Ebenezer
Upstream Brewing Company - Old Market
- From:
- Upstream Brewing Company - Old Market
- Nebraska, United States
- Style:
- Old Ale
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- +3 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.66 | pDev: 21.58%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Dec 27, 2016
- Added:
- Dec 07, 2004
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
NO SCORE
-
-
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by neonbrown82 from Nebraska
4.22/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
4.22/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I don't know if this beer changes from year to year, but I don't exactly concur with the designation of this beer into the American Double Stout category. Personally I would say it's a winter warmer. Either way, this was a damn fine brew.
The beer comes to the table in a smaller glass than the standard branded Upstream pint glass, which gives an indication of its strength. The beer is a dark nutty brown color with some thin ruby highlights. Has a small head that forms to a little collar in a matter of minutes. Surely doesn't look like a stout.
The smell is of sweet malts, adjuncts, and spices. Aromas of molasses and cinammon hard candy. Smells like it has some juniper in it as well. Not much in the way of roasty chocolate or coffee. This is most definitely not a stout, though it smells like a wonderful winter ale.
The taste is along the lines of the smell. Very sweet with some juniper, cinammon, molasses, etc. Good balance between sweetness and spice.
The body is plenty big. This is a great beer, but probably not something I would recommend to accompany your food. More of a dessert beer, I would say. It's also somewhat dissappointing if you go into it expecting a nice American Double Stout, but still a great beer overall.
Dec 21, 2005The beer comes to the table in a smaller glass than the standard branded Upstream pint glass, which gives an indication of its strength. The beer is a dark nutty brown color with some thin ruby highlights. Has a small head that forms to a little collar in a matter of minutes. Surely doesn't look like a stout.
The smell is of sweet malts, adjuncts, and spices. Aromas of molasses and cinammon hard candy. Smells like it has some juniper in it as well. Not much in the way of roasty chocolate or coffee. This is most definitely not a stout, though it smells like a wonderful winter ale.
The taste is along the lines of the smell. Very sweet with some juniper, cinammon, molasses, etc. Good balance between sweetness and spice.
The body is plenty big. This is a great beer, but probably not something I would recommend to accompany your food. More of a dessert beer, I would say. It's also somewhat dissappointing if you go into it expecting a nice American Double Stout, but still a great beer overall.
Reviewed by mlomaw from Nebraska
4.08/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is easily the best of the brews that Upstream offers, unfortunate it is only around for a couple of months out of the year. Far superior to the std American Stout normally offered, the only other drawback is that it is limited to 3 10oz glasses per patron per visit.
The color is good, dark and rich and quite opaque to light; the head on the beer stays for the duration of the drink.
The smell is appetizing, nutty and full. Though in one sitting I noticed a strong 'mossy' smell from the beer.
The taste is excellent, very representative of the best of these stouts. The rich tastes almost completely cover the 9.0%ABV. Hints of nut, coffee flavors...wow, suffice to say, it's a great tasting stout!
The mouthfeel is very good; again rich is a very descriptive word. No concentration of bitter, and the after is smooth and warm.
Despite the high ABV, I find the Ebenezer to be very drinkable. A word of warning to those with less tolerance, be happy with the three glass limit!
Mar 02, 2005The color is good, dark and rich and quite opaque to light; the head on the beer stays for the duration of the drink.
The smell is appetizing, nutty and full. Though in one sitting I noticed a strong 'mossy' smell from the beer.
The taste is excellent, very representative of the best of these stouts. The rich tastes almost completely cover the 9.0%ABV. Hints of nut, coffee flavors...wow, suffice to say, it's a great tasting stout!
The mouthfeel is very good; again rich is a very descriptive word. No concentration of bitter, and the after is smooth and warm.
Despite the high ABV, I find the Ebenezer to be very drinkable. A word of warning to those with less tolerance, be happy with the three glass limit!
Reviewed by bditty187 from Nebraska
4.35/5 rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a special 10-ounce glass.
