Sleigh'r Dark Doüble Alt Ale | Ninkasi Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Ninkasi Brewing Company
Oregon, United States
ninkasibrewing.com
Style: Altbier
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.20%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
Called 'Dark Double Alt' on the label.
Seize the season with Sleigh'r. Layers of deeply toasted malt are balanced by just enough hop bitterness to make it deceivingly drinkable. Paired with a dry finish, Sleigh’r is anything but your typical winter brew.
An Alt ferments with Ale yeast at colder lagering temperatures. This effect gives Alts a more refined, crisp lager-like flavor than traditional ales. The Alt has been “Ninkasified” raising the ABV and IBUs. Sleigh'r has a deep, toasted malt flavor that finishes dry and balanced.
50 IBU
Added by msubulldog25 on 01-08-2009
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 587 | Reviews: 177
3.74/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from notes. Consumed 11/16/13. The appearance is a fairly dark copper/brown colored body with a somewhat thin less than a finger’s worth of head that dies practically within thirty seconds and leaves a decent amount of sticky lacing that eventually slides into the body. The smell has a somewhat rich dark malty nuttiness, there seems to be some spice that I can’t really tell what it is, just a sort of spiciness The taste is a mostly malty sweet, the spice from the aroma comes back to balance it a bit, an "altbier-like" malty aftertaste, somewhat dry finish. The palate is about a medium, somewhat sessionable, carbonation is good for the style and for me as its just not harsh or smooth, just right on. Overall, good altbier for the most part, that I think I would come back to.
796 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from notes. Consumed 11/16/13. The appearance is a fairly dark copper/brown colored body with a somewhat thin less than a finger’s worth of head that dies practically within thirty seconds and leaves a decent amount of sticky lacing that eventually slides into the body. The smell has a somewhat rich dark malty nuttiness, there seems to be some spice that I can’t really tell what it is, just a sort of spiciness The taste is a mostly malty sweet, the spice from the aroma comes back to balance it a bit, an "altbier-like" malty aftertaste, somewhat dry finish. The palate is about a medium, somewhat sessionable, carbonation is good for the style and for me as its just not harsh or smooth, just right on. Overall, good altbier for the most part, that I think I would come back to.
796 characters
1.46/5 rDev -61.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1
This is strange. This bottle is labeled as a winter ale, yet the description here says it is an Altbier. Did the recipe change since it was added, like the Hoss rye lager turned "Octoberfest" from Great Divide Brewing Company? They completely ruined that beer after that original was altered. Anyways, back to this beer.
With a nice magohany color, it’s…as weird as the way it’s spelled. It has the deep caramels and biscuits, but it’s too hoppy to taste anything else in this beer, like the worse version of the Claymore scotch ale from the Great Divide Brewing Company. It’s also a little too carbonated for the style. Overall, this is a very disappointing offering. I highly recommend the Back Home Gingerbread Stout from Golden Road Brewing Company. Other recommended beers for the wintertime is the Coconut Molasses Brown Ale from Duck Foot Brewing Company and the Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale from New Belgium Brewing.
939 characters
look: 3 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1
This is strange. This bottle is labeled as a winter ale, yet the description here says it is an Altbier. Did the recipe change since it was added, like the Hoss rye lager turned "Octoberfest" from Great Divide Brewing Company? They completely ruined that beer after that original was altered. Anyways, back to this beer.
With a nice magohany color, it’s…as weird as the way it’s spelled. It has the deep caramels and biscuits, but it’s too hoppy to taste anything else in this beer, like the worse version of the Claymore scotch ale from the Great Divide Brewing Company. It’s also a little too carbonated for the style. Overall, this is a very disappointing offering. I highly recommend the Back Home Gingerbread Stout from Golden Road Brewing Company. Other recommended beers for the wintertime is the Coconut Molasses Brown Ale from Duck Foot Brewing Company and the Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale from New Belgium Brewing.
939 characters
3.95/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
16oz pub glass
Pours dark, almost like a red ale, but thicker. Smells of malt and a hint of hopped bitterness. Tasted malt-driven, a little hoppy mid.. and light bitter back-bite. Smooth, light carbonation.
I bought a single of this beer, Feb 2016, but they were all gone when I went back to buy a sixer. I finally was able to get a sixer this past December and I'm glad I did. Pleasantly surprised at how this beer tasted overall.
432 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
16oz pub glass
Pours dark, almost like a red ale, but thicker. Smells of malt and a hint of hopped bitterness. Tasted malt-driven, a little hoppy mid.. and light bitter back-bite. Smooth, light carbonation.
I bought a single of this beer, Feb 2016, but they were all gone when I went back to buy a sixer. I finally was able to get a sixer this past December and I'm glad I did. Pleasantly surprised at how this beer tasted overall.
432 characters
4.35/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
-clear dark brown bottle pour, little discernible foam atop, but plenty of fizz within. Aroma includes allspice and toasted malt. This is a richly flavored brew. It has a deep malt base, but bright, sweet notes too, a touch of coffee and hop bitterness. I have enjoyed and shared this during the past two winters. I hope to find it again next season.
355 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
-clear dark brown bottle pour, little discernible foam atop, but plenty of fizz within. Aroma includes allspice and toasted malt. This is a richly flavored brew. It has a deep malt base, but bright, sweet notes too, a touch of coffee and hop bitterness. I have enjoyed and shared this during the past two winters. I hope to find it again next season.
355 characters
3.98/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a deep dark brown with an auburn hair when held to the light. Very clear and has a nice sticky off white head. Smells of caramel and Munich malt, with a touch of dark, toasted bread and spicy herbal hops. Taste is much the same with a nice roasty bite, and a hint of winter spices finish the painting. Feel is a tad bitter, but welcomed to cut the sweetness down just enough. Surprisingly smooth, medium carbonation. Overall, this beer is much better than I remember, and a great winter warmer. Liked the old term "Dark Double Alt Ale", but "Winter Ale" seems a bit more appropriate. Cheers!
605 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a deep dark brown with an auburn hair when held to the light. Very clear and has a nice sticky off white head. Smells of caramel and Munich malt, with a touch of dark, toasted bread and spicy herbal hops. Taste is much the same with a nice roasty bite, and a hint of winter spices finish the painting. Feel is a tad bitter, but welcomed to cut the sweetness down just enough. Surprisingly smooth, medium carbonation. Overall, this beer is much better than I remember, and a great winter warmer. Liked the old term "Dark Double Alt Ale", but "Winter Ale" seems a bit more appropriate. Cheers!
605 characters
4.04/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.75/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
i like the seasonal beers and holiday beers that dont necessarily pertain to the holidays in terms of flavor, or at least arent restricted by them. this is a great example of that, a big malty red ale that certainly works in a winter setting, but is quite a bit more versatile than something called a christmas beer, or even a winter warmer. lots of sturdy body to this, good carbonation and a hearty feel to it, creamy with the head, but pretty clean and drinkable for being such a malt forward brew. you dont see many of these stronger alt types, so its a nice change of pace too. its fairly sweet in the middle, with notes of brown bread, bran muffin or something, brown sugar, red apple, and raisin. by the end though its on the drier side, aided there by a little hop bitterness and some old world yeast strain that cleans it right up. almost refreshing in the right context for being a little bigger. this is one of the better seasonal releases for ninkasi i think, and a neat winter beer that has life before and well beyond christmas. somewhat of an oddball style, but they have brewed it well.
1,102 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
i like the seasonal beers and holiday beers that dont necessarily pertain to the holidays in terms of flavor, or at least arent restricted by them. this is a great example of that, a big malty red ale that certainly works in a winter setting, but is quite a bit more versatile than something called a christmas beer, or even a winter warmer. lots of sturdy body to this, good carbonation and a hearty feel to it, creamy with the head, but pretty clean and drinkable for being such a malt forward brew. you dont see many of these stronger alt types, so its a nice change of pace too. its fairly sweet in the middle, with notes of brown bread, bran muffin or something, brown sugar, red apple, and raisin. by the end though its on the drier side, aided there by a little hop bitterness and some old world yeast strain that cleans it right up. almost refreshing in the right context for being a little bigger. this is one of the better seasonal releases for ninkasi i think, and a neat winter beer that has life before and well beyond christmas. somewhat of an oddball style, but they have brewed it well.
