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Winter's Bite Cocoa Spice Black Lager
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
- From:
- Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- European Dark Lager
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 79
- Avg:
- 3.41 | pDev: 18.48%
- Reviews:
- 12
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 31, 2019
- Added:
- Aug 06, 2014
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 45
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by archyquaffer:
Reviewed by archyquaffer from Montana
1.75/5 rDev -48.7%
1.75/5 rDev -48.7%
The beer seems mischaracterized in the profile as "American adjunct lager". It bills itself as a "Cocoa Spice Black Lager" made with "natural flavors".
A moderate pour produces about a 3/4 inch creamy, off-white head that quickly dissipates to thin but sticky lacing. The beer is a a quite dark ruby brown, which barely admits the focused light of a Mini-Maglite.
Over-the-top aroma of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and licorice. Roasted malts lend strong tones of burnt coffee and bare hints of chocolate to somewhat balance the spices. However, they become wearing on the palate nevertheless. Quite dry with a lingering soapy feel and taste from the excessive spice.
This could use way less spice, a little more of a chocolate character, and perhaps some residual malt sweetness to lend some credence to the "cocoa" descriptor. As it is, this beer is barely drinkable.
Update Dec. 2014: I had a bottle of this lingering in my refrigerator since last October, but finally opened it last night. It is terrible- soapy, soapy, soapy from overbearing spice notes, and one of the worst beers I've ever tried. A drain pour.
Leinies is really a hit and miss proposition with me. Some of their beers are quite good, and a few are absolutely terrible. This beer is one of the latter.
Oct 28, 2014A moderate pour produces about a 3/4 inch creamy, off-white head that quickly dissipates to thin but sticky lacing. The beer is a a quite dark ruby brown, which barely admits the focused light of a Mini-Maglite.
Over-the-top aroma of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and licorice. Roasted malts lend strong tones of burnt coffee and bare hints of chocolate to somewhat balance the spices. However, they become wearing on the palate nevertheless. Quite dry with a lingering soapy feel and taste from the excessive spice.
This could use way less spice, a little more of a chocolate character, and perhaps some residual malt sweetness to lend some credence to the "cocoa" descriptor. As it is, this beer is barely drinkable.
Update Dec. 2014: I had a bottle of this lingering in my refrigerator since last October, but finally opened it last night. It is terrible- soapy, soapy, soapy from overbearing spice notes, and one of the worst beers I've ever tried. A drain pour.
Leinies is really a hit and miss proposition with me. Some of their beers are quite good, and a few are absolutely terrible. This beer is one of the latter.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Libeertarian from Montana
3.47/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.47/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
From old notes:
Dark brown, mostly clear with light brown foamy head of moderate retention. Cinnamon aroma predominant, not so much cocoa. A little more cocoa on the palate, but cinnamon is almost cloying. Some roastiness and dark fruit character, but very mediocre. Medium in body and creamy to effervescent.
Apr 26, 2016Dark brown, mostly clear with light brown foamy head of moderate retention. Cinnamon aroma predominant, not so much cocoa. A little more cocoa on the palate, but cinnamon is almost cloying. Some roastiness and dark fruit character, but very mediocre. Medium in body and creamy to effervescent.
Reviewed by JustLikeMyDad from Michigan
2.94/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.94/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Drank from the bottle so I can't comment on look.
Smelled of chocolate and spices, maybe malty.
Bold, dark chocolate taste. Good on a cold winter's night. Light carbonation and went down smooth.
Apr 30, 2015Smelled of chocolate and spices, maybe malty.
Bold, dark chocolate taste. Good on a cold winter's night. Light carbonation and went down smooth.
Reviewed by KYGunner from Kentucky
3.55/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Dark black color but a thin head. Nice spicy nose with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, anise and some cocoa.
The flavor is reminiscent of a pumpkin beer with the nutmeg and allspice taking the forefront. There's a nice maltiness, chocolate perhaps, with some light coffee bean. I catch cocoa powder, roasted coffee and toasted barley.
It feels thin and cheap but overall this is a pretty decent beer.
Jan 25, 2015The flavor is reminiscent of a pumpkin beer with the nutmeg and allspice taking the forefront. There's a nice maltiness, chocolate perhaps, with some light coffee bean. I catch cocoa powder, roasted coffee and toasted barley.
It feels thin and cheap but overall this is a pretty decent beer.
Rated by Jon_Hendricks from Pennsylvania
3.8/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a black cocoa color
Overall: Real good winter beer. Perfect mix of roasty cocoa and malts flavor. Worth a try.
Jan 18, 2015Overall: Real good winter beer. Perfect mix of roasty cocoa and malts flavor. Worth a try.
Winter's Bite Cocoa Spice Black Lager from Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
109 ratings
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