Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Winter Warmer & Winter Seasonal Ale Tasting Dec 4-11 2011

• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  December 12, 2011

  Thanks Jason! No rush - whenever you have time.

  Thanks Jason! No rush - whenever you have time.
• HEISCHMAN

  

  Member
   

  December 13, 2011

  It is late but here we go (thank you Mark for this great brew)
  
  Beer/Brewery - Christmas Ale/Breckenridge Brewery
  City/State- Breckenridge, Colorado
  STYLE – Winter Warmer
  ABV – 7.4%
  IBU – 22
  DATE – 13 DEC 2011
  SERVING TYPE – 12 OZ bottle
  GLASSWARE – Tall footed Pilsner
  A- / 4.1
  look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
  APPEARANCE – A light red almost pink in color. A nice thick white head sitting at a full inch of small bubbles . great lacing
  AROMA- Sweet and fruity with a hint of spice and bread
  TASTE – Malty with notes of rasin and and a mild spice to it.
  MOUTHFEEL – A little thick but crisp at the same time. Good level of carbanation
  CONCLUSION – A nice refreshing Christmas ale, I am little disappointed that 7.4% ABV is not noticeable. Must be careful with this brew
  -JH-
  

  It is late but here we go (thank you Mark for this great brew) Beer/Brewery - Christmas Ale/Breckenridge Brewery City/State- Breckenridge, Colorado STYLE – Winter Warmer ABV – 7.4% IBU – 22 DATE – 13 DEC 2011 SERVING TYPE – 12 OZ bottle GLASSWARE – Tall footed Pilsner A- / 4.1 look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 APPEARANCE – A light red almost pink in color. A nice thick white head sitting at a full inch of small bubbles . great lacing AROMA- Sweet and fruity with a hint of spice and bread TASTE – Malty with notes of rasin and and a mild spice to it. MOUTHFEEL – A little thick but crisp at the same time. Good level of carbanation CONCLUSION – A nice refreshing Christmas ale, I am little disappointed that 7.4% ABV is not noticeable. Must be careful with this brew -JH-
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  December 13, 2011

  I'm glad you liked it!

  I'm glad you liked it!
• HEISCHMAN

  

  Member
   

  December 13, 2011

  Next
  
  Beer/Brewery - Winter Beer 2011/Innis & Gunn
  City/State- Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Scotland)
  STYLE – Scottish Ale
  ABV – 7.4%
  IBU – UNKNOWN
  DATE – 12 DEC
  SERVING TYPE – 12 OZ bottle
  GLASSWARE – Pub Glass
  C+ / 3.18
  look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
  APPEARANCE – A red with an orange hue very little head, what head there is an off white color
  AROMA- Whiskey with hoppiness in the tail end
  TASTE – Alcohol is the thirst taste, like a horse at the track. There is a vanilla taste that mellows out the alcohol.
  MOUTHFEEL – Crisp and very carbonated also a bit syrupy as well.
  CONCLUSION – I am not a big fan of this beer. I was so hyped for it and no sparks for me. Being that you can only get this beer in the gift box with the glass I was expecting a lot more.
  -JH-
  

  Next Beer/Brewery - Winter Beer 2011/Innis & Gunn City/State- Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Scotland) STYLE – Scottish Ale ABV – 7.4% IBU – UNKNOWN DATE – 12 DEC SERVING TYPE – 12 OZ bottle GLASSWARE – Pub Glass C+ / 3.18 look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3 APPEARANCE – A red with an orange hue very little head, what head there is an off white color AROMA- Whiskey with hoppiness in the tail end TASTE – Alcohol is the thirst taste, like a horse at the track. There is a vanilla taste that mellows out the alcohol. MOUTHFEEL – Crisp and very carbonated also a bit syrupy as well. CONCLUSION – I am not a big fan of this beer. I was so hyped for it and no sparks for me. Being that you can only get this beer in the gift box with the glass I was expecting a lot more. -JH-
• HEISCHMAN

  

  Member
   

  December 13, 2011

  Beer/Brewery - Snow Day Winter Ale/New Belgium Brewing
  City/State- Fort Collins, Colorado
  STYLE – Winter Warmer
  ABV – 6.20%
  IBU – 41
  DATE – 11 DEC 2011
  SERVING TYPE – 12 OZ bottle
  GLASSWARE – Schooner
  B / 3.73
  look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
  APPEARANCE – Deep brown almost too dark to see through1/2 inch Head light brown in color
  AROMA- not much there, there is a hint of hops but that is a bout it
  TASTE – Very hoppy for a dark brew, with a tail of roasted malts and a hint of coffee, not much coffee, just a hint
  MOUTHFEEL – Very light and crisp, you can feel the 6.2% warm you up
  CONCLUSION – It is ok, I feel it is too hoppy for a winter brew, hoppy beers are meant for warm weather. It is good though just out of season for me
  -JH-
  

