It’s somewhat fitting that as the Northeast cleans up after superstorm Sandy that I’m wishing them well with local pirate themed beer;  Winter Storm, an imperial ESB from the Heavy Seas line by Clipper City Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland.  The scent is grainy and slightly floral.  The middle is caramel with more pine than I’m used to in an ESB.  It seems they’ve hopped this one up a bit.  As for the “Imperial” it’s definitely heavier than your average ESB, with a medium to heavy body and a bit of chewiness at the finish, and at 7.5% ABV it’s a fairly potent brew.  Overall this is a really nice, well balanced beer.