Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Holiday & Winter Seasonal Craft Beer Tasting - Dec., 2012

• KajII

  

  Member
   

  December 15, 2012

  Tröegs "The Mad Elf Ale"
  Tröegs Brewing Company - Hershey, Pennsylvania USA
  Strong Ale (ABV 11%) (IBU 15)
  
  [Suggested Glassware: Trappist Glass]
  
  Rating: 3.9/5.0
  
  The pour was a clear ruby red with a small (less than 1 finger) white fizzy head that dissipated rapidly, down to a small collar with a wisp of residue left floating on top and poor runny lacing.
  
  The aroma was upfront with a nice cherry scent along with a light bread malt and a sweet yeast and had notes of honey, cinnamon, a bit of spice and a little more than mild alcohol tinge.
  
  The taste was fruity sweet and a very lightly malty with a touch of cherry and honey throughout, with the finish becoming rather yeasty with a hint of cinnamon and a slight spicy alcohol ending. The flavor lasted a decently long time following the swallow, having a nice yeasty and fruity cherry taste along with a mild alcohol warming sensation left behind.
  
  Mouthfeel was a few shades above light in body and dry in texture with an almost prickly carbonation.
  
  Overall I found this brew to be exceptionally tasty with a good fruity flavor that was blended very well with the yeast and spices, allowing for a very good concealing of the exceptionally high ABV thus creating a superb drinkability. I do believe this is the best Winter Seasonal I have tasted to date, and I want more…
  
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  Tröegs "The Mad Elf Ale" Tröegs Brewing Company - Hershey, Pennsylvania USA Strong Ale (ABV 11%) (IBU 15) [Suggested Glassware: Trappist Glass] Rating: 3.9/5.0 The pour was a clear ruby red with a small (less than 1 finger) white fizzy head that dissipated rapidly, down to a small collar with a wisp of residue left floating on top and poor runny lacing. The aroma was upfront with a nice cherry scent along with a light bread malt and a sweet yeast and had notes of honey, cinnamon, a bit of spice and a little more than mild alcohol tinge. The taste was fruity sweet and a very lightly malty with a touch of cherry and honey throughout, with the finish becoming rather yeasty with a hint of cinnamon and a slight spicy alcohol ending. The flavor lasted a decently long time following the swallow, having a nice yeasty and fruity cherry taste along with a mild alcohol warming sensation left behind. Mouthfeel was a few shades above light in body and dry in texture with an almost prickly carbonation. Overall I found this brew to be exceptionally tasty with a good fruity flavor that was blended very well with the yeast and spices, allowing for a very good concealing of the exceptionally high ABV thus creating a superb drinkability. I do believe this is the best Winter Seasonal I have tasted to date, and I want more… http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  December 15, 2012

  Bell's "Winter White Ale"
  Bells Brewery - Kalamazoo, Michigan USA
  Witbier (ABV 5%)
  
  [Suggested Glassware: Weizen Glass]
  
  Rating: 3.3/5.0
  
  The pour was a hazy yellow with and orange/brown hue and a large (2-3 finger) white fizzy head that quickly diminished, down to a thin puddled film with a medium collar and had fair spotty lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a light grain malt and a funky Belgian yeast with notes of citrus (orange) and coriander.
  
  The taste was lightly sweet and very yeasty with a bold citrus presence throughout, with the finish having a slightly bitter citrus peel bite along with a hint of spice towards the end. The flavor lasted an average duration proceeding the swallow, with a light spicy bitterness left behind.
  
  Mouthfeel was light in body and dry in texture with a mildly soft carbonation.
  
  Overall this was a pretty tasty Witbier that had a lot of citrus flavor, which worked very well with the funky spicy yeast taste...
  
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  Bell's "Winter White Ale" Bells Brewery - Kalamazoo, Michigan USA Witbier (ABV 5%) [Suggested Glassware: Weizen Glass] Rating: 3.3/5.0 The pour was a hazy yellow with and orange/brown hue and a large (2-3 finger) white fizzy head that quickly diminished, down to a thin puddled film with a medium collar and had fair spotty lacing. The aroma was of a light grain malt and a funky Belgian yeast with notes of citrus (orange) and coriander. The taste was lightly sweet and very yeasty with a bold citrus presence throughout, with the finish having a slightly bitter citrus peel bite along with a hint of spice towards the end. The flavor lasted an average duration proceeding the swallow, with a light spicy bitterness left behind. Mouthfeel was light in body and dry in texture with a mildly soft carbonation. Overall this was a pretty tasty Witbier that had a lot of citrus flavor, which worked very well with the funky spicy yeast taste... http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  December 19, 2012