1,102 characters
3.94/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ninkasi Brewing 'Sleigh'r Winter Ale' @ 7.2% , served from a 650 ml bottle purchased for $6.80
A-pour is cola brown from the bottle to glass with a small beige head leaving a streaky lace along the pint
S-toasted malt
T-crisp & clean tasting dark alt beer with a slight hop bite
MF-ok carbonation , full bodied
Ov-ok/decent winter beer
prost LampertLand
353 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ninkasi Brewing 'Sleigh'r Winter Ale' @ 7.2% , served from a 650 ml bottle purchased for $6.80
A-pour is cola brown from the bottle to glass with a small beige head leaving a streaky lace along the pint
S-toasted malt
T-crisp & clean tasting dark alt beer with a slight hop bite
MF-ok carbonation , full bodied
Ov-ok/decent winter beer
prost LampertLand
353 characters
4.32/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Was the 2016 brew of this beer, listed as a winter ale. Was great smell of Christmas if there is such a thing. Rich malty body but with a bit of a light mouth feel. Finish was simple and a little dry but not overly so. Would gladly drink again
244 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Was the 2016 brew of this beer, listed as a winter ale. Was great smell of Christmas if there is such a thing. Rich malty body but with a bit of a light mouth feel. Finish was simple and a little dry but not overly so. Would gladly drink again
244 characters
3.74/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.14/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.52/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.81/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
22 oz. bottle -- Poured into a stange glass -
Interestingly, this year's version (2016) does not say "alt" on the label. Instead, it says "winter ale". But, in my opinion, it fits broadly into the altbier category (maybe a tad roastier/drier (more hoppy) in the finish.
Pours medium chestnut brown. A creamy lasting tan head leaves lacing.
The smell is malty - nutty/toffee (hint of roasted caramel) with roasted dried booze-soaked dark fruit.
The taste is malt-forward - sweet with a roasty touch. A subtle touch of hops give the finish an herbal/leafy dryness to balance the sweetness and the mild roast. Minty booze makes the abv seem a bit higher than it is. An odd aftertaste comes in late (almost medicinal in a minty way).
It is creamy and on the full side of medium-bodied (It straddles between medium and full bodied but leans slightly towards the former.)
An interesting malt-forward (but moderately balanced) winter brew. Sweet and slightly roasty with some dryness in the finish. As stated above, alcohol stands out.
1,035 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
22 oz. bottle -- Poured into a stange glass -
Interestingly, this year's version (2016) does not say "alt" on the label. Instead, it says "winter ale". But, in my opinion, it fits broadly into the altbier category (maybe a tad roastier/drier (more hoppy) in the finish.
Pours medium chestnut brown. A creamy lasting tan head leaves lacing.
The smell is malty - nutty/toffee (hint of roasted caramel) with roasted dried booze-soaked dark fruit.
The taste is malt-forward - sweet with a roasty touch. A subtle touch of hops give the finish an herbal/leafy dryness to balance the sweetness and the mild roast. Minty booze makes the abv seem a bit higher than it is. An odd aftertaste comes in late (almost medicinal in a minty way).
It is creamy and on the full side of medium-bodied (It straddles between medium and full bodied but leans slightly towards the former.)
An interesting malt-forward (but moderately balanced) winter brew. Sweet and slightly roasty with some dryness in the finish. As stated above, alcohol stands out.
1,035 characters
3.92/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This is a nice Altbier and winter warmer. Don't have too much experience with the Altbier style to gauge this off, but has a good ABV for the style. It almost has a Black and Tan feel with that lager and dark ale mix. Get a lot of toasted maltiness, good balance of hops, a little chocolate. This is an absolute must if you ever see on nitro tap. Had at The Tanker in Portland years ago and it was outstanding. I always look forward to seeing this appear in the beer aisle. Ninkasi has some great offerings and their metal tributes on their beer labels is killer - AC/DC, Iron Maiden and of course SLAYER!
612 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This is a nice Altbier and winter warmer. Don't have too much experience with the Altbier style to gauge this off, but has a good ABV for the style. It almost has a Black and Tan feel with that lager and dark ale mix. Get a lot of toasted maltiness, good balance of hops, a little chocolate. This is an absolute must if you ever see on nitro tap. Had at The Tanker in Portland years ago and it was outstanding. I always look forward to seeing this appear in the beer aisle. Ninkasi has some great offerings and their metal tributes on their beer labels is killer - AC/DC, Iron Maiden and of course SLAYER!
612 characters
3.75/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.3/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Sleigh'r Dark Doüble Alt Ale from Ninkasi Brewing Company
Beer rating:
61.8% out of
100 with
587 ratings
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25