Powder Hound Winter Ale
Big Sky Brewing Company

Powder Hound Winter AlePowder Hound Winter Ale
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From:
Big Sky Brewing Company
 
Montana, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #113
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
82
Ranked #24,763
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 12.12%
Reviews:
265
Ratings:
561
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 14, 2024
Added:
Feb 13, 2002
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  52
Two words describe winter in our neck of the woods... cold, dark, and snowy. Just the way we like it! At 7.2% ABV, Powder Hound Winter Ale gives just the right amount of warmth, balanced by its rich taste and generous dose of Hallertau, Palisade, and Amarillo hops. After a cold day of getting it done or just relaxing, the avalanche of flavor will have you saying these four words - "I'll have another Powder Hound"!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.63 by sbradley41 from Pennsylvania

Jan 14, 2024
 
Photo of mmmbeer89
Rated by mmmbeer89 from New Mexico

3.85/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
6.5 abv
Apr 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.59 by emwilke from Nevada

Feb 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.03 by Allurex from Kansas

Nov 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by Birdlegs from Washington

Mar 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.73 by Hefsbeercaps from Ohio

Mar 05, 2022
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.34/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
No date on the can; drank 2/8/22 @ the Yarchives.

See-through dull orange appearance.

A rough pour yielded a big eggshell head; a thick curtain of lace.

Fresh soap, pine & faint watermelon Jolly Rancher notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Pine & watermelon Jolly Rancher flavors up front; fresh soap & mild booze heat notes on the finish.

Like a harsher, less enjoyable Celebration; this is more winter IPA than winter warmer, and it's not worth tracking down.
Feb 09, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Nov 07, 2021
 
Rated: 3.83 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Oct 15, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by NickMunford from Wyoming

Jul 15, 2021
 
Rated: 3.25 by d5001986 from Wisconsin

Jul 12, 2021
 
Rated: 3.4 by arini10 from Oregon

Feb 19, 2021
 
Rated: 3.6 by craigbelly from Iowa

Nov 21, 2020
Photo of TheBricenator
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Almost clear orange in color with an excited white head forming and quickly settling down, leaving great lacing behind
Aroma: Grapefruit-led citrus hops, fir needles, bready malt notes, pine, and wafts of berries
Taste: Pine, fir, and citrus hit hard first followed by waves of berries, orange, and grapefruit. These flavors all tango on top of a honey-dipped bready malt base. Finishes with a nice bite and dominate citrus and honey notes
Mouthfeel: Full, medium-high carbonation, and finishes with some mild dryness as well
Overall: This is delicious stuff. I’ve always liked this beer and have drunk it for years, not only because it’s good and well-made, but one of several winter seasonal beers that doesn’t go the spiced winter warmer route. Instead, it’s a lighter-colored hoppy ale with a stronger-than-typical-IPA malt base. Tasty and recommended
Nov 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3.56 by zestd from Idaho

Dec 22, 2019
Photo of MaltsOfGlory
Reviewed by MaltsOfGlory from Oregon

4.02/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12oz bottle

Pours over a finger of white, fluffy head into my can-style glass. Retention is phenomenal, not losing anything after 5 minutes. Body is a dark yellow, very light for an IPA. Crystal clear, with a fair amount of bubbles coming up. Looks great so far.

Nose is pine, citrus, slightly floral, really hits all the food groups you want for an American IPA. Touch of sweet malt. This is a lovely nose.

Flavor is a little safer than the aroma. A little pine, not much citrus, not very floral. Not bad by any means, but certainly a more standard IPA than the nose might entail.

Mouthfeel is nice. Not much sweetness, but that’s ok. This comes through as a nice crisp, refreshing beer. Carbonation is medium. Body is maybe a touch lighter than medium. Bitterness is on the lower end, but noticeable. Drinks more like a pale ale, to be sure; but a nice mouthfeel none the less.

The drinkability is very high. This is a clean, light, tasty beer.

Appearance turned out phenomenal, thick lacing coats the glass, and the head hung around a very long time.

Overall this is a great, safe beer. Flavor is more like a pale ale, and not sure how this made it into the winter category, but either way it’s a nice beer.
Nov 22, 2019
 
Rated: 3.9 by Kolb from Montana

Apr 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.69 by alexsergio from New York

Mar 16, 2019
Powder Hound Winter Ale from Big Sky Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 561 ratings