Tonight's beer review is Harpoon's Winter Warmer. This beer is advertised as being brewed with spices, so it's probably in the same genre as the CB Christmas Ale rather than the SN celebration. I paid $1.89 for a 12 oz bottle.
The beer pours a lighter color than I expected. It has a moderate but not exceptional head. What is exceptional is its aroma. I could smell the spice in this beer even when I was holding it up for the pick. It smells just like apple cider. Tastes like it, too. In fact, this beer is practically a dead ringer for a really spiced cider. It's not as sweet, and I guess there isn't as much apple flavor, but the cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice flavors are identical to the spices I like in cider. The bottle says it's made with just a "touch" of cinnamon and nutmeg, but the spice flavor of this beer is stronger than any beer I've had. My only complaint is that I'd like a little more malt and perhaps sweetness, to go with all the spice flavor. The pale malt feels so empty behind the strong spices. I'm going to award this beer [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img][img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img][img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] and a half [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. A little more robust malt could have kicked it up a full heart. If you like non-traditional, spicy beer, this is a good pick, and a good value.
12-20-2006, 08:11 PM
Re: Weizenbock Wednesday
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