving time.

Served out of a 12oz bottle, Sixteen pours a very dark brown color with a small amount of off-white head.  Honey and malt are right up front in the nose giving the impression that this beer will be sweet.  The scent tails off with a slight alcohol note at the end.  First sip answers the call of the sweet honey and malt scent given off by the beer but is rounded off by a nice spicy flavor in the finish.  There is some lingering sweetness from the alcohol but it is not as detectable as some beers can be with a similar alcohol content.  A slight coating leaves a pleasant finish to the beer with a tingling carbonation exciting each sip.

I really enjoy a lot of what Weyerbacher has to offer and Sixteen has proven to be no different.  This brew was a great, balanced introduction to the braggot style.  Grab this one while you can, because as with each anniversary ale it is only brewed once.  

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