Winter Palace Wee Heavy
Paper City Brewery Co., Inc.

Winter Palace Wee HeavyWinter Palace Wee Heavy
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From:
Paper City Brewery Co., Inc.
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
8%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 10.84%
Reviews:
58
Ratings:
68
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 04, 2015
Added:
Dec 31, 2001
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by PopeJonPaul:
Photo of PopeJonPaul
Reviewed by PopeJonPaul from Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Strong malty smell, frothy but relatively small creamy head and a rich ruby hue. Powerful malty taste, doesn't feel like there are any hops in there at all. Butterscotch, purple fruit, and a hint of chocolate and licorice hidden under a thick malt mantle. Slippery and thick mouthfeel, slightly spicy aftertaste with a bit of a whiskey edge. Warm and fuzzy finish. This one's a keeper for sure.
Jun 22, 2005
More User Ratings:
Photo of scotorum
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from the 22 oz. bomber into a Victory nonick.

a: Opaque black with clear copper highlights at the bottom of the glass. Inch thick offwhite head receded to even surface foam and dense lacing.

s: Caramel malt with slight chocolate notes.

t: Caramel malt with a light to moderate hop bite. Back of the throat burns a little at first from the rather high ABV. The flavor becomes somewhat prunelike as it werms.

m: Medium, good body, considerable carbonation tingle.

o; A fine Scotch ale, a real malty treat, fit for any Edinburgh pub. Since this is a personal favorite style, I'll be buying more of this. A good one for my 700th BA rated brew.
Feb 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Sellen from Connecticut

Jul 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by markdrinksbeer from Massachusetts

Jul 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by rorjets from Connecticut

Jan 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by blknikon from Massachusetts

May 08, 2013
 
Rated: 2.25 by BGsWo22 from Texas

Mar 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Ecxeeder616 from Massachusetts

Feb 15, 2013
Photo of Gambrinus1184
Reviewed by Gambrinus1184 from Connecticut

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12-ounce bottle into a tumbler pint glass.

A: Dark, reddish color with a three-finger head of tight, bubbly foam built up by some aggressive carbonation. Clingy clumps of tan lace line the glass.

S: Sweet, spicy, fig, plum and raisin notes with a hint of wet tobacco blended in the dark, mulled fruits. A potpourri of caramel, booze and fruity esters rounds things out.

T: Fruity, rich and roasted caramel malts hit up front with a touch of tart cherry. A boozy, fruity smack of licorice and bittersweet, roasted coffee. Very interesting, herbal, spiciness imparted in the cloying, sweet and alcohol laced finish.

M: Full-bodied with ample carbonation and a fairly smooth, balanced approach. Some cloying, slick sweetness and boozy heat in the finish, though.

O: A pretty nice, big Winter wee-heavy for New England drinkers. Enough complexity and balance to keep things going and the 8% ABV certainly carries a warming effect. It'd be tough to get down more than 1 in succession, but the ride is enjoyable when you're on it.
May 15, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Feb 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by tclapper from Maine

Dec 05, 2011
 
Rated: 3.5 by deapokid from Pennsylvania

Dec 04, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by mctizzz from California

Nov 23, 2011
Photo of beer4colin
Reviewed by beer4colin from Massachusetts

3.72/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I am only now getting a chance to taste Paper City offerings (thanks the THE BEARDED GUY who is offering mixed craft cases at GRANITE LIQUORS in Weymouth) so far not blown away but:

A - This poured nicely into a pint glass. Good head nearly overflowed glass. Made me wonder, hmmm, would a REAL wee heavy act like this. I'd prefer a bit more turbidity but this is a very good roast color, albeit crystal clear.

S - Very present. Actually a smokiness here.

T - A good try. Open disclosure: I love Scottish Wee Heavy. Skullsplitter, Chub, Scottie Karate and the old SA Scotish rule. This is a very good intro to the style. I don't mean that in a bad way. I just think that the smokines is a tad contrived, maybe introduced as charred wood chips? Overall, not a lot of complaints. Good roasted malts, maybe a bit too hoppy -- no, definitely a bit hoppy for wee heavy.

MF - Relatively light on the tongue. I expect a WH to be a little chewier.

D - Ah, here's the rub! This is probably more quaffable over time than any "wee heavy" has a right to be. WHs are fireside sippers not back porch slammers. This is closer to the latter. This is a good intro to the style but nowhere near representative of what is "BOB - Best of Breed".
Mar 10, 2011
Photo of Brad007
Reviewed by Brad007 from Vermont

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a mild red/garnet color with a thick head that fades down after a minute or two, coating the glass with haze.

