Butte Creek Winter Ale
Butte Creek Brewing Company

Butte Creek Winter AleButte Creek Winter Ale
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From:
Butte Creek Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
84
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 11.51%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
33
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 26, 2020
Added:
Dec 18, 2001
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by FormatKid:
Photo of FormatKid
Reviewed by FormatKid from Tennessee

4.08/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A pricey six pack of this showed up at my local store that stocks some craft beer. What the heck? I'm always looking to try new stuff and I'm hoping buying their beer will encourage a better selection. Anyway, I dumped this beer into a standard pint glass. I get a nice head with a decent amount of retention, thin whisps of lace. The body of this beer is clear, but a good deal darker than your standard brown ale almost like the "burnt sienna" crayon. The head is suprisngly white. Very sublte nose typical of brown ales, some smokiness and light touches of caramel and biscuit. This beer is a lot more flavorful than the nose would have you believe though. Toasted nuts, dabs of milk chocolate and caramel, a faint puff of smoke, and a nice hop smattering in the finish. The mouthfeel is soft and really quenching. A really solid and flavorful brown. Is this beer worth the $10 I paid for a sixer? Probably not. Also I think I think a brown ale is sort of a weird winter seasonal, but then again so is Celebration IPA.
Nov 21, 2004
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.28/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Brown ale? Huh. Always thought this was a winter warmer.

Anyways, brown ale pours brown. 3/5" beige head. Good retention. Aroma was of brown malt and floral and grassy Fuggle hops.

Taste was more bitter than your average winter welcome or brown ale. They didn't skimp on the Fuggles. Interesting choice, but I thought it worked here. Rather than a malt body of roastiness, this one dropped a chocolate note without resorting to heavily roasted malt like a stout or something with a decent amount of chocolate malt would have. It was solidly robust for a brown ale. Black walnut impression.

In the late 90s, this was thought of as the other brewery's seasonal Celebration Ale by a lot of people in our circle. As time has passed, we've realized the beers share only one similarity: they are brown colored. The hop choice and rates couldn't be more different. But I like them both nonetheless.
Mar 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.25 by harpus from Alabama

Mar 27, 2013
Photo of saintwarrick
Reviewed by saintwarrick from South Carolina

3.42/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A dark brown brew with a good tan head that grows with agitation. Aroma is molasses and cocoa with some coffee beans. Taste has a little luke-warm coffee taste to it with a bit of sweetness like chocolate syrup. An OK burnt coffee bitterness at the end.

A solid brew that sits well on a cold night, but I was hoping for something a little sweeter, which would have matched the smell.
Feb 06, 2008
Photo of plaid75
Reviewed by plaid75 from New York

3.41/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
2006 Vintage.

Poured a medium brown hue with an incredible 7 finger foamy tan head. There was good retention and lacing. The beer was nearly impossible to pour because of the incredible head.

The smell featured a lightly sweet grainy malt with some smoky traces.

The taste was rather well balanced with an upfront soft sweetness that faded into a clean nuttiness.

The mouthfeel was of average fullness with some cloying sweetness at the start. Overly carbonated in my opinion.

Overall a decent brown ale.
Dec 11, 2007
Photo of beerphilosopher
Reviewed by beerphilosopher from Illinois

3.22/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured a deep brown color with a light cocoa head that lasted well. Sheets of lace in the pint glass. Nose was all sweet malts (smells like Ovaltine) and not much else. Palate is also of roasted malts, caramel, and a touch of chocolate. Nowhere near as rich as the nose lets on. Mouthfeel is thin, even for a Porter. Moderately low carbonation and an easy dry finish. All in all, not a bad porter at all, but the thinness of this beer is it's biggest fault. Big nose, small flavors. Good, but could be much better.
Jul 26, 2007
Photo of WetCoaster
Reviewed by WetCoaster from California

3.87/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Quite something, this. Very deep true brown with a dense, massive, foamy head with great retention. Didn't see that coming. Honestly, I'm not sure if this head is a good or bad thing. I say good; but I'm gonna cut a notch off the score because it might be a case of carb gone crazy -- it may not be intentional.

Smell:Spicy hop, dense toffee malt and yeast combine into a nice spiced caramel apple.

Taste: Pretty good. Hops are MUCH more bitter than the scent would suggest, but are countered (beaten down?) nicely by thick, roasty, dark chocolate malt and buttery toffee flavors and a tangy apple tartness.

Mouthfeel: I actually like it quite a bit; syrupy, but the carbonation is remarkably (too?) strong and drags it back to the lively zone. Works for me.

Drinkability: I like it, but it's such a glassful of contrasts that I think one is enough. It's sort of like a sea urchin in a sense, with flavors and textures shooting out in all directions. It's good, but I can't help but wonder if some of this was an accident.
Jan 30, 2007
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

2.7/5  rDev -26%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: Way overcarbonated, with a huge frothy head sitting atop a mahogany colored liquid with garnet highlights; leaves lots of lacing, however (Since others have had the opposite experience with the level of carbonation, I wonder whether the brewery is having some quality control problems.)

