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How cold does it need to be to enjoy a winter ale? It's certainly chilly, but I don't have snow on the ground or anything. I would suggest that it is possible that almost any kind of beer can be enjoyed at almost any time of year at almost any outside temperature. I've enjoyed a thick dessert stout on a warm summer evening, and I've enjoyed IPAs in the dead of winter.
It doesn't take long for the bubbles to run away entirely, and there are so few left on top of the beer that they may as well have not bothered. For a second, I am convinced that this is a barrel aged beer, as those tend to have little or no head, but I looked at the can again, and this isn't one of their barrel aged series beers. The aroma is expected to be mostly spices and nuts, and it matches that smell exactly.
First sip is exactly what you might expect from a brown ale that has been nicely spiced. The spices are adding warmth and texture to the otherwise rather bland brown ale, and the result is a beer that has enough flavor to be remembered, but not so much that it seems like they're trying too hard. The brown ale as a base is nutty enough, and it is a nice canvas for the mix of spices that seem to lean more toward orange and vanilla than cinnamon. It could probably use more cinnamon. I also don't know if they added clove, but I'm getting the *feeling* of clove.
Tip-in is mild (but building) carbonation over sweet vanilla and light cinnamon. The middle becomes a bit caustic as the carbonation burns the top of the mouth, and the spices start to burn the tongue with the nuts peeking out and running away. The finish has the clove that I thought I tasted, and orange peel joins in for the spice-filled trail off.
Bottom Line: Not without merit, but could use a bit more refining.
3.0/5
