Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions
Winter Warmer & Winter Seasonal Ale Tasting Dec 4-11 2011
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Boulevard Nutcracker Ale
Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, Missouri
12 ounce bottle, best by 03-01-12, 5.8% ABV, 38 IBU
The Nutcracker Ale from Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, MO pours out reddish-brown toffee colored (Boulevard's website says 61.8 EBC) with some cloud and is topped with a two finger, tan head that reduces to a film pretty quickly. On the nose there is a good dose of caramel sweetness mingled with citrus hoppiness. In the mouth the sweetness is well handled by the hop bitterness leaning this beer more to the hoppy side. Good citrus flavors with an underlying toffee note. Light side of medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Some lacing on the glass. Pretty clean mouthfeel. A decent length finish that is mostly citrus although not overbearing in bitterness.
I'd recommend this to none hopheads as well as hopheads. Enough hops to clean up the sweetness and give your mouth a smack of bitterness but not overly done.
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Widmer Brothers Brrr Seasonal Ale
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, Portland Oregon
12 ounce bottle, 7.2% ABV, Bottled on Oct 26, 2011
The Brrr Seasonal Ale, Widmer Brothers' Winter Warmer, pours out deep copper in color with cognac brown and ruby hues topped by a large, two finger, tan head that reduces to a quarter inch film. This beer has fantastic clarity. Citrus & pine hops, spice and toffee aromas on the nose. In the mouth, this is on the slightly bitter side at first with citrus hops that become more subdued with the appearance of a toffee like candy sweetness that has hints of ripe plum. Slight prickle on the tongue. Moderate carbonation. Medium bodied. Hints of slickness to the mouthfeel. Good lacing on the glass. The finish is on the bitter side but does carry an underlying sweetness that becomes more pronounced at the end.
A very nice winter ale perfect for a night around the fireplace hamming it up with good friends. -
Bridgeport Ebenezer Ale
Bridgeport Brewing Company, Portland, Oregon
12 ounce bottle, 6.4% ABV
The Ebenezer Ale, a bottle conditioned winter warmer, from Bridgeport Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon pours out murky brown in color with some orange hues topped with a large, tan head that slowly dissipates. Aromas of lightly roasted grain, coffee, orange and brown sugar on the nose. In the mouth this is a malty brew with good sweetness. Flavors of toffee, dark fruit and spice are predominant with hints of orange zest and ripe dark fruits. Light side of medium bodied. Well carbonated. Good lacing on the glass. Full mouthfeel with almost a little cream. Moderate length finish with good flavor.
A nice winter warmer that has good flavor. This, like I find with most winter warmers, is better when it is allowed to warm up for 10-15 minutes out of the fridge. -
Received this in a care package from Mark. This was not a bad beer just a little too piney for my liking.
New Belgium "Snow Day"
New Belgium Brewing Company - Fort Collins, Colorado USA
Black IPA (ABV 6.2%)
[Best served ina Tulip glass]
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Aroma: 8/10
Appearance: 4/5
Taste: 7/10
Palate: 3/5
Overall: 11/20
The pour was a very dark ruby reddish brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) foamy beige head that retained itself for a good long time while producing some excellent sheets of sticky lacing.
The aroma was extremely strong of piney hops, a grain malt and a woody yeast with notes of citrus, caramel, mild chocolate and a strong odor of pine needles.
It tasted mildly bitter and a bit malty with a hint of spices and caramel from the start to the finish with a very strong hoppy pine presence at the end. The flavor stuck around for a little while after the swallow leaving behind a lingering woody pine taste.
Mouthfeel was just a shade light of medium in body and dry in texture with the carbonation being rather soft.
Overall a brew with lots of malty pine flavor. If they were going for a beer that tasted like a Christmas tree, they hit the nail on the head with this one. -
Thanks to Jason for this Winter warmer, A tad on the spicy side and very tasty...
Sweetwater "Festive Ale"
Sweetwater Brewing Company - Atlanta, Georgia USA
Winter Ale (ABV 8.6%)
[Best served in a Lager glass]
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Aroma: 6/10
Appearance: 4/5
Taste: 7/10
Palate: 3/5
Overall: 12/20
The pour was a murky dark brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) head that was not around for long and only having fair lacing.
The aroma was very mild of a toasted chocolate malt a very mild resin hop and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of allspice, cinnamon, toffee and dark fruit.
The taste was moderately sweet and malty with a hint of toffee and some fruit at first then had the strong effect of spices take hold with a nice note of dark fruit and an alcohol warming sensation at the end. The flavor lasted only a short time while the taste of the dark fruit faded into the background of the spices.
Mouthfeel was just a smidgen below medium in body and a tad watery in texture with a weak carbonation.
Overall a Winter Ale with a nice dose of spices and a superb maltiness. A very drinkable brew even with the noticeably strong alcohol presence. -
Heavy Seas Winter Storm - Category 5 Ale
Imperial ESB, 7.5% ABV
Clipper City Brewing Co., Baltimore, MD
Had this on draught. The beer was a brilliantly clear deep copper/amber hue capped with a layer of dense off-white foam about as thick as a typical pen or pencil shaft. An aroma of English malt and earthy hops presented itself.
Moderately full-bodied with a smooth, creamy texture and very fine, light carbonation. Flavors of English malt (Maris Otter?) with some caramel and toasted malt, followed by a light note of burnt sugar. Some earthy and grassy hop notes, leading into a lengthy finish with a gradually building bitterness.
Excellent beer. Great balance. Left some nice, thick foam rings on the pint glass. -
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Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter
Three Floyds Brewing Company, Munster, Indiana
22 ounce bottle, 7.5% ABV
Thanks to Mike for sending me this incredible holiday porter. The Alpha Klaus pours out jet black and is topped with a huge, tightly knit, tan head that takes a while to subside to a film. On the nose, redolent aromas of coffee, heavily roasted grain, bittersweet chocolate and earthy, piney hops. In the mouth, this is big with a ton of roasted grain flavor, a good dose of hops, coffee and dark, dark, almost bitter chocolate flavors. Full bodied. Beautiful lacing on the glass. Moderate carbonation. Round, full mouthfeel - kind of chewy. The finish is exquisite and goes on for an eternity with the hops becoming almost floral right at the end.
A wonderful holiday beer that you should put on your bucket list of beers to try. -
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