  Goose Island "Christmas Ale"
  Goose Island Beer Company - Chicago, Illinois USA
  Brown Ale (ABV 7.3%)
  
  [Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint]
  
  Rating: 3.4/5.0
  
  The pour was a clear mahogany brown with an average (1-2 finger) beige creamy head that receded slowly, down to a thin scattered film and large collar with fair spotty lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a strong pine hop, toasted grain malts and an earthy yeast with notes of toffee, allspice, dark fruit (plums), a mild nuttiness and a slight alcohol tinge.
  
  The taste was lightly sweet and malty with a mild fruitiness and a slight toffee sweetness early on, and then became exceptionally bitter with a bold hop presence and a moderate spicy alcohol finish. The flavor lasted a good long while following the swallow, with a bitter hop taste along with a spicy alcohol warming left behind to linger a tad longer.
  
  Mouthfeel was a step of two below medium in body and had a dry texture with a medium carbonation.
  
  Overall this was a decent enough brew with a nice bold hoppiness not normally found in a Winter Warmer, although it does work rather well with this style...
  
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  Goose Island "Christmas Ale" Goose Island Beer Company - Chicago, Illinois USA Brown Ale (ABV 7.3%) [Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint] Rating: 3.4/5.0 The pour was a clear mahogany brown with an average (1-2 finger) beige creamy head that receded slowly, down to a thin scattered film and large collar with fair spotty lacing. The aroma was of a strong pine hop, toasted grain malts and an earthy yeast with notes of toffee, allspice, dark fruit (plums), a mild nuttiness and a slight alcohol tinge. The taste was lightly sweet and malty with a mild fruitiness and a slight toffee sweetness early on, and then became exceptionally bitter with a bold hop presence and a moderate spicy alcohol finish. The flavor lasted a good long while following the swallow, with a bitter hop taste along with a spicy alcohol warming left behind to linger a tad longer. Mouthfeel was a step of two below medium in body and had a dry texture with a medium carbonation. Overall this was a decent enough brew with a nice bold hoppiness not normally found in a Winter Warmer, although it does work rather well with this style... http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  December 20, 2012

  Southern Tier "2XMAS"
  Southern Tier Brewing Company - Lakewood, New York USA
  Double Spiced Ale (ABV 8%)
  
  [Suggested Glassware: Tulip Glass]
  
  Rating: 3.8/5.0
  
  The pour was a clear dark cranberry red with a small (less than 1 finger) light brown creamy head that receded steadily, down to a small puddled film and small collar with excellent full sheeting of lacing.
  
  The aroma was a complex mix of scents with a light grain malt and a sweaty yeast along with notes of citrus (orange peel), ginger, clove, cinnamon, dark fruit (figs and raisons) and a pronounced Glögg (mulled wine) odor.
  
  The taste was lightly sweet with hints of dark fruit and Glögg from the get go, becoming a tad bitter and rather yeasty with hints of orange peel and cinnamon somewhere in the middle and a spicy alcohol ending. The flavor lasted a nice long time following the swallow, with a spicy yeast infused alcohol warming sensation lingering on for a little while longer.
  
  Mouthfeel was almost medium in body and dry in texture with a somewhat bold carbonation.
  
  Overall this brew is what Winter Warmers are all about, lots of spicy flavor and a good alcohol warming at the end...
  
  http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

  Southern Tier "2XMAS" Southern Tier Brewing Company - Lakewood, New York USA Double Spiced Ale (ABV 8%) [Suggested Glassware: Tulip Glass] Rating: 3.8/5.0 The pour was a clear dark cranberry red with a small (less than 1 finger) light brown creamy head that receded steadily, down to a small puddled film and small collar with excellent full sheeting of lacing. The aroma was a complex mix of scents with a light grain malt and a sweaty yeast along with notes of citrus (orange peel), ginger, clove, cinnamon, dark fruit (figs and raisons) and a pronounced Glögg (mulled wine) odor. The taste was lightly sweet with hints of dark fruit and Glögg from the get go, becoming a tad bitter and rather yeasty with hints of orange peel and cinnamon somewhere in the middle and a spicy alcohol ending. The flavor lasted a nice long time following the swallow, with a spicy yeast infused alcohol warming sensation lingering on for a little while longer. Mouthfeel was almost medium in body and dry in texture with a somewhat bold carbonation. Overall this brew is what Winter Warmers are all about, lots of spicy flavor and a good alcohol warming at the end... http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  December 26, 2012

