Festivus
Roots Organic Brewery

 

Festivus is not quite as sweet as most winter warmers. The taste is more in line with an old ale or stock ale. It’s a bit nutty – walnutty really – with a smell like fresh roasted chicory. This may actually be the most rootsy of all Roots ales for it tastes a bit like chicory or dandelion or some other toasted rootstock commonly brewed into tea. There’s also an element of huskiness that holds an edge.

Festivus is aggressively bittered and presents in a beautiful blood-crimson color with frayed lace and an indifferent head. It’s edgy enough to send casual beer drinkers running for the hills. But if you’re adventuresome, give it a shot. I found it really grew on me.

Served in an Imperial pint, the Festivus is a slightly hazy, dark amber ale, with a small, dense off-white head that left clingy lace. Very appealing to me.
The aroma begins mildly, toasted malts and fruit, but gains a strong grape intensity as it warms, yummy but unusual. Root's Epic winter ale had the same kool-aid aroma that I've not come across before, an interesting terrior if there ever was one!
The taste is mainly malts, toasted biscuit, chocolate and oats, with the hops lending a bit of bitter on the finish Leaning towards blandness, this is a pretty run of the mill winter warmer, but for the oats, which really jumped out at me right away. ABV is well hidden.
The mouthfeel is nice and creamy, presumably from the oats, there is a bit of a mineral feel to it, with a medium body and decent amount of carbonation.
The drinkability is good enough, as the Festivus is very smooth and inoffensive. But it's really nothing special or so tasty that I couldn't put the pint down.

One of 5 Winter Ales released by Roots this season. I found this on-tap at Jax in downtown Portland. 63 IBU's & 7.5% ABV.

A: A pintful of rich reddish-brown chestnut ale, clear & lightly carbonated. A gauzy white cap turns into lovely clinging lace.

S: Initially because of the insipid chilled glass, there was no aroma. Nothing. With time and patience (not to mention my warm hands firmly clutching the glass for about 5 minutes) the aromas Noble & Saaz hops and toasty caramel and chocolate malts wafted into my nose.

T: Toasty, almost burnt, malt - a tasty winter warmer/old ale. Chocolate notes came on very strong with caramel and hops. The main hop flavors I picked on were pine and a citric/tart lemon. Very juicy. Well-balanced.

M: Some alcohol warmth comes through. This one is medium-full bodied, amply carbonated and produces a nice clingy bitterness.

D: Bold flavors and nice balance, with a tasty chocolate malt and strong hop melding that surprised me. All around a very good sipping beer. I could definitely enjoy more than one at a sitting. Recommended.