Blue Ridge Snowball’s Chance
Wild Goose Brewery, LLC

Blue Ridge SnowballÂ’s ChanceBlue Ridge SnowballÂ’s Chance
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From:
Wild Goose Brewery, LLC
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
6%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 15.07%
Reviews:
40
Ratings:
42
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 12, 2012
Added:
May 26, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by OldFrothingSlosh:
Photo of OldFrothingSlosh
Reviewed by OldFrothingSlosh from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Presentation: 12oz. amber bottle with an empty "best by" box on the label.

Appearance: Poured a dark clear brown color with a creamy smooth tan-colored head that does a good job of lacing the glass.

Smell: Sweet-smelling aromas mixed with some spices and fruity scents make for a pretty darn complex-smelling beer.

Taste: Something in the flavor is perplexing to me. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it was a "spicy" something that really drew me into the taste. Aside from the "mystery guest" in the flavor department of tonight's beer sampling, there were other flavors, mostly malty sweet that were noted. There is a slight bittering effect in the taste as well, and I noticed this mostly towards the end of the taste.

Mouthfeel: Very large, chewy, and creamy. Just what you'd expect from this type of beer. A real palate-coater.

Drinkability: The smooth and creamy mouthfeel, along with the really interesting spicy character of the flavor really helped hold my interest in this beer. It has no lingering aftertaste, the alcohol content is quite low and doesn't "burn" on the way down like some other, stronger beers in this category. Overall, quite a nice beer.
Apr 30, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.5 by bzach from Indiana

Oct 12, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ROGUE16 from Delaware

Dec 07, 2011
Photo of cichief
Reviewed by cichief from Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

A- Poured a deep ruby-brown, with a thin, light brown head.

S- Sweet smelling, malty.

T- Again, sweet, with a malted barley overtone, slight coffee flavor, with dry finish.

M- Bubbly, with a thin to medium body.

D- At 6% ABV its not too heavy, a decent drink in colder weather.
May 18, 2007
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appears a ruby caramel mahogany brown hue with an off white tan head leaves even coats of moderate tan lacing with each sip. Aroma is nice with mild cocoa powser roasted malt profile herbal hop finish just a touch with a nice overall pleasant mild smell to it. Flavor has a touch of hop bitterness with chocolate cocoa powder and mild coffee and is complemented with a herbal pine hop finish very easy going in flavor though. Mouthfeel is lighter to medium bodied with a smooth mild creaminess about it even carbonation does stay on the palate for a bit. Drinkability nice christmas session not over spiced like some others I had this past holiday season, oh yeah these are past notes that I stumbled on.
May 05, 2007
Photo of DuqTroops
Reviewed by DuqTroops from Texas

4.13/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This was sent to me by my friend who is the "asst brewmaster" at wild goose brewery. He mentioned it was a limited release and might not be available anymore.

Great winter warmer. deep red in color, smooth drinkability, malty, but not too strong. Comparable to Sam Smith's brew.

Very good beer. If you can get your hand on it, try it.
Mar 24, 2007
Photo of battlekow
Reviewed by battlekow from Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I really like this beer. I got it in a trade awhile ago and it's been begging me to put it out of its misery for awhile; I'm glad I finally obliged. It's a pretty simple beverage, though mine is at least a year old now so it's undoubtedly mellowed. Thick and malty, not unlike a baby old ale. Extremely biscuity finish is evocative: early morning memories of Bisquick boxes and sausage (maybe I should pair it with a rauchbier). The dry finish contrasts well with the gooey sweetness upfront. Almost raisiny but not quite. A great beer to relax with while your girlfriend does her endless French homework.
Feb 19, 2007
Photo of JohnnyM2002
Reviewed by JohnnyM2002 from Maryland

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled from a 12 oz bottle, poured into a red wine glass at 50 degrees. Drank on a cold night..

A - Pours a medium brown with ruby red highlights and a tan 1-inch head that melted away to a small ring after a minute.

S - Caramel malt pops up from the glass with some lingering spice.

