Last night after work I wanted a little beer (I wanted some, but wasn't interested in drinking "a" beer, so I had a half bottle). I opened the fridge in our basement, and although we currently have a nice selection of winter-appropriate beer I decided to drink the last Sam Adams Summer Ale that was hanging on from the end of summer.
I enjoy this beer. When I opened it and took my first sip, it had good flavor. But it was wrong. The beer was fine, but it didn't taste right. It was too light. Too subtle. It wasn't a winter beer.
I've read things about differences in seasonal beer, and I am more inclined to drink lighter beer during the summer than during the winter. But I didn't realize how unsatisfying it can be to drink a seasonal beer out of season.
Now I know.
