Mac Frost Winter Ale 2004
Portland Brewing Company

 

Pours a medium dark amber with a very small head that fades quickly to zero lacing.
Aroma is toasted malts, a little spice, and just a touch of hops.
Taste is initially sweet, followed by bitter chocolate, then carmel, spice and finally a slight hop bitterness.
Finish is bittersweet chocolate (a combination of the toasted malt and bitter hops).
Mouthfeel is adequate....smooth and fulfilling without a sweet cloying or oilyness.
Low ABV and moderately light flavors make this beer very drinkable.
Considering that I am drinking this 2004 in May of 2006, I would have to say it has held up remarkably well for a 6% Ale.

I'm a big fan of MacTarnahan's, so this winter brew was a natural choice for me. First off, it had one of the best heads I've seen on a beer in a while. It was super tall, super thick, super forthy, and had good retention. That to me, is what a beer should have. The smell was also quite nice, with hints of roasted malts, a bouquet of various fruits and spices, and with a nice little hop spike in the end. Taste had a little bit more in the hop area, but not too much. It was well balanced with the malts, fruits and spices, so it worked out very well. This is one of my favorite WW's this season. I highly recommend it.

12oz poured into a pint glass.

Deep ruby to amber with a small tan head that falls quick and leaves minimal lace.

Lots of caramel in the nose. Just a whiff of the english hops. Sweet overall.

The taste is gain very caramel, but it seems to have some aspects of an english BW. Has a creamy nature with warming alcohol. A touch of something close to cinnamon way in the back, but the hops kick in towards the finish and give some bite but it doesn't cut through all the flavors leaving a nice creamy and warming aftertaste.

The mouth is a bit more than medium, no oils or other residues left in its wake. One of the more complex Mac's, and the reasonable abv adds to the drinkability.

This beer pours a golden amber with a thin tan head. The head fades quickly leaving no laces. It smells malty. It has very little hop aroma. There is a slight caramel aroma to it. It tastes slightly hoppy. I was actually surprised to taste any hops because I couldnt detect anything in the aroma. It tastes sweet. Slightly malty with very slight spicy flavor. This beer is quite a bit undercarbonated. It leaves a sweet toasted malt taste on my palate. I think this beer might be a decent session beer. It dosent have much flavor, so it wont get overbearing. Also, the alcohol content is somewhat low, so putting a few away should not be a problem. Worth a shot, but not if you have to go out of your way.