T - An earthy/biscuity backbone for the malty tone. Reminds me of a very mild oatmeal stout with some added spice. A wee bit of spiced hops in the aftertaste.

M - Medium, creamier body with higher-than-expected carbonation. No detection of alcohol as the creamy flavors finish smooth.

D - I hadn't had any Blue Ridge in quite some time, but this was a nice reintroduction. I'd suggest picking one up if making a winter mixed case...makes for a good cold-weather-session beer.
Jan 17, 2007
Photo of Higravity
Reviewed by Higravity from Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Oh dear god. It is good to be back in MD for the holidays. This beer is my favorite seasonal from Wild Goose and I will take a case which I will sorely miss in Michigan. Big brown ruby with a light fluff head and such a smell. It is delicous rich toasty taste with a raisiny twang and chocolate hints that are greeted well by the noble hops. Great full body that lends itself to easy drinking. Track this stuff down it is worth it.
Dec 21, 2006
Photo of MaltyGoodness
Reviewed by MaltyGoodness from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz. bottle

Pours a medium chestnut brown with ruby highlights. Has a creamy tan head that thins, mild lacing on the glass.

Aroma is a lightly toasted caramel malt with a distinct nuttiness. Some light cocoa and mild herbal hop aromas are also present.

Caramel malt upfront leading into a blend of nutty and cocoa flavors. A mild bitterness hits almost at the finish along with a mild herbal hop flavor that lingers a bit.

Medium body, solid carbonation.

A drinkable brew, and a nice overall winter warmer.
Dec 21, 2006
Photo of mentor
Reviewed by mentor from Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A gift from higravity (thanks for the opportunity), reviewed from notes. Pours a finger of brown-tan head over a dark brown liquid. Partly cloudy. Smells dry cocoa with ahint of grassy from hops and a lemony citrus hop character. Tastes dry cocoa and flat grassy hops. A late arrival is a sweeter chocolate like chocolate chip bits. Overall, this beer is dry and grassy. Md body and moderate carbonation. Okay, but nothing really special.
Apr 02, 2006
Photo of rabsten
Reviewed by rabsten from West Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
For the review, I've poured it into a pint glass, but I honestly think this beer tastes better right out of the bottle. Pours thick and dark, with a red-tinted caramel brown color. The head is thick and sticky, and laces the glass with every sip.

It smells sweet and malty, with some vanilla/caramel (something candy-esque, anyway) and coffee tones. No hop aroma.

Tastes just like it smells. Malty, with coffee overtones, and a sweet, caramel aftertaste. Not bitter at all.

Very smooth brew. Feels good going down and starts a nice, warm feeling in the belly. It's definately a "warmer."

As metioned above, this beer somehow tastes better from the bottle. I'm not sure why, but it does. Perhaps the brewmaster designed it to be consumed out in the snow, maybe at a place like Wisp. Overall, a pleasant, accessible winter warmer ale.
Mar 21, 2006
Photo of GeoffRizzo
Reviewed by GeoffRizzo from Texas

4.14/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Plain brown, with bright red highlights. The egg-shell like head is quickly absorbed and dissolves fast. The nose is sweet and colorful—malts, oaks, earthy notes, raisins and just a hint of alcohol. An oily slick mouthfeel, very rich—full bodied. Primarily malt based body, back with a hoppy-bite. Caramel notes throughout; also some chocolate and rich cocoa flavorings round out this rather nicely. The palate and after-affects are burnt caramel malts and toffee. Lacks the ‘bite’ that other winter seasonals offer, yet very easy to drink and pretty flavorful.
Feb 19, 2006
Photo of jhu1995
Reviewed by jhu1995 from Maryland

2.4/5  rDev -34.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Picked this up at World Market as part of a winter brew variety pack. Appearance was a very deep, dark brown, bordering on blackish-brown. Very thin head. Smell was all caramel malt. For having a wide variety of malts in the mix, I was a little disappointed. Thought I would get some roasted flavor. Taste was similar to the flavor with caramel taste dominating. Not much of a hops presence. Does not make you want to reach for another one.
Dec 22, 2005
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.91/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: pours a clear brownish burgandy color. 2" fluffy tan colored head. Some mild lacing develops.

Smell: the aroma is of mild roasted malts, bread, and slight nuttiness.

Taste: this brew is malty. The flavor is of caramel, pumpernickel bread, molasses, soft chocolate, mild bitterness, and a hint of alcohol. This is like drinking a hearty meal.

Mouthfeel: medium - heavy in body. The mouthfeel is smooth at the start and finish. The finish is long on the malt and bread qualities.

Drinkability: very drinkable and a nice winter brew. Worth seeking out.
Dec 18, 2005
Photo of weeare138
Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appears a dark brown with a slight red hue and a nice beige head that retains nicely. Beautiful beige lacing rings stick around all sides.
Smell is of a nice array of malt with a mixed up grain bill that is pleasant. Aromas of caramel, wheat, and perhaps a light billing of German and Belgian malts lingering in the background.
Taste is sweet swheat malt mixed with an array of mixed malts. Quite jumbled but interesting enough to drink.
Mouthfeel is smooth but slightly watery along the palate with finish cutting out with mild hop bitterness. Definite wheat presence.
Drinkability...needs to be more full bodied and definitive. The Snow Goose seems to be more of a winner for a warmer and this is leaning towards a porter gone awry. There is just too much going on betwen the yeast, grain bill, different malts, and mild hop finish. I can't put my finger on it. Not bad but not that great either.
Dec 06, 2005
Photo of tgbljb
Reviewed by tgbljb from Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
poured a very deep color with reddish tints, Head was slightly off-white and adequate. Left minimal lacing on the side of the glass. Smell is minimal with some molasses, bread, malt detected.Taste is superb with massive caramel, nuts, dark fruit (plums) in abundance. Finish is nice and dry and very enjoyable. Beckons for another taste. A Very good example of the style.
Dec 06, 2005
Photo of cubedbee
Reviewed by cubedbee from Maryland

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at Frisco Burritos, comes out in the pint glass a deep dark brown, a finger of beige head that vanishes fast, but some moderate lacing on the glass. Nose is a bready, slightly toasted, malt, brown sugar, and a slight gingerlike spice. Taste is more of the same, a bready sugary malt, like gingerbread cookies, a dollop of molasses just a slight spicey finish, no hops detectable. Definitely on the sweeter side of things, but it never becomes cloying and is actually very drinkable. I definitely preferred the spicier Anchor Christmas Ale also on tap, but this is a decent winter warmer in it's own right.
Nov 29, 2005
Photo of Toocls2h8
Reviewed by Toocls2h8 from Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I am really suprised at the relatively low rating for this beer. My brother lives nextdoor to the brewmaster of Frederick Brewing Co. and received a couple 6-packs as an early Christmas gift.

The picture here is pretty much what it looked like when I poured it.

The taste is a warm, moderately hoppy, balanced with some malt with an assertive coffee flavor. This is a very drinkable beer, I drank four of them in an evening and would have kept going if I didnt have to drive home.

Not too hoppy, not too malty, not too alcoholic--just right.

One of my favorites.
Nov 27, 2005
Photo of Dithyramb
Reviewed by Dithyramb from Maryland

3.97/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled as a pint glass at Frisco's in Columbia. Pours a smokey dark brown with sparse tan head. Only a bit of cabonation feeding up, with limited retention and lacing.

Just a very slight roast toasty malt aroma with some sugary background.
Dark roasted malts and sugars are the predominant flavor here, just perfect for the winter. Caramel, molasses, bready, toffee laden goodness. Hops are basically hardly in this party.
Mouthfeel was just right. Usually, when something is so malt driven, it is a bit cloying, but not the case here. Just right mouthfeel, light carbonation, clean finish--very drinkable.
Nov 23, 2005
Blue Ridge Snowball’s Chance from Wild Goose Brewery, LLC
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 42 ratings