  Ridgeway "Lump of Coal"
  Ridgeway Brewing - Reading, England
  Foreign Stout (ABV 8%)
  
  [Suggested Glassware: Snifter]
  
  Rating: 3.6/5.0
  
  The pour was a very dark cola brown with an average (1-2 finger) light tan creamy head that was mostly diminishing, down to a thin puddled film and medium collar with excellent sticky sheets of lacing,
  
  The aroma was of roasted dark bread malts and a bold leathery yeast with notes of bitter dark chocolate, dark roasted coffee, dark fruit (prunes and plums) and a hint of smoke.
  
  The taste was very roasty and a bit malty with a slight dark fruit sweetness and a note of bitter chocolate from the start, becoming a tad bitterer with a big coffee presence and a touch of smoke right at the end. The flavor lasted a nice long time preceding the swallow, with a bold creamy, bitter, smoky taste left lying on the taste buds.
  
  Mouthfeel was a few steps past medium in body with a thin creamy texture and a nice soft carbonation.
  
  Overall this is a very enjoyable brew with a good fruity and chocolaty feel along with a bold bitter roastiness, now add a wisp of smoke and you have a very good tasting and easy to drink brew...
  
  http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

  Ridgeway "Lump of Coal" Ridgeway Brewing - Reading, England Foreign Stout (ABV 8%) [Suggested Glassware: Snifter] Rating: 3.6/5.0 The pour was a very dark cola brown with an average (1-2 finger) light tan creamy head that was mostly diminishing, down to a thin puddled film and medium collar with excellent sticky sheets of lacing, The aroma was of roasted dark bread malts and a bold leathery yeast with notes of bitter dark chocolate, dark roasted coffee, dark fruit (prunes and plums) and a hint of smoke. The taste was very roasty and a bit malty with a slight dark fruit sweetness and a note of bitter chocolate from the start, becoming a tad bitterer with a big coffee presence and a touch of smoke right at the end. The flavor lasted a nice long time preceding the swallow, with a bold creamy, bitter, smoky taste left lying on the taste buds. Mouthfeel was a few steps past medium in body with a thin creamy texture and a nice soft carbonation. Overall this is a very enjoyable brew with a good fruity and chocolaty feel along with a bold bitter roastiness, now add a wisp of smoke and you have a very good tasting and easy to drink brew... http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  December 27, 2012

  Ridgeway "Santa's Butt"
  Ridgeway Brewing - Reading, England
  English Porter (ABV 6%)
  
  [Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint]
  
  Rating: 3.3/5.0
  
  The pour was a clear medium to dark brown with an average (1-2 finger) off white creamy head that reduced down to a small cap and had good streaky lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a roasted dark malt and a leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, coffee and a hint of molasses.
  
  The taste was lightly sweet with a roasty malt feel, a note of chocolate and a touch of molasses from the start, progressing slightly into a mildly bitter taste with a nice roasted coffee finish. The flavor lasted a decently long time after the swallow, with a roasted coffee taste left lying on the taste buds for a short while longer.
  
  Mouthfeel was medium in body and dry in texture with a mild carbonation.
  
  Overall this was a brew that possessed a nice bitter sweet roasty flavor, a smooth and easy drinkability and only a moderate ABV. Although it is nothing over the top, it is still quite good and I could see my self having a few of these...
  
  http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

  Ridgeway "Santa's Butt" Ridgeway Brewing - Reading, England English Porter (ABV 6%) [Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint] Rating: 3.3/5.0 The pour was a clear medium to dark brown with an average (1-2 finger) off white creamy head that reduced down to a small cap and had good streaky lacing. The aroma was of a roasted dark malt and a leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, coffee and a hint of molasses. The taste was lightly sweet with a roasty malt feel, a note of chocolate and a touch of molasses from the start, progressing slightly into a mildly bitter taste with a nice roasted coffee finish. The flavor lasted a decently long time after the swallow, with a roasted coffee taste left lying on the taste buds for a short while longer. Mouthfeel was medium in body and dry in texture with a mild carbonation. Overall this was a brew that possessed a nice bitter sweet roasty flavor, a smooth and easy drinkability and only a moderate ABV. Although it is nothing over the top, it is still quite good and I could see my self having a few of these... http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews