John Henry Colonial Cream & Brown Ale
Cold Spring Brewing Co.

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From:
Cold Spring Brewing Co.
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
9.3%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.72 | pDev: 12.37%
Reviews:
21
Ratings:
89
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 17, 2016
Added:
Nov 25, 2012
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  7
No description / notes.
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Ratings by bshiban:
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Rated by bshiban from Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

Jul 27, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.78 by target88 from Kentucky

Jan 17, 2016
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Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
750ml bottle poured into a snifter. This bottle was given to me. I would guess it is a little over a year old, but I'm really not sure.

A: Burnt Siena with ruby hues. Chill haze clears up as it warms. Fine-bubbled cream colored head retains at a quarter inch. Wispy lacing.

S: Nutty with hints of toast, cocoa, and caramel. Mild papery oxidation. Touch of alcohol. Blackberries and Concord grape. Brandy. Whiff of oak.

T: Nutty, caramel, cocoa, and toasty malt flavors provide a solid base. Corny sweetness comes out in time. Subtle hint of oaky dryness. Brandy slowly and easily builds until it is the focus. It had a blackberry jam sort of quality to it. Nutty too. Red grapes. Soft hints of peppery alcohol. Wet paper bag oxidation is mild. Brandy rides into a long and easy finish.

M: Medium bodied but very full and creamy. Mildly coating and satiny. Lightly carbonated, but this lets the creaminess set in more.

O: A seductive mouthfeel and ease of drinkability make this beer a winner. The brandy oak spirals add an extra element, but in the end this is not a thinking man's beer. It comes off is a creamy, quaffable brown ale with an extra bell and whistle thrown in. Off the beaten path conceptually, but it works. It proved to be quite enjoyable, though simple.
Aug 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

May 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.15 by johlac66 from California

May 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by matt_duthie from Michigan

May 02, 2015
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Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

3.81/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Type: 750ml (25.4 oz.) glass
Glass: Karl Strauss 26th Anniversary snifter glass
From: Alpine Liquor in Alpine, Calif.
Price: $2.99
Purchased: March 19, 2015
Consumed: March 19, 2015
Misc.: Produced on April 2, 2013 at 7:33 a.m.

Poured a dark brown color with two fingers of khaki tan, rocky head. Some bubbles streams coming up from the bottom directly on the sides of the glass. Uneven, foamy spots of below average lacing. Below average retention. (Sight - 3.75)

Smelled a mix of dark candied fruits and dark liquor. More specifically plum, black cherry, dates, figs, oaky notes, black raspberry, faint Jim Beam and brandy. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted similar to the nose. Got those dark fruits, mainly black raspberry, black cherry, plum, raspberry frozen yogurt, black cherry soda and cranberry. Also oaky brandy and bourbon. The 9.3 pct. ABV is well-hidden. (Taste - 3.75)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Longer, somewhat warming finish. (Feel - 3.75)

This was a very good beer, especially for the $2.99 value I found on clearance. Might pick up the rest of these bottles, even if it is retired and produced in April 2013. (Overall - 3.75)

3.81 | 86 | B+
Mar 20, 2015
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Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.49/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Sampling a cellar temp bottle poured into a snifter. Surprised the beer is retired as I just purchased it a few weeks ago. The beer pours a deep mahogany color with a bit of ruby highlights.
Creamy beige head of 2 cm foams up and slowly fades to a sturdy surface layer. Leaves tightly packed lattice after each sip.
Aroma is caramel and molasses with a little plum or raisin notes. Malty nose with little hops nor booze showing through up front. Not a very robust nose for a bigger beer.
First sip reveals fine tingly carbonation and a thinner body than expected. There is a bit of sweet syrupy texture, but in general the thickness is a little lacking in my opinion.
Flavor is also mild with similar malt profile of molasses and some dark fruit. Plums is probably a better descriptor here. There is some black pepper booze on the finish and a tingly physical feel left over after the swallow.
No real hop presence to speak of and the beer is thinner than I would expect for the style and the nose a little mild, but otherwise it is a pretty good beer.
Mar 08, 2015
Photo of notchucknorris
Reviewed by notchucknorris from California

3.48/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Found this bomber discounted for $2. Ummm. Ok.

A: Pours a deep caramel color with a creamy tan head. Nice lace down the glass with each sip.

S: Tons of spicy oak and brandy notes. Mostly just oak. I'm getting maybe a touch of roasted malt, plum and cream underneath, but mostly, it smells like a freshly cut oak tree.

T: I mean, it's worth $2! Cream, a touch of day old coffee, light brandy, roasted malt and a touch of oak. Some vanilla extract as well. The flavors really don't work together very well. Very disjointed. But definitely worth the price I paid.
Feb 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by jgeddis from New Jersey

Feb 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.78 by JamieDuncan from Maryland

Jan 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Stoutmeister from Massachusetts

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by andyroo0810 from Illinois

Nov 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by DeadeyeOTDO from Arizona

Nov 03, 2014
Photo of Daktyls
Reviewed by Daktyls from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a plain brown color with a half finger head that recedes to a fine lacing of bubbles in a large patch. Some clarity around the edges is apparent, hazier towards the middle.

S: Ooh. I like this. The cream ale portion is present more than the brown ale portion, but most apparent is the aroma from the brandy oak spirals. Brandy sweetness is present along with some oakiness. Cream ale sweetness is present afterwords with a hint of nuttiness from the brown ale.

T: Tasty for sure. Again, I'm picking up more of the cream ale than the brown ale. The creaminess is more prevalent than the nuttiness, however the brandy oak spirals once again takes front and center. No one portion of either brew overwhelms the other.

M: Feels good man. Not too much carbonation, works well with the blend creating a very enjoyable feel. Some lingers on the tongue after the finish, but is enjoyable nonetheless.

O: Very tasting. I'm disappointed to see this is no longer being offered as it is quite good.
Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.52 by rizlazz from Pennsylvania

Oct 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by zestar from California

Oct 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4.2 by JeffONeal from Ohio

Sep 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by therealsikes from Pennsylvania

Aug 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by starshockey9 from New Jersey

Aug 05, 2014
John Henry Colonial Cream & Brown Ale from Cold Spring Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 89 ratings