Spiced Reserve Ale
Tree Brewing

Spiced Reserve AleSpiced Reserve Ale
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From:
Tree Brewing
 
British Columbia, Canada
Style:
Herb and Spice Beer
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 5.38%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
17
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 22, 2014
Added:
Dec 05, 2009
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
Each holiday season our Brewers brew Spiced Reserve, using a special blend of Brewer's spices. A favourite pairing with all of your holiday dishes.
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Ratings by EskimoDave:
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Rated by EskimoDave from Canada (BC)

4/5  rDev +2.6%

Dec 01, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.3 by ZachT from Canada (BC)

Mar 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Kmat10 from Canada (AB)

Dec 10, 2013
Photo of peensteen
Reviewed by peensteen from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Jason.

Amber-red colour, one finger of tan head with some lace. Smell is certainly quite spicy, nutmeg, caramel and toffee, perhaps even a little bit of rye, warm spices, cinnamon and even quite a bit of fruitiness. Taste is of spice, toffee, caramel, lightly sweet, fruit is more present on the palate than on the nose, bits of liquorice, malty and again a bit of rye. Medium carbonation, medium body, sticky points and quite a nice feel. A really good spiced beer that certainly exceeded my own expectations.
Oct 13, 2012
Photo of liamt07
Reviewed by liamt07 from Canada (ON)

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bottle shared by Jason, 650ml into a tulip. 7.0% on this bottle.

Mahogany body, tan head with good retention and light lacing. Nose is spicy, light citrus, sweet malt, bready notes - spicing is almost reminiscent of a pumpkin ale. Taste has spices, cloves, light cinnamon, sweet caramel and bready malts. Medium full feel, carbonation is a bit too high initially but settles down with warmth as I consume this. Not exciting but simple and tasty.
Oct 07, 2012
Photo of leaddog
Reviewed by leaddog from Canada (AB)

4.35/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance - Dark copper brown, opaque, with a thin white head.

Smell - Spices (clove, nutmeg, light cinnamon) and mild fruity aromas (grapefruit, plum).

Taste - Starts with a wave of the spices - certainly reminiscent of the winter season! Spices taper off to a smooth finish with a mildly bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, creamy, and smooth. Light carbonation upon the first sip.

Overall - One of my favourite seasonals. Flavours are nicely balanced. The flavourful spices have a nice punch to them - if you aren't in the Christmas spirit yet, then you will be after the first sip.
Dec 04, 2011
Photo of canucklehead
Reviewed by canucklehead from Canada (BC)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I am liking this one as a beer that matches the spices with a good malt/hop backbone. It better than previous spiced beers from Tree and reminds me of the old Xmas ale from Granville Island. The finish is long and warming and the spice adds to the beer rather than taking it over. I will be picking up a few more before they go from the shelves
Feb 03, 2011
Photo of spree92
Reviewed by spree92 from Canada (NB)

3.77/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
7.6% ABV from the 2010 release.

Poured a deep amber with a 1/2" head. Nice cinnamon aroma followed by maltiness. Other than the spices, not much of a flavor profile. This had all the makings of a great Winter Warmer but just didn't live up to my expectations. It is very easy going down though.
Jan 26, 2011
Photo of IllNate
Reviewed by IllNate from Canada (BC)

3.91/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
A - Pours a very attractive bright and clear medium-dark amber. Nice red hues, with a good amount of tan head with good retention.

S - Nice aroma. Rich malty background with cinnamon, clove and nutmeg dominating the aroma. Alcohol is hidden well.

T - High marks here. Great balance. Very malty and sweet, but with a balancing bitterness. Spice is more noticeable in the nose, but still prominent here. With the familiar nutmeg, clove and cinnamon combo. Again alcohol is hidden well.

M - Quite a heavy mouthfeel, alcohol give a warming sensation.

D - Not overy drinkable.
Dec 25, 2010
Photo of andrenaline
Reviewed by andrenaline from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a copper colour with a red hue, finger of head with decent retention and lease some fine sporadic lacing.

S - Scent is dominated by buttered bread and caramel and complemented by some cinnamon and nutmeg spices.

T - Much like the scent, with caramel malts coming through followed by the cinnamon and nutmeg. Higher ABV is relatively well hidden but does put off a bit of heat on the finish.

M - No complaints in this department, medium bodied ale that goes down smooth. Fills the tongue nicely and doesn't finish overly dry.

D - Overall a pretty drinkable winter warmer. The spices are not overwhelming, which is nice, and the underlying flavours of caramel and buttered bread are tasty. The ABV could be hidden a little better, but it's not too bad.
Dec 05, 2010
Photo of DoktorZee
Reviewed by DoktorZee from Canada (AB)

3.72/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Tried at a beer tasting event from a large, 500ml bottle. Didn't see if it had a best before date, but since it was this year's holiday offering it had to be pretty fresh.

A - deep amber-brown color, not much head by the time I got to it. A bit of visible carbonation.

S - some very interesting mixed herbs really jumped out at me, mainly clove. Seemed like it was going to be an interesting taste.