  Beer/Brewery - Snow Day Winter Ale/New Belgium Brewing City/State- Fort Collins, Colorado STYLE – Winter Warmer ABV – 6.20% IBU – 41 DATE – 11 DEC 2011 SERVING TYPE – 12 OZ bottle GLASSWARE – Schooner B / 3.73 look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4 APPEARANCE – Deep brown almost too dark to see through1/2 inch Head light brown in color AROMA- not much there, there is a hint of hops but that is a bout it TASTE – Very hoppy for a dark brew, with a tail of roasted malts and a hint of coffee, not much coffee, just a hint MOUTHFEEL – Very light and crisp, you can feel the 6.2% warm you up CONCLUSION – It is ok, I feel it is too hoppy for a winter brew, hoppy beers are meant for warm weather. It is good though just out of season for me -JH-
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  December 13, 2011

  Snow Day is hoppy but that is why I liked it. :)

  Snow Day is hoppy but that is why I liked it. :)
• HEISCHMAN

  

  Member
   

  December 13, 2011

  I know, but it is winter, we need the roasted tastes now... It is a great brew I really like it, I just think it is out of season
  
  It is very drinkable, good balance of malts to hops
  

  I know, but it is winter, we need the roasted tastes now... It is a great brew I really like it, I just think it is out of season It is very drinkable, good balance of malts to hops
• HEISCHMAN

  

  Member
   

  December 13, 2011

  Beer/Brewery - Old Fezziwig Ale/Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
  City/State- Boston, Massachusetts
  STYLE – Winter Warmer
  ABV – 5.9%
  IBU – 27
  DATE – 10 DEC 2011
  SERVING TYPE – 12 OZ bottle
  GLASSWARE – Pub Glass
  B+ / 3.93
  look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
  APPEARANCE – Mahogany in color with a thin head with a brownish white color
  AROMA- Fruity and winter spices, all spice, clove and nutmeg I think
  TASTE – Pumpkin pie without the pumpkin, a lot of clove, also has a bit a of a bitter (Non Hop) after taste
  MOUTHFEEL – Very light and bland ob feeling
  CONCLUSION – Other than the after taste this is a great Christmas beer, not quit a winter warmer as they ABV is a little low, but still a good flavor to think of around Christmas.
  -JH-
  

  Beer/Brewery - Old Fezziwig Ale/Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams) City/State- Boston, Massachusetts STYLE – Winter Warmer ABV – 5.9% IBU – 27 DATE – 10 DEC 2011 SERVING TYPE – 12 OZ bottle GLASSWARE – Pub Glass B+ / 3.93 look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4 APPEARANCE – Mahogany in color with a thin head with a brownish white color AROMA- Fruity and winter spices, all spice, clove and nutmeg I think TASTE – Pumpkin pie without the pumpkin, a lot of clove, also has a bit a of a bitter (Non Hop) after taste MOUTHFEEL – Very light and bland ob feeling CONCLUSION – Other than the after taste this is a great Christmas beer, not quit a winter warmer as they ABV is a little low, but still a good flavor to think of around Christmas. -JH-
• HEISCHMAN

  

  Member
   

  December 13, 2011

  Beer/Brewery - Very Bad Elf/Ridgeway Brewing
  City/State- South Stoke, United Kingdom (England)
  STYLE – English Pale Ale
  ABV – 7.5%
  IBU –
  DATE – 9 DEC 20111
  SERVING TYPE – 1 pint 9OZ bottle
  GLASSWARE – American Pint
  A- / 4.08
  look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
  APPEARANCE – Translucent Amber color with very little head with in color
  AROMA- Fruity, banana and spices as well
  TASTE – Sweet and malty hints of fruit and mild cinnamon
  MOUTHFEEL – A little thick with a good bit of carbonation
  CONCLUSION – I like this beer, it is good mild Christmas ale. It has those Christmas spice but not overpowering
  -JH-
  

  Beer/Brewery - Very Bad Elf/Ridgeway Brewing City/State- South Stoke, United Kingdom (England) STYLE – English Pale Ale ABV – 7.5% IBU – DATE – 9 DEC 20111 SERVING TYPE – 1 pint 9OZ bottle GLASSWARE – American Pint A- / 4.08 look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4 APPEARANCE – Translucent Amber color with very little head with in color AROMA- Fruity, banana and spices as well TASTE – Sweet and malty hints of fruit and mild cinnamon MOUTHFEEL – A little thick with a good bit of carbonation CONCLUSION – I like this beer, it is good mild Christmas ale. It has those Christmas spice but not overpowering -JH-
• HEISCHMAN

  

  Member
   

  December 13, 2011

  More to come but I am done for the night

  More to come but I am done for the night