Ølfabrikken Winter Stout
Ølfabrikken

2006 vintage swing-top. Batch 230, best before 1/1/2008. Whoops - I don't even think this was in my possession back then. Served in a HopCat tulip glass.

A - Quick-dissolving thin reddish mocha foam settles to a thin ring and wispy cap, leaving minimal lace. Near-black body with a glint of brown at the fringes.

S - Smoke, molasses, mild oxidation, chocolate, vanilla and honey too. Smells pretty good for a beer that is almost five years old.

T - Unfortunately the taste hasn't held up as well. More papery oxidation, with some charred malts and anise bitterness in the finish. Not a ton of sweetness to be found here - actually not a ton of flavor depth at all.

M - Roasted grain texture, medium-full body, lower carbonation. Finishes oily and viscous. Plenty of heft for 8.5%.

D - While this was almost certainly better in 2007, it's not totally gone yet. I'd be curious to try another bottle to see if it's any different, as I have no knowledge of storage conditions prior to 2010. I finished my pour quite easily, but wasn't motivated to have any more.

 

Thanks to Alex for this one, 2006 vintage, best by 1/1/2008. A little late to the party here, Alex? :-) Poured into Cantillon tulip/snifter thingy.

A - Pours black, thin collar, whisps on top, some random bubbles here and there.

S - Sweet molasses, oak, chocolate syrup, slight oxidation/cardboard-type notes. The oxidation doesn't really hurt the nose, which is mostly sweet chocolate and oak.

T - Lots of cardboard/oxidation here, which detracts from the palate. Lots of smoke, dark chocolate, and oak after the cardboard.

M - Light to medium, perhaps a bit too thin, creamy finish.

O - Probably would have been pretty good back in 2008, but it's lost a lot and the oxidation is really taking over most aspects of this beer. That said, it wasn't terrible.

Black with a tan head and spotty lacing. Smell was roasty, it also had caramel, maple syrup, and burnt wood. Taste also had maple syrup, caramel, and chocolate, but the taste had a lot more roastiness than the aroma. Medium carbonation with light body. Pretty drinkable beer, thanks to iowaherkeye for sharing.