Snowed In
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Poured from a fresh 12oz can into a SN pint glass. Color is Amber (Root beer), solid 1" head, active lacing which stays for a while. The nose is malt.
> This is an easy drinker, and not what I expected. Taste is Medium/thin body, with almost a toasted nut and kind of a caramel flavor with bisquit. The best way I can describe it is a Newcastle Nut Brown Ale with more alcohol in it. No aftertaste, you can drink a bunch of them if you want.

The taphouse was out of this when I was at SN, however I checked the fridge in the gift shop and was pleasantly surprised to see it and some other specials available for locals. I was expecting something with more body, and generally just "more". However to me this is more like a Summer special than a "Winter Warmer".

Note: The can no longer looks like the pic above. I would add one, but don't know how.

Clear brown body - on the darker side but obviously light enough I could tell it was clear. A nice couple fingers of khaki head falls to a thinner layer of full coverage as I take the first sips. Lacing is moderate. The nose is orange zest intermixed with a light aroma of dark bread. It isn't a strong aroma up front.

Sips reveal a toasted dark bread, slightly nutty (dark, dense nuts), and mildly earthy. Bitterness is at the level I expect from Sierra Nevada, but seems a bit strong for the style. I think the hops influence the earthy interpretation that comes with the opening malt notes. I sort of get the orange from the nose, but I also feel it may be because I am seeking it out, and it is more full peel with pith than the zesty impression I had on the nose.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. "Snowed In"
12 fl. oz. can coded "53 PKGD 092225 17:21" and sampled on 121125
$29.99 / 24 can mixed "Snow Pack" case @ Costco, Christiana, DE

Notes via stream of consciousness: While the name fills me with dread I understand it. I'm hoping for no snow this year but at the same time that's not a good thing environmentally so... Anyway, it's poured a clear, very dark brown colored body with dark orange and crimson highlights beneath a thumb's width of creamy tan foam. In the nose I'm getting dark malts with some cocoa and roastiness, and a surprisingly floral hop note. On to the taste, there's cocoa powder, medium and dark caramel, dark bittersweet chocolate, milk chocolate, roasty already brewed coffee grounds, and some fruitiness and floral character. I'm finding apple, plum, golden raisin, and there's a little bit of nuttiness and spiciness to it as well. I can't tell if the spiciness is from an actual spice, hops, or maybe even the alcohol. How strong is it? It's just 6.5% ABV so it's not from the alcohol, and probably from hops. I could be wrong. A moderate bitterness balances it and as it warms it becomes a bit sweeter but nowhere near actually sweet. It's very nicely balanced, and really well rounded with a lot of character hidden within. In the mouth it's medium bodied and smooth. All in all it's a really nice "winter warmer" that might make a bit of a snowfall a little easier to deal with.
Review #9,376

 

 

PKGD 092225. Poured into a Duvel tulip.

A: Dark brown-mahogany with 1-finger beige foamy head with good retention and several bands of lacing.

S: Aroma is low intensity with medium caramel, fig, coffee, and light herbal hops.

T: Flavor brings more to the table with more complex medium and dark caramel, molasses, cocoa, and plum with light roast edge and a little coffee in the finish/aftertaste. There is also a hint of cinnamon in the finish as well. Light minty hops in the finish also. Really nicely done.

M: Not heavy with medium-body and reasonably dry finish.

O: Finally a good approachable winter warmer with subdued spices and strong dark malty character. I was not excited to see this in their cold variety pack - but now I am glad I was forced to try as it is a very good winter seasonal.

 

toasty, malty, fruity - at the same time

 

 

Had Snowed In poured from 12-oz. can, bottom stamped "PKGD 101024," into goblet.

Pours deep mahogany with clarity and 1/2-finger light-tan head, which quickly dissipates to an uneven but persistent film and ring, and leaves only specks of lace. Aromas of sweet plumbs, caramel and mild roast malts off pour, then some spice aroma, and as warms a little vanilla and mild stone fruit aromas, with the roast malt aroma continuing. On tasting, begins with full-bodied but mild caramel and nutty (pecan? Walnut?) malts, and then a good hop bite, before moderate roast malts take over and carry, with, perhaps, some spicy cinnamon, into a mildly (tart stone?) fruity, roasty malt, a bit spicy, somewhat biting hoppy finish.

Odd that you can't find any information online about this beer, which is in any event an interestingly fruity, mildly hopped and spiced, acceptably malty, marginally festive and certainly quaffable Winter Warmer.

 

 

Can. Dark amber clear with island and ring. Very mild malty herbal aroma. Sweet fruity plummy with mild herbal spicy finish. Medium-full body. Not sure if there is a need for mediocrity done this well.

 

Appearance: Pours a dark mahogany brown body with an inch or so of ivory-toned froth.

Smell: Dark, deeply toasted malts with a subtle pecan-esque nuttiness. Though it strays into dark brown sugar and toffee territories, it never really gets to cocoa or roastiness for me.

Taste: Rich toastiness given a generous pour of toffee syrup and maybe, just maybe a couple stray drops of molasses. Modestly nutty, earthy. Fruity estery quality akin to figs/dates and a smattering of red berry. Not too terribly much hop character or bitterness, leaving it to remain a bit sweetish on the smooth finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Slightly rich, creamy viscosity to the mouthfeel.

Overall: A pleasant ale, it's more of a mellow Old Ale, really.

12 oz can

Clear, dark brown in color with reddish highlights. Cream colored head, decent head retention. Aroma of toasted caramel, a touch of roast. Similar flavor, but not sweet. Medium bodied.