Smell: An odd balsa wood and menthol aroma

Taste: Starts with a nutty and bready flavor that is joined, mid-palate by that odd bitter balsa/menthol quality; after the swallow, some chocolate joins in that provides a welcome relief, but those odd bitter flavors return in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and sudsy

Drinkability: I really cannot recommend this one - just too many flaws; not sure whether this is organic but my experience with organics has been that most are sub par
Jan 28, 2007
Photo of GCBrewingCo
Reviewed by GCBrewingCo from North Carolina

3.36/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The beer poured into the glass highly carbonated with a 1/2 liquid, 1/2 foam slightly hazy brown appearance and a brownish tight bubbled head which lasted for days.

The aroma was nutty and grassy through the extra high head. As the head retreated aromas of chocolate began to emerge alongside the grassy and nutty characteristics.

The flavor was nutty with a grassy and lightly menthol hop character. Chocolate was present as was a light orange citrus fruit. An odd mix of chocolate, nuttiness, citrus, grass and menthol coupled with a lightly vegetal flavor.

The finish was dry with lasting grass, menthol and vegetal. The body was medium with a huge carbonation level that made the beer difficult to consume through all the belches. An odd mix of flavors.

12 ounce bottle.
Dec 21, 2006
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
The bear on the label gives a thumbs up and a big grin and so far the pour is bearing this to be so (no pun intended..ok, i lied, it was). Decent head on top of a dark, light trapping, brown boody and accompanied by a sweet nose with coffee and roasted nut notes.

The taste is malty and nutty and well textured and finishes with a surprising kick of hops. Carbonation is a little off, especially at the finish, where the beer is completely flat. It is better balanced than a lot of brown ales I've had but the taste doesn't quite do it for me and I wouldn't choose this beer for a session unlesss choices were pretty thin.
Dec 15, 2006
Photo of OStrungT
Reviewed by OStrungT from California

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
This beer pours a dark brown with a slight mohogany tint. It has a thin light tan head that fades a little too fast. It leaves minimal laces.

This beer has a nutty aroma. It smells malty sweet. It has a toffee like nose. A slight hint of floral hops mixes in as well.

This beer tastes quite nutty. It has some biscuit like flavor also. It has a sweet caramel malt taste. It also tastes slightly spicy.

This beer is quite undercarbonated. It leaves a nutty aftertaste.

This beer might be a decent session beer. It is very mildly flavored, and it is not too high in alcohol.

Overall: I am not impressed with this beer. It is almost not carbonated, which is bad for the style. Also, the flavor is quite booring. With all the great winter beers out there, I will not spend my money on this mediocre one.
Dec 05, 2006
Photo of ElGordo
Reviewed by ElGordo from Oregon

3.89/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Our local distributor ordered way too much of this beer and had to sell it basically at cost. Thus, my store was selling it at $3.95/6pk, or cheaper than Budweiser.
Pours a deep amber hue, topped by a wisp of creamy white head that remains floating on top for a while. Very appealing aroma of sweet roasted malt, with huge notes of vanilla bean, bourbon whisky, and light chocolate. Palate is more of the same - nice, sweet roasted malt accented by mild bittering hops, along with notes of vanilla, pepper, and a faint hint of clove. Good, sturdy body lingers on the palate, helping to keep this tasty beer a slow-sipper. Tasty, and almost unbeatable for the (current) price.
May 12, 2006
Photo of scottoale
Reviewed by scottoale from California

3.7/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz brown bottle pours a dark copper ale with a half-inch thick almond head. Good carbonation and very little lacing, the head fades quickly.

Burnt toasty malt and caramel are the stand-outs with this warmer. After notes of toffee and nuts come into play. Not much in the hop dept. makes it through the sweet, malty nose.

To the tongue, sweet malts stand out, then give way to a nice roasted nut flavor (almond, pecan and hazelnut come to mind). The burnt malty smell translates to a somewhat smokiness in taste, not cloying however. All in all, it's a very "nutty" brown ale...style suited.

Not to sure of the ABV, it's certainly well hidden. A pleasant easy to drink brown ale with a filling, creamy mouthfeel and a well balanced smooth finish...a bit like Pete's Wicked if you will...cheers!
Apr 05, 2006
Photo of SethB2
Reviewed by SethB2 from California

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served out of a bottle, poured into a pint glass.

Pours very dark, much like a porter, with nice fluffy 1.5 finger head. It is slightly sticky, but the lacing isn't overy impressive. But still it is a very nice looking beer. Initial smell is strong in fruits, raspberry maybe, and some toasted malts. Taste is bready, with fruit backing. Not much hop present. Mouthfeel is full and rich. Perfect amount of carbonation.

