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From the dark hills of North Versailles, Pennsylvania comes a brown ale that seeks to be something more. No, this won't be tossed in with the nutty brown ales that are scattered about the aisles of grocery stores and speakeasies. Instead, this is going to try to be a kind of winter warmer or something. At least, that's what I assume from the name and the fact that it's brewed with spices. Let's see how that brewing went.
It pours brown. There's a bit of a head on it, and I think I captured it in the pictures, but it's not long for this world, and it won't leave any lacing. The thin ring of bubbles and a quite scant dusting of bubbles is all that covers the beer, eventually. When the can says that this has spices, it isn't kidding. Nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, and maple (maple isn't a spice, but go with me on this) are so heaped upon each other that I struggle to actually discern the style of beer beyond the fact that I know what it says on the can. This is interesting.
First sip is quite a bit of clove and ginger added to the nutmeg and cinnamon. Is it possible this beverage is a bit too spiced? I can't really taste the nutty brown ale underneath it, as the spices are just dazzling everything around them. I suppose this would be a good way of hiding a beverage you were not particularly proud of, but I suspect there is a good beer lingering under all of this.
Tip-in is cinnamon and ginger getting into a bit of a fight with clove and minimal carbonation. The middle arrives with a joyous, spice-filled mix of all the previously mentioned flavors with a bit of the brown ale nuttiness tossed into a nicely quenching river. The finish becomes dry as the spices once again take hold, and I think they should probably have left the clove out.
Bottom Line: Tasty enough for a cold night.
2.75/5
