Special Edition Winter Bock
Nickel Brook Brewing Co. - Burlington

 

It appears that this beer has made a reappearance at C'est What, where I ordered a pint of a beer labelled as Nickel Brook Winter Bock with 6.5% ABV.

Arrives a slightly hazy amber with a rocky white head and some lace. C'est What is shit at pouring beers with a good head, so props to Nickel Brook for getting something active enough to force them to. Big fruity aroma, chock full of spice. No hint of alcohol, just lots of fruit. Absolutely no breadiness, and that's a warning sign. Cider is the predominant flavour, backed up by grape juice, caramel and spices. More juicy and far less bready than I was hoping, and really its a swing and a miss at the style. Body is a bit syrupy, but with medium carbonation.

Disappointing. Why can't people around here do a decent lager?

On-tap at volo.

A: Ruby-black with an off-white head, not much retention or lace. Seriously lacking the stand-up head & lace you'd find in the father-land.

S: Dark caramel with a faint aroma of nuts & bread.

T: Dark caramel with hints of nuts & bread, slight hints of grass & spice. Some residual sweetness, but it's fairly well balanced by the bitterness. A little too much crystal malt in my opinion.

M: Moderate body is slightly syrupy; moderate carbonation.

D: A little too much residual sweetness.

Reviewed 02-09-2007.

I had another pint on Dec 21, 2007, which didn't have the same residual sweetness (definitely a step up), but still didn't have the breadyness of a German lager.

Wasn't sure what to expect from this brewery, their 80- was mediocre but the apple pilsner was a disaster.

Pours a clear orange/brown, very thick off white head, settles down to a thick layer, nice lacing, good retention. Smell is sweet, very malty, some alcohol, cherries, toffee, quite nice. Taste is sweet and malty, cherries again, toffee, very floral, some bread, alcohol in the finish, a nice drink. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation, smooth and enjoyable, a good winter beer. There is some hope for these guys yet.

Had twice. The first time I thought sourish when first tapped, and I did not care much for it. The second time I found it dark amber with a creamy head, lots of lace. Above average carbonation and some bitter hops. Malty aroma. Not a bad, and a drinkable beer,

Clear chestnut with a dense cap of light brown head. Thick, solid lacing with good retention. Mellow, bready malts with a bit of fruit in the aroma and flavour. A little sweet with mild bitterness, some cocoa and toffee notes. There's a hint of alcohol and warmth in the finish as well. Medium bodied served with fairly high carbonation - still, it's a bit creamy and soft. Quite nice. I enjoyed this pint and would certainly have it again.

Bottle: Pour puts a deep dark copper lager in the glass with a puffy 2 finger rocky cap...good retention, good lace.

The Brewer said there were 3 Bavarian mallts and some long-boil Tettnanger hops in this brew ...the body, aroma and flavor bear this out.

Substantial malt body... smooth mellow charcater from the 90 day cold lagering is evident...

Aroma is spicey-bready slightly sweet.

Taste: Up front rich raisin bread then this is quickly balanced off with the spicey resins in the tettnang hops...mid palate light bready sweetness returns with some figs, smoke and roasty char....finish is rich, clean and lightly bitter with the hops turning slightly herbal....rich bready aftertaste...a good Dunkel Bock...flavorful, satisfying, comforting and drinkable.