As winter officially wraps up this week and spring rolls in, I took a look back at a rather interesting seasonal that caught my eye as I weaved through the beer isles. That particular seasonal is Karl Strauss’ Full Suit. Now when I saw this winter ale looking back at me from the shelves, I couldn’t help but ask “Does San Diego even have a winter, let alone Los Angeles?” Well this particular year we did, and a rather cold and wet one at that. So I decided to give this Belgian infused Brown-Ale a go as Sven’s first official beer review.

Editors side note: please bear with us as this is Sven’s first review. It is well known that he is not as eloquent and lyrical as Bren with his fancy flow of verbage.
1. Taste: At first sip, you instantly recognize the Full Suit as your run of the mill Brown-Ale; full of a rustic maltiness that warms the body. The roasted earth tones are delightfully simple and welcoming, but as you delve deeper into the brew you can pick up touches of pepper and fruity Belgian nuances. The blend of the two styles plays quite well and creates an interesting melody of warm malty basics and fresh fruity complexities. However, in the end, this Belgian Brown-Ale needs to be desired to be appreciated. I found myself liking it if the mood suited it, and for that I give it a 3.5 out of 5 for taste.
2. Texture: All too often when two beer styles are combined there is a clash of flavors and texture that can spoil the experience. This is not the case for Full Suit. The Brown-Ale traits remain dominant in the case of texture, with a mildly full feeling on the tongue. What is odd though, the beer feels a touch flat but has a zesty finish. It is curiously delightful and refreshing all the while leaving a lingering taste in your mouth beckoning you back for another sip. 4 out of 5 for taste.
3. Appearance: Some beers have a particularly magical aura once poured into a glass, but the Full Suit didn’t dazzle me. It had a pleasant medium brown to amber transition which fed into a relatively short, light, and airy head which faded quicker than a pair of jeans. Look closely and you can pick out a few carbo-bubbles cascading up the brew. I wasn’t disappointed but wasn’t amazed. Mediocre at best, and for that a 2.5 out of 5.
4. Aroma: Well a great deal of a beer’s aroma comes from its head. Those lil carbo-bubbles burst with all the subtleties and nuances, letting the drinker know what makes it unique from others of it kind. With the Full Suit, the head is quick to dissolve. It vanishes in an almost as quickly as your poured it. If you are quick enough you do manage to catch some hits of crisp herb from the hops but all too often, before the brain can translate the smell is fleeting. Wishing for more, I have to give a 2 out of 5.
5. User Friendly: Being a limited production seasonal beer, the Full Suit is a double edged sword when it comes to being user friendly. During the cold months, this beer is perfect for sitting at the ski lodge bantering with your buddies about your escapades on the slopes earlier in the day. But this is not a beer you would want to be socializing over with any temperature over 64°F and for that we can only give it a 3 out of 5.

Beer Name: Full Suit
Beer Type: Belgian Brown-Ale
Scores
Taste: 3.5
Texture: 4
Appearance: 2.5
Aroma: 2
User Friendly: 3
Total: 15 out of 25
A Full Suit not playing with a Full Deck.
Keep the paint up and the rubber down. Ride safe. -Sven







Beer Name: Aventinus



