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Snowbound English Old Ale
The Tap Brewing Company
- From:
- The Tap Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Old Ale
- ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.82 | pDev: 10.99%
- Reviews:
- 35
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 25, 2017
- Added:
- Feb 01, 2009
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 1
Super malty, dark and slick. Undertones of raisins and some even say it has notes of red wine. Just because you’re stuck inside during the dead of Winter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice beer. So go throw another log on the fire and put your feet up on the couch. You don’t find too many Old Ales these days. And you certainly don’t find many this good.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Axnjxn:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)
3.68/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle: Poured a dark brown color ale with a super huge brown foamy head (quite a bit of a gusher actually). Aroma of dry caramelized malt with some dry toffee notes. Taste is also dominated by actually quite nice dry caramelized malt notes with some subtle notes of toffee and a generally quite dry finish. Body is about average with too much carbonation. Not too bad for an old ale that was past its best by date by almost three years.
Dec 18, 2014Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.31/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
3.31/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
Served from a bomber bottle. Pours clear dark brown with a very good head
Aroma: fine except for a bit of vinegar
Flavor: smokey dark roasted grains and a touch of hops, but nonetheless, mildly sweet. Also a int of dates.
O: Decent-good for style.
Feb 09, 2014Aroma: fine except for a bit of vinegar
Flavor: smokey dark roasted grains and a touch of hops, but nonetheless, mildly sweet. Also a int of dates.
O: Decent-good for style.
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
3.75/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.75/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from 2011.
Pours a deep reddish brown color with a smallish yellow white head that shows moderate retention and minimal lace. The aroma is quite sweet with lots of caramel and brown sugar as well as a fair amount of dark pitted fruits and orange marmalade. Sweet dark sugary flavor is mixed with orange and dark sweet cherry and is cut with a touch of earth melanoidin and alcohol. Hints of smoke and roast round out the flavor nicely. Medium to thick body with a light level of carbonation and a sweet almost syrupy mouthfeel. I remember trying this fresher and it didn't seem to meld well. With a bit of age on it this is a nice old ale.
Oct 17, 2012Pours a deep reddish brown color with a smallish yellow white head that shows moderate retention and minimal lace. The aroma is quite sweet with lots of caramel and brown sugar as well as a fair amount of dark pitted fruits and orange marmalade. Sweet dark sugary flavor is mixed with orange and dark sweet cherry and is cut with a touch of earth melanoidin and alcohol. Hints of smoke and roast round out the flavor nicely. Medium to thick body with a light level of carbonation and a sweet almost syrupy mouthfeel. I remember trying this fresher and it didn't seem to meld well. With a bit of age on it this is a nice old ale.
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts
3.5/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had on tap at New World Tavern--poured into a pint glass. Was called Haverhill Old Ale--may be a different old ale from Haverhill
Appearance: minimal head, tan in color, clear, moderate carbonation
Smell: oak, toffee, and alcohol
Taste: oak, juniper, caramel, and earthy hops at the end
Mouthfeel: medium carbonation, medium-heavy bodied, sweet with a distinct bitterness in the backbne
Overall: An above average old ale, but nothing I am likely to get again. I do appreciate the mixing of the sweetness and the sharpness of the bitterness. I have had examples in this style that are more complex however.
Jul 25, 2012Appearance: minimal head, tan in color, clear, moderate carbonation
Smell: oak, toffee, and alcohol
Taste: oak, juniper, caramel, and earthy hops at the end
Mouthfeel: medium carbonation, medium-heavy bodied, sweet with a distinct bitterness in the backbne
Overall: An above average old ale, but nothing I am likely to get again. I do appreciate the mixing of the sweetness and the sharpness of the bitterness. I have had examples in this style that are more complex however.
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire
4.33/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
From the 22 oz. bomber stamped Bottled in January 2011! Sampled on July 22, 2012.
The pour is a gorgeous looking dark brown with reddish highlights in the light, a small, wispy head that fades but laces. Clarity is quite good.
On the nose there are many sensations including sweet dark malts, molasses, licorice, and yeast. It is inviting me to drink it.
The body is medium to full and chewy.
The taste begins malty and sweet almost like a barleywine with a short-lived but light bitterness on the tail end. Some toffee notes as well. Overall it is very mellow. I actually bought this a year after it was a bottled and the aging improved it immensly. I wish I had more.
Jul 22, 2012The pour is a gorgeous looking dark brown with reddish highlights in the light, a small, wispy head that fades but laces. Clarity is quite good.
On the nose there are many sensations including sweet dark malts, molasses, licorice, and yeast. It is inviting me to drink it.
The body is medium to full and chewy.
The taste begins malty and sweet almost like a barleywine with a short-lived but light bitterness on the tail end. Some toffee notes as well. Overall it is very mellow. I actually bought this a year after it was a bottled and the aging improved it immensly. I wish I had more.
Reviewed by brokensail from California
3.08/5 rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.08/5 rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Amber in color with a thin khaki head. Sweet caramel and brown sugar are about the only positives here. Maybe a touch of dark fruit. Otherwise, lots of cardboard. The flavor is fairly oxidized and cardboardy, too. A bit of toasted bread along with the caramel and brown sugar. Faint notes of raisin in the background.
Jul 18, 2012
Snowbound English Old Ale from The Tap Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
50 ratings
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