This is probably my favorite Butte Creek beer. Well done.
Mar 14, 2006
Photo of silver0rlead
Reviewed by silver0rlead from North Carolina

3.77/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark brown with ruby highlights, and an off white head that dissipates quickly. The aroma has some toasted bread, blackstrap molasses, spices, floral hops, chestnuts and hazelnuts and some roasted malts. The flavor starts out with roasted malts and toasted bread, followed by some blackstrap molasses, spices, spicy and floral hops, hazelnut and chestnut, nutmeg and cinammon. The mouthfeel is a shade lighter than medium with moderate carbonation and good drinkability. An enjoyable winter brown ale.
Feb 17, 2006
Photo of JISurfer
Reviewed by JISurfer from Utah

3.44/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This was an ok beer, but nothing to write home about. I bought it and all the other Winter beers that I could down here in SC a few weeks ago. I am slowly making my way through the beers and this one didn't really stand out from the lot. The smell was pretty good, with hints of roasted malts, some various spices, and cherries. The taste was similar, but more in the area of the roasted malts. It does get better as the beer warms up, but still nothing too exciting. Another notch in the preverbial "bed post" I guess.
Jan 03, 2006
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

4.17/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured a lets say chestnut brown color since thats what the brewers are puporting this as, fairly accurate on the color side of things. 1" white head head quicly drops to a bubbly film with some lacing

Smell: Big fruity malt nose with good layers of cinamon and brown sugar.

Taste: Big toasty malt/nutty taste with some spicyness cutting through (brown sugar, vanilla & malt)

MF: Good carbonation, but not enough body for winter ale.

Drank just fine. but thought this was brown ale unless I didn't already know better. I'll try again out curiosity to see if aging affects for better or worse (my guess)
Dec 29, 2005
Photo of Muddybuddy
Reviewed by Muddybuddy from Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Dark, almost opaque brown with tinges of red. Tan head that has a decent retention and some lacing evident on the glass.

Smell: A roasty, almost nutty smell with some vigorous hops hidden in it.

Taste: A crisp roasted flavor permeates your tongue and is followed by a hops aftertaste. This is a somewhat bold brown since it has so much hops flavor and roastyness to it, but it is perfect for the winter season. There is no noticeable alcohol warmth and some residual sweetness to it that is akin to a molasses flavor. Very good.

Mouthfeel: A well rounded brown, it has a somewhat "meaty" feel to it and just below normal carbonation which allows one to really taste the beer.

Drinkablity: This a very drinkable beer and I found my glass empty before I was ready for it. I wish I had picked up some more!
Dec 19, 2005
Photo of karst
Reviewed by karst from Missouri

4.39/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks Derbert (from our Thanksgiving trade)

The first snow of the season sends a storm of song birds to the feeder in the backyard between the snow covered black slotted deck and the clearing between the house and woods stacks up with the usual mid Missouri wildlife. Just past the tree line 25 yards away two does watch as this years crop of doe play in the lightly falling snow - their first snow.

Inside counting myself lucky that my job of tasting beer keeps me at home. Like the bear on the label, I can slumber late and stay in the den.

Winter Ale pours "wet bear" chestnut brown, clear with mahogany highlights when the 0.4 L rastal sniffer is held up to the snowy landscape. The tan head has quickly vanished like the deer in the woods. The only trace is the tracks left behind around the meniscus. A ring sustained by fine bubbles of CO2 that rise and follow the edge. A wisp of lace hangs on the New Belgium glass like a icing of snow on the pine branch disturbed by a cardinal that sends it falling to the bare ground sheltered beneath.

Thankful that I choose the sniffer I huff in the aroma of heavy roasted malts, chocolate, toffee and sweet caramel. These are reflected in the rich flavors like my now half full glass against the window. I open the patio door to let my yellow lab, Daisy, in from her winter walk. A light body but still enjoyable mouthfeel is inhanced by a near perfect malt : hop balance. The bitterness from well balance hops keep the taste buds clean and the beer finishes with dry impressive end.
This English-style brown ale was a welcome winter guest as I listen to the cars race as their tires spin against the hilly country road made almost impassible for the day. A day when you take pleasure in your cellared ales that you have so wisely put away for winter storms.
Dec 08, 2005
Photo of BrewMaster
Reviewed by BrewMaster from California

3.97/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: 12 oz bottle with no freshness markings. Pours a dark brown with some tawny hues when backlit. Very little light comes through this beer. The head is creamy and sits for a long time before thinning. Swirling also revives a nice, smooth head.

Smell: Very malty, toasted malts, chocolate malt, anise and grass.

Taste: Very roasty and tangy with a rich malty base. Very sweet with a mild spicing of cloves and pepper. Sandy with some dried cranberry and raisin flavors anda bit of red apple. Some floral hop flavor pops in at the end with faintly bitter ending. The aftertaste is very bready and sweet.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with a slightly watery feel. Smooth without any stickiness.

Drinkability: This is a tasty brown ale and breaks from other winter beers by being neither overly spiced nor terribly sweet. I like this beer in the winter or any other time. It's a solid offering from good brewery.
Nov 13, 2005
Butte Creek Winter Ale from Butte Creek Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 33 ratings