Homebrew Submission #1 - Winter Dark Ale

Hey everybody!  Today's review will not be the first homebrew that I've ever reviewed, but it will be the first one submitted to me for just such a purpose.  I could get used to this.  There's no "brewery" name nor even a name for the beer, but it has been enthusiastically made by someone that enjoys beer enough to brew it themselves and that says something about one's initiation, their dedication to the craft, and also to the finer things.  Thanks to my buddy Jim for ponying up 12 oz. of something he put his elbow grease into.   The only information that I have on this beer is that it is a "dark winter ale."  Shall we see what homebrewing prowess awaits us?  Let's pour!

I wish.

Aroma 9/12

True to style and nicely so.  This is a dark, malt-centered beer that has a healthy amount of dark fruit aromas.  Raisins and fig are easy to discern and are often a welcome addition to a nice dark beer.  Spices are next and, thankfully, avoid the pitfall of overwhelming everything in their path.  This is lightly spiced with nutmeg and a distant clove note.  An additional sweetness also comes through that cannot be attributed to the dark fruit flavors.  The nearest I can come to describing it is Belgian candi sugar.

Reviewer Confesstion:

All the previous sentences in the "Aroma" category were written while the beer was still relatively chilled.  Upon warming, the beer opens up and releases what I will at this time describe as a banana aroma.  Normally, I would associate this with Belgian yeast, but that would be a bit unusual for the style.  I question myself.  "Maybe it's the ripening bananas in the next room?  Naw, your nose isn't that sensitive.  Maybe it's that your nose is a little stuffy?  I don't think so.  That's never caused 'aroma hallucinations' before."  I can't deny what I find, but right now this seems to be shaping up to be a Belgian Strong and less like a traditional winter ale.  Not that I'm complaining mind you...  The latecomer aroma steals the show, but still lets the previous aromas maintain a supporting role.  Even later still this aroma disappears completely.

Appearance 3/3

This poured much darker than I anticipated, especially for the style.  Most winter warmers and seasonals are a nice chestnut or maduro brown.  This brew, on the other hand, pours almost black.  When held to light only a brave few magenta glints show through the darkness.  It's not as black as say some top end stouts, but definitely more than a winter ale requires.  A nice surprise!  The head was the only weak part of the appearance.  It rose to less than a finger in height and then settled quickly as a almond colored ring around the circumference.

Flavor 16/20

The brew had set some pretty high expectations with the prior two categories, but doesn't quite match them in the flavor.  Far from saying that this is a bad brew, but it doesn't capture all the exciting nuances of the aroma.  After smelling, I would've expected lots of dark fruits, maybe a faint hint of warmth, perhaps some Belgian yeasty goodness, and all the sweetness that these things bring.  The beer instead introduces itself with darkly roasted malts, a light bitterness that one would associate with that, and a very distant hint of the dark fruits detected in the aroma.  The fruit flavors consist mostly of the flavor without the often associated sweetness.  None of the spice from the aroma is to be found.  The small amount of sweetness that does exist is nutlike behind the roast/bitter combo, but gives the idea of what this beer is trying to achieve.  The finish is a continuation of the nutty bitter, but eventually settles into combination of dark roasted malt and an appropriate bitter.

Mouthfeel 4/5

This has a very light mouthfeel in general and especially after considering the style.  Either the style listed (winter dark ale) or the style alluded to by the aroma would require a more substantial body.  Going by the style given, it would require a full-bodied, richer brew that also might not be afraid to be a little boozy.  Instead, this drinks like a nut brown ale in its body.  If the carbonation were a bit higher, it would be easy to confuse the two.  The bubbles of this beer would be perfect for a big, ol' winter ale by offering only the slightest of textures toward the end of the glass.  This is a unexpected find of  light, mouth-watering, refreshing brown ale, in what would normally be a more sturdy beer.  For those who like winter ale flavors, but not a big, heavy body (or booze) this would be ideal.

In that trusty, brown, label-less bottle.

