Cigar City Sugar Plum

I made a visit to Tampa Bay over the weekend to visit with an old friend, catch a football game, and of course drink some local beers.  I don't usually think of craft beer when i think of Florida, but Tampa's Cigar City Brewing totally won me over with their excellent brews and comfy, relaxed atmosphere.  While there, i was able to try a handful of different beers, all of which were great, but i think my favorite was the Sugar Plum, a winter ale brewed with coffee, chocolate, and plums.  It's hard to describe the Sugar Plum.  It's one of the most complex brews i've ever had the pleasure of imbibing.  Pouring amber with a white head and stellar lacing, the coffee and chocolate notes are heavily prevalent in the aroma.  Upon drinking, the beer hits you first with those same coffee and chocolate notes, followed by the sweetness from the plums, and finally a kind of spicy, bitter finish like you would get with a winter or Christmas ale.  Each taste got better and better.  At 7% ABV, i would have kept drinking these all night, but there were other avenues to explore, and eventually places close for the night.  I would have stayed if they'd let me.

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