Aroma is full of sweet, slightly smoky malt that seems like it would be chewy. Time to find out.

Taste is somewhat mediocre with a definite first hint of sweet malt that's only slightly smoky. A bit of alcohol peeks out as well, adding a bit of undesirability to the overall taste.

Mouthfeel is much the same except "mediciny" in nature. Not horrible but not too impressive either.

Not a bad stab at the style. It's just not the best either. If you enjoy trying new beer, check it out.
Feb 05, 2011
Photo of indiapaleale
Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

3.06/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pour - deep dark reddish brown in color with a good inch of fluffy off-white head. Very nice looking pour.
Aroma - malt extract, pancake syrup, maltose, molasses, brown rice syrup and dirt.

Taste - very sweet, lots of molasses, brown sugar, Caro syrup and some bitterness in the finish. I am not sure if this is too sweet, after a few more sips I decide its pretty damn close. I really want to like this beer as I am a big fan of the style and this brewery is very close to me. It has some slight hints towards metallic flavors and an almost cloying sweetness to it that make my mission difficult.

Overall - deep breath. I really, really want to like this beer but it has some issues. Its much too sweet without a lot balancing it out. Can you enjoy it? Sure, I am not hating this glass, I just wish it was a little more varied, maybe some peat-y smokiness and maybe a little less syrupy sweetness.

Would I buy more of it? - I am going to have to say probably not. Although on Thursdays and Fridays you can visit the brewery in Holyoke and for $7 ($6 if you bring a canned good) you have two hours of limitless samples from the bar and when you leave you get a 4-pack of beer. Not a bad deal if you ask me.
Mar 28, 2010
Photo of ArrogantB
Reviewed by ArrogantB from Colorado

3.16/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Thanks to steelersxl for the extra! Dark, chestnut brown and smells like a very subtle maltiness, hard to say because there isn;t much there. The flavor was a little too sweet, overly malty but not in a good way. I had a hard time drinking the whole glass and I usually like wee heavy style beers. oh well, on to the next one.
Jan 24, 2010
Photo of Overlord
Reviewed by Overlord from California

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a murky amber-ish brown. Small light tan head that vanished quickly.

Smells like dark fruits, some alcohol, and a grainy breadiness. Some malt-y caramel in the aroma.

Taste is pure sugar. Whoa. Some brown sugar notes, but also a bit roasty grainy sweet crackeriness, some randomized sweetness, a bit of caramel and dark fruit, and more sugar.

Pretty much a sugar bomb. Interesting to try on a cold night. A bit thin for me.
Jan 23, 2010
Photo of OtherShoe2
Reviewed by OtherShoe2 from Massachusetts

3.26/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark brown with very little head and no lacing. Nice red hues in this one.

Odd scent -- some strong candied fruit notes coupled with the smokey toasted malt. I'm getting big whiffs of artificial grape (like strong grape bubblegum), as well as butterscotch and other burnt oddities. I guess this one isn't dull!

Some sweetness on the candied side, almost too much sugar, and some raw toasted burnt edge that - coupled with some evident chemical alcohol, left me kinda -- eh. As the beer warmed in the pint, the edges rounded a bit and it became more palatable. This one has alot going on and is too sweet for its own good.

Decent body, although it is on the flat side. I think the carbonation was ok, as the flavors clear clean enough and quickly enough on the palate.

Overall, it went down ok, but I can find man better examples of the style. It was a dusty bottle from a leftover 6 pack, so I snagged one. Nice try, but kinda misses.
May 30, 2009
Photo of thespaceman
Reviewed by thespaceman from Connecticut

3.92/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass, this one is from 2006.

Appearance: Nice dark black in color, poured a wispy medium sized head, decent lacing and retention.

Smell: Nice malty tone hits the nose, a nice array of spice, some nutmeg, toffee elements, caramel and espresso bean.

Taste: Robust, roasty and spicy! This one taste like a liquid coffee bean infused with a bit of spice. A bready/biscuit flavor deepens on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy, medium carbonation and keeps it's body well throughout the pickup and finish.

Drinkability: I was pleased to try this even though it sat on the shelf since 2006 I think it added a bit more character to this one. I'd love to try it fresh but glad I tried it aged. A very complex and robust Scoth Ale that I will defintley seek out again.
Dec 15, 2008
Winter Palace Wee Heavy from Paper City Brewery Co., Inc.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 68 ratings