Overall Impression 7/10

This is a hard beer to score!  It misses some major marks of its intended style, but picks up another style in the process.  If I were guessing based solely on flavor, I'd say a nut brown ale with some subtle complexities.  If I were taking a blind guess at this beer based on the aroma, I'd tell you a lighter version of a Belgian strong.  Another guess on mouthfeel would point me again toward a smooth brown ale.  On top of all this the beer remains remarkably drinkable.  I'd be more at home downing a few of these after raking some leaves in the fall than quaffing one with company in front of a winter-time fire.

Total 39/50

Does either one of the seasonal activities I mentioned in the previous sentence sound bad?  No.  Neither is this beer.  Just because I gripe on and on about how it misses its style, it still turned into a beer that I'd drink anytime.  In fact, with more carbonation this would easily be an above-average nut brown ale.  Note: This may be the only time I've mentioned a home brew being under carbonated.  If I am to consider this a nut brown ale, then I must give extra credit for having an aroma that far exceeds that style.  Also, this batch is pretty early in this particular brewer's career number of batches.  It's encouraging to see this early effort nailing some things that more experienced home brewers miss regularly.  Cheers to you, sir, and thanks for the bottle!  You're brewing better beer than I am.

Samuel Smith's - Winter Welcome Ale

This review is rather ill-timed.  This beer is Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale, even though the evidence of spring surrounds us.  It seems my little corner of the Midwest is having nothing but 70 degree days all week! Which means three things.  First, I can write this review outside.  Second, I picked the perfect weekend (that just past) to move all my beer from the garage (which in winter serves as an excellent beer fridge), to the cool dark basement.  Third, it's time to break out the motorcycle!

Goodbye winter!  You might have one last hurrah before you depart, but your demise is inevitable!  To that end, I toast you with your own brew.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12
This is very different from most winter seasonals and a welcome variation.  It's very malt-forward with lots of pale caramel and biscuit aroma, however its most unusual twist is the unmistakable apple esters from a cider (the alcoholic kind, not the orchard kind).  It's a accompanied by a tartness that borders on a citrus sour and I can only assume comes from the Fuggle and/or Golding hops.  Also appearing is the faintest of spices and a light alcohol warmth.  I'm not sure where the warmth comes from as the beer is only 6.0% ABV, but it is present and holds hands nicely with the citrus astringency.  The malts grow richer as they warm.

Appearance 2/3
A bright, high-clarity brew the color of orange liqueur.  The head was over 1 finger, barely beige in color, and appears wet and shiny as it sinks into the beer.  The retention is adequate and remains for some time to coat the surface.  Nothing wrong here, but nothing to write home about either.

Flavor 18/20
It's no surprise that the malts come forward again in the flavor, but they do so in a very unique way.  I'm not sure I've ever had a beer quite like this one.  The front end seems to be like a spice cake (and again, like the aroma, with very light spice.  Much to my relief), but quickly allows that same crispness & astringency to quickly enter and juxtapose itself with the caramel and an earthy butterscotch note.  This is very unique!  More butterscotch and toffee notes arrive as the beer warms and it adds a great sweetness which combines superbly with the aforementioned spice cake.  It also rounds out a superb balance!  Toffee +butterscotch + earthy spices (nutmeg) are all being brightened and "unbittered" ever so slightly by the citrus.  Brilliant.  The finish is dry, bitter on the sides of the tongue, and shows much more of the spices that were so well hidden earlier.

Mouthfeel 5/5
A nice lighter offering that would be just as good in summer as it would in winter.  Its medium-light body and perfect carbonation (Not too prickly.  Not too much.  Not too little), are a great combination.  Add to that its high clarity and the touch of citrus and you've got yourself a beer that's very easy to tip back, as well as extremely flavorful.  That balance of drinkability and flavor is also not an easy thing to attain.

Overall Impression 8/10
The balance and mouthfeel are definitely the high points in this beer.  No wait, the balance and overall composition of this beer are the high points.  The balance was covered well in the "Flavor" section, so I won't rehash that, but let me restate how pleased I am with the start-to-finish vision of this beer.  First off, it's definitely not the alcohol laden, cinnamon explosion winter ale.  It's a lighter, drinkable beer unlikely to offend and maintains that throughout: lighter body, perfect carbonation, citrus for balance, and high clarity.  However, it also has elements of a bigger beer: bitter finish, slight warmth, spices, earthiness, and a nice malt presence.  This is impressively well constructed and the results are satisfying.