2004 Version
(Numbers reflect the 2004 Version)
Dark brown with ruby and tawny-coppery highlights (or so I think, it is a little dark in the pub). The head was a light beige color. It looks good in the glass. Head retention was very good; it slowly faded to a thin, tight cap. This cap had good staying power. Subsequent lacing was spotty. The nose is like OSA but mellower on the spices (nutmeg and cinnamon) and richer in the malt. Hints of figs and orange zest it seems, raisins too. I detect kiss of honey infused with wildflowers, mellow sweetness. Very comforting. Good potency, eloquent too. I like the bouquet. Inviting. The palate is mellow, laid back, and comforting but very tasty! It is very much like the nose, soft spicing (nutmeg and cinnamon for sure), mellow sweetness, and some fresh, raw honey. Zesty citrus and pine needles in small amounts, tree-like finish. Is this OSA on steroids? Bitterness is found at the finish. Still the palate is mellow overall, well crafted. There isnt much in the way of roasty qualities; this is a Double Stout after all. I guess I could rip this beer for lacking roasted malt. Im not going to because it is obvious this beer isnt trying to fit into a category. A little fuller than medium in body, low but natural carbonation, smooth, creamy mouthfeel. This aspect plays perfectly with the strengths found in the palate. Nice! It is very drinkable; it doesnt drink like a big beer. Sip and savor. Fantastic.
---
2003 Version wasnt sampled by me, I know, I am a failure. I was told on good authority (the brewmaster himself) the recipe was tinkered with and it was moving more into its current rendition.
---
2002 Version was very much like a true Imperial Stout that was spiced.
Almost completely black (I think, it was a little dark in the bar) with just a hint of red around the edges, the liquid looked lovely. The head was served rather small; it was merely a film on top of the beer. Creamy off-white in color. Fair head retention, there was some spotty subsequent lace. The nose wasnt too potent, served a little cold. Hints of alcohol, chocolate, and burnt, dark fruits were noticeable, along with a smattering of spices. The flavors were extremely complex with chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, faint coffee, some citrusy hops, and some mild bitterness (more flavors were in the mix (my palate was having a hard time describing them)). This Christmas Stout was very enjoyable, somewhat warming (Id expect more with an abv of 9%), and too tasty to limit three per person oh well, Ill just go back for more. Very, damn good!
Numbers for the 2002 Version: [4, 3.5, 4.5, 4, 4]
Dec 07, 20042004 Version
(Numbers reflect the 2004 Version)
Dark brown with ruby and tawny-coppery highlights (or so I think, it is a little dark in the pub). The head was a light beige color. It looks good in the glass. Head retention was very good; it slowly faded to a thin, tight cap. This cap had good staying power. Subsequent lacing was spotty. The nose is like OSA but mellower on the spices (nutmeg and cinnamon) and richer in the malt. Hints of figs and orange zest it seems, raisins too. I detect kiss of honey infused with wildflowers, mellow sweetness. Very comforting. Good potency, eloquent too. I like the bouquet. Inviting. The palate is mellow, laid back, and comforting but very tasty! It is very much like the nose, soft spicing (nutmeg and cinnamon for sure), mellow sweetness, and some fresh, raw honey. Zesty citrus and pine needles in small amounts, tree-like finish. Is this OSA on steroids? Bitterness is found at the finish. Still the palate is mellow overall, well crafted. There isnt much in the way of roasty qualities; this is a Double Stout after all. I guess I could rip this beer for lacking roasted malt. Im not going to because it is obvious this beer isnt trying to fit into a category. A little fuller than medium in body, low but natural carbonation, smooth, creamy mouthfeel. This aspect plays perfectly with the strengths found in the palate. Nice! It is very drinkable; it doesnt drink like a big beer. Sip and savor. Fantastic.
---
2003 Version wasnt sampled by me, I know, I am a failure. I was told on good authority (the brewmaster himself) the recipe was tinkered with and it was moving more into its current rendition.
---
2002 Version was very much like a true Imperial Stout that was spiced.
Almost completely black (I think, it was a little dark in the bar) with just a hint of red around the edges, the liquid looked lovely. The head was served rather small; it was merely a film on top of the beer. Creamy off-white in color. Fair head retention, there was some spotty subsequent lace. The nose wasnt too potent, served a little cold. Hints of alcohol, chocolate, and burnt, dark fruits were noticeable, along with a smattering of spices. The flavors were extremely complex with chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, faint coffee, some citrusy hops, and some mild bitterness (more flavors were in the mix (my palate was having a hard time describing them)). This Christmas Stout was very enjoyable, somewhat warming (Id expect more with an abv of 9%), and too tasty to limit three per person oh well, Ill just go back for more. Very, damn good!
Numbers for the 2002 Version: [4, 3.5, 4.5, 4, 4]
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