T - very significant mixed spice front end (clove, cinnamon and nutmeg) resolving into a fairly well balanced malty delight. Definite warming effect from the alcohol, but not excessive.

M - fairly unremarkable mouthfeel - balanced with nothing else to note.

D - quite a nice drink - could definitely sit down and have more than one of these.

One of the better holiday seasonals I've had; the significant spice attack doesn't take the experience anywhere strange and it remains well balanced overall. Seems like you're drinking a spiced beer rather than a mulled wine, so that is a win.
Nov 23, 2010
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2010 release in the new painted bottle. 7.6% abv.

A: Deep chestnut with a light tan head, good retention, leaves a light lace.

S: Plenty of cinnamon in the nose, some sweet caramel and sponge toffee, ginger, candied fruit and hints of roasted nut.

T: Dark fruit, cinnamon, dark bread, caramel, roasted nut, ginger, warming alcohol, modest bitterness.

M: Moderately full body has a light residual sweetness.

D: For a spiced ale of this strength, it's a surprisingly easy drinker.

An all around good brew.
Nov 13, 2010
Photo of wordemupg
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

3.67/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
650ml bottle poured into pint glass sept27 2010

A clear deep amber with no visible carbonation and a fast falling thumbs width of head that left no lace

S some sweet vannilla with some winter spices and a little booze

T the taste matches the smell but just a little stronger, perhaps some licorice and cola I couldn't smell

M more carbonation then what you could see but that's not saying much, a little slick and the flavors do linger after you swallow

D not a bad beer for a chilly evening but I doubt I'd want multiple bombers but this single serve is working well

decent beer that's worth trying, perhaps not my favorite seasonal from Tree but nothing too be ashamed of
Sep 28, 2010
Photo of joemcgrath27
Reviewed by joemcgrath27 from Canada (AB)

3.76/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A - a deep brown amber, very short head that dissipated to very little remainder very quickly
S - cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and brown sugar, along with sweet roasty malt, and light florals, it just smells warm
T - spices are just like the smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and brown sugar (almost like a dry rub for bbq), along with nice malt flavours and a slight alcohol tinge
M - basically chewy and spicy like a christmas fruit cake, but the higher ABV does thin it out on the finish
D - the flavours are warming and pleasant, the combination of heaviness and 7.5% ABV make this an occasion beer, not sessionable, but still a nice treat
Aug 25, 2010
Photo of BDTyre
Reviewed by BDTyre from Canada (BC)

3.46/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I believe this is the replacement for the Mid-Winter Spiced Ale.

Dark copper with a fluffy white head. Cinammon, nutmeg, brown sugar and even hints of coffee and tea in the scent. Very tame though, and even somewhat bland.

Nice blend of the aforementioned spices, and a bit of mild malts. Not too much hops.

Decent winter warmer, but not quite as exciting as the previous winter beers from tree. It needs a bit more dynamics in the flavour and some toning down in the alcohol character.
May 22, 2010
Photo of Shadman
Reviewed by Shadman from Canada (AB)

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a bright amber-orange, very nice, rich, foam head and good lacing.

Caramel malt, the usual suspect for winter warmer spices. Cloves, nutmeg, etc. Kinda smells like fresh cinnamon buns.

Tastes like a cross between cinnamon buns with the bready sweet malt and pumpkin pie with all the various spices. Nice balance. Combo of spice and booze bites the tongue slightly. Nice warming effect there on in.

A nice winter warmer, a bit more punch than the last one I sample from Howe sound in terms of flavour & kick. Would find more than 2 pints of this to be a bit much though.
Dec 10, 2009
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
650ml bottle. No indication of what spices were actually employed here, other than 'a special blend from the brewer'. Meh.

This beer pours a clear, rather dark orange brick amber colour, with one chubby finger of weakly puffy, and eventually creamy beige head, which leaves some streaky coral reef lace around the glass as it lazily recedes.

It smells of gingerbread spices - ginger (natch), clove, metallic cinnamon, and nutmeg - over a lightly bready caramel malt, some thin toffee notes, and perhaps a touch of fruity, spicy rye. The taste is definitely fruity in its initially heavy caramel malt and crystalline toffee sweetness, before those same heady spices from the nose, though nicely integrated, come crashing back through the fold, with no one spice exactly dominating, sandwiched all by a bread pudding sort of thing. The 15-proof alcohol warming is quite subtle, lending credence to this particular interpretation of the style.

The carbonation is rather mild in its underwhelming frothiness, the body just on the light side of medium weight, and generally smooth, when the spices are away, and all that. It finishes off-dry, the sweetly spiced caramel malt standing strong, and definitely lengthening the experience, while the big booze seems to warrant an APB, or the like.

A decent seasonal warmer, reminiscent of Big Rock's recent similar effort, spice-wise, but a little more balanced, and certainly stronger! Interesting, and a worthy salve for any mulled-wine yearnings you might be experiencing on the night of this first real blast of the current winter's splendour and fury on the Canadian prairies.
Dec 05, 2009
Spiced Reserve Ale from Tree Brewing
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 17 ratings