Total 43/50
Now, all that said, is this a beer that's going to bowl you over?  No.  Is it going to satisfy the inexperienced and the veterans alike?  More than likely.  This beer earned more points for its remarkable balance and overall construction than for being a powerhouse that beer geeks are going to clamor over each other to obtain.  However, being that this beer comes from Samuel Smith, it should not be any surprise that it is excellently made and an overall solid beer.  It also is a really nice change in scenery for those who love winter seasonals.  It has everything a winter seasonal should and shows what some brewers should be striving toward.  This is classic Samuel Smith's.  Basic, well-made, and balanced.  Cheers!

New Belgium - Snow Day

Today brings to mind the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for.  You just might get it."  After unseasonably warm "winter" weather (50s, sunny), and many complaints about the lack of snow we finally got this winter's first snow.  And it's still falling.  I've shoveled snow twice today and I have a strong feeling that I'm going to again in the morning.

It should then go without saying that today's appropriately chosen beer to review will be New Belgium's Snow Day Winter Ale.  I obtained this bottle from their Folly variety 12-pack and have thoroughly enjoyed the other bottles.  As with the previous day's review, this beer really surprised me by straying far from they "typical" Christmas/winter seasonal.  It's dark and doesn't need to use a bunch of spices as a crutch.  Not to say that all beers with the "holiday blend" of spices are using a crutch, some are quite tasty, but there are those that hide behind them to flavor what would be an otherwise weaker product.  Since past experience has shown that will not be a problem with this beer, I'm just itching to really dissect this beer into its tasty elements.  Let's pour!

Aroma 10/12
The hops on the label do not lead the drinker astray.  The first aromas are a warm, piney hop, that is more "juniper berry" pine than it is "air freshener" pine.  It has that almost herbal quality to it.  There is a hint of straw aroma, but it is faint and fleeting.  Just when you think the hops have shown all their tricks, there is a citrus that brightens up the pine hops.  Very neat.  At first, it is difficult to find any malts behind this wreath of hops, but eventually a dark roast becomes detectable.  This dark roast hints at rye and smokey characteristics, but none come close to usurping the hops as the primary aroma.

Appearance 3/3
Generous, but not overdone head comes from a moderately aggressive pour, and lingers like a in-law at a Christmas gathering.  Unlike the in-law, which only leaves dirty dishes and a funny smell, the head leaves a most attractive, thick lacing.  The beer appears as a coffee brown (in hue, not clarity), but when held to light reveals some surprising scarlets and magentas.  Nicely done.  Again, I reiterate what a pleasant surprise it is to find such a dark beer as a winter seasonal!

Flavor 17/20
This beer starts bitter and rarely lets up.  The dark roasted malts in the aroma now taste burnt, but the roast is still detectable later on.  The citrus provides a light backdrop to everything especially if you run the beer over the tip of the tongue.  The backbone is this citrus overtone, with the juniper hops and charred malts.  This just goes to show that there are lots of different ways to express bitter in a beer.  The roast is the longest lasting sensation before departing in to a finish that seems smoother than in the main mouthfeel.  The hops show a more grassy nature combined with their previous pine character.  This grass note allows the citrus to be showcased a bit more and the result is a satisfyingly fresh finish with a light-medium bitter.  Despite the starring role of the hops, the finish is not very dry.  The aftertaste is a slow-to-die aspirin bitter.

Mouthfeel 3/5
Not the most substantial mouthfeel here.  It's not a huge beer, but packs a wallop of bitter despite it's body.  The lighter body makes it more quaffable, but it doesn't accompany it with an overly-bubbly, annoying carbonation.  The carbonation is certainly present, but it is so tiny that it just barely foams up the beer inside the mouth.  The bottle says 6.3% ABV, but I never caught wind of it.

Overall Impression 8/10
Never again shall a hop head complain about not having a seasonal beer.  Not that this is a showcase for hops, but the bitter nature of it should make it a satisfying selection.  It's not the big beer by a long shot, but it is chuck-full of flavor.  It's drinkable, bitter, smells great, and has a helluva lot more guts than most beers available in a variety pack.

Total 41/50

I enjoyed this beer a lot.  Best of all, if you don't spend your holidays with craft beer people, then you can probably have all of the Snow Days in the variety pack to yourself.  It's a little too bitter for the masses, even if its smell could entice anybody.  The best part is, you probably CAN drink all of them in the variety pack.  The lighter mouthfeel, carbonation, and citrusy hops all make this beer one you can enjoy several of in one  sitting.  Not every beer can be a monster, that's a fact.  This beer is not a monster, nor extremely complex, but that doesn't mean it's not worth picking up.  Heck, I'd bring this as a sixer to a gathering of craft beer drinks or just casual drinkers.  I wouldn't expect all of them to drink it up, but there might be a brave soul or two you could convert.

Even a festive bottle cap!

Berghoff - Winter Ale

Some of you may be asking, "How can you review a winter ale during the beginning of summer."  The answer is, "Easily!"  I have kept this beer stored properly and if anything the extra 6 months have given its flavors a chance to mature and enrich.  However, 6 months is about the longest I will trust any bottle not specifically known for maintaining its longevity.  That said... Let's pour!

Picture is my own.  Bottle art image used without permission for educational uses only.

Aroma 10/12
A lot going on here, especially for a winter ale.  Normally one expects brown, roasted malts and more spices than an oriental trade route.  This aroma meets us halfway.  A sweet "red" malt has been substituted and gives a sharp, sweet backdrop for a myriad of other smells.  Dark fruit (dates) and warmth are present as well as some subtle spicing.  Hints of cinnamon and clove are not difficult to detect and go nicely with an almost banana-like ester.  The banana could be my own misinterpretation of a vanilla flavor mixed with spices, but in any case there are some strange malts afoot.

Appearance 2/3
The beer pours thin and produces a small amount of soda-like head that dissipates almost immediately to a collar.  On the bright side, the collar doggedly sticks around until the end of the pint (no lacing) and the beer itself is very aesthetically pleasing.  A dark, barely translucent brew, but when held to light reveals several gorgeous, dark red shades.  When the red combines with the brown/chocolate tones, they almost appear a dark purplish-red.

Picture is my own.

Picture is my own.  See all those red shades?  The purples show up even more when  not held up to bright light.

Flavor 17/20

While initially starting out with a thin body and little flavor, this beer makes up for lost time almost immediately.    The malt shows first.  It not only seems toasty, but also perhaps a bit smoked.  When held in the mouth, sugary sweetness arises with the dark fruit from the aroma.  The malt takes a bit of a backseat here, even if its toastiness does not.  The finish again showcases the warmth and smokiness with the sugar sweetness and a building creamy presence.  The aftertaste is clean but ebbs into a light hop bitter - a very nice touch for a malt-based brew.

Mouthfeel 3/5

Nothing especially earth-shattering here.  Medium to medium-light body, a light level of creaminess, and very low/subdued carbonation even at the beginning of the pint.  Nice bit of warmth in the finish as well.

Overall Impression 7/10

Not a bad winter ale at all: medium body, subtle spicing, well-hidden hops that show in the end, and a sugary sweetness.  The malt easily is more "red" than the traditional brown used in wintertime brews, but that does not hurt this beer's flavor or score.

Total 39/50

I'm as surprised as anyone about this score.  This bottle is actually from a variety 12 pack I bought some time ago and I was not very pleased about the rest of the pack.  However, this bottle has several interesting flavors that fade in and out.  The sugary sweetness was a interesting twist as opposed to the traditional spices.  It definitely makes the beer a little less "seasonal" and a much more drinkable throughout the year.  While this beer is far from something that will knock you socks off or take home any prizes, it sure was a nice surprise from Berghoff.  I would have to recommend it if you are a fan of winter ales or red ales with a kick.