Winter Beeracle
Dead Frog Brewery

It looks like this brewery has a new Winter Beeracle every year so this one is for 2021/22 season. It's called Chocolate Mint and pours a very dark brown but with an oversized 3 finger head that dissipates fairly quickly. The aroma is fairly mild but has hints of chocolate and mint. The taste is definitely mint forward but a very metallic mint so a little disconcerting. The mouthfeel is good with decent carbonation. Not my favorite winter ale but also not terrible. It's more like a dessert beer so not something I would have more than one of in one sitting.

 

 

 

Tastes like alberta water for sure. That being said. Has a nice sulfuric smell, dark colored, almost reads like a stout. Not hints of coffee to report on but nutty for sure. The kind of taste that grows on you.

7.5% abv, 26 ibu, 650ml bottle.
A - clear brown with one finger head.
S - sweet, spice, fruity, dried fruit, vanilla, biscuit, nutty, caramel. like ice bock.
T - medium body. massive cocoa, coffee flavor punch. stronger than I would expected from such light brown color. dry, not overly sweet as aroma suggests. little bit hop comes end.
O - interesting beer, like cold brew coffee. definitely fit to the season, sweet on nose, dry dark chocolate palate. 7.5% abv is well hidden. good value too, under $5 CAD.

 

 

 

Less chocolate taste then other Winter Ales I've tasted, but I would prefer even less.

Dead Frog 'Winter Beeracle' @ 7.5% , served from a 650 ml bottle purchased for $5

A-pour is a light amber from the bottle to a dark amber in the glass with a small amount of ruby red at the bottom of the glass peeking thru a small beige head ,

S-malty , hints of vanilla

T-thick , malty , caramel ,

MF-low/mild carbonation , big full body

Ov-ok beer , decent winter warmer

prost LampertLand

I agree with maclean25 that this beer could ruin Christmas, but I too am reviewing it for science. The appearance it quite nice, with an orangey rusty dark amber color and plenty of suds in the New Belgium snifter.

Smell it musty and earthy, with an overlay of vanilla like a car freshener dangling from the rear view mirror. This seems to have more of the Old Ale style of oxidation and sharpness. There's a distinct buttery flavor. The vanilla is stomach churningly strong. To be fair, there is plenty of roasted malt, but it soon develops a terminal bitterness that does not taste like hops from this planet.

I think this should be called Winter Beerache. This would be the right gag gift for the beer snob on your Christmas list. From the 650 ml botle purchased at the BC Liquor Store in Ladner.

 

 

A: Dark brown, just a bit of head
S: Rich chocolate malt, hint of vanilla, alcohol is present in background, a lingering sweetness
T: Sweet yet robust malt, hints of chocolate and vanilla present, get a slight burnt sugar/brown sugar taste, just a slight bitterness in the background - a really festive winter ale!
M: Rich and creamy, but not too thick, very smooth finish, with a nice warmth from the alcohol, if I had a fireplace, you god damn better believe I'd be drinking this beauty in front of it, naked, wrapped in bear fur
O: Well done, Dead Frog has never dissapointed me and this winter ale is right up there with the best of them.

This one was disappearing quickly from the shelves of the local beer store, so I picked up a 650ml bottle.

A - Deep brown with modest head. Good head retention.

S - Chocolate, sweet aroma.

T - Bitter dark chocolate, burnt caramel, vanilla, just a hint of coffee.

M - Rich feel with mild carbonation. Flavour hangs around a while.

O - An above average winter ale offering. At 7.5% ABV, it's a satisfying strong brew to enjoy après skis or after other winter activities. Recommended.

A-Pours a clear brownish color with burgundy colored hues when held up against the light. The head is very relaxed, with very little foam created off of the pour....just a patchy thin layer of off white bubblework. Carbonation appears to be fine and methodical in it's ascent to the top of the glass....lacing is also modest, but shows some promise, as opposed to the head itself. Average looking at best unfortunately.

S- Very sweet smelling overall, with a dominant aroma of caramel and chocolate....reminds me of what a proper cola smells like. Blended into the aroma and wafting into my nasal cavity are milk chocolate, vanilla, rum cake, caramel, brown sugar, barley malt, and hints of dark fruit such as plums and raisins. The finish is very rich, with hop profile taking a long back seat. Very deep and alluring for sure!

T- Ahhh, this is what a true Winter Ale should taste like! Huge flavors that follow the aromas closely, with big chocolate and sweet toffee flavors abound! On the back end, I do taste the flavor of creamy vanilla, rich sweet rum....brought out by the 7.5% alcohol content, brown sugar and on the finish, the dryness of coffee even! Hop profile is minimal, but there is just a hint of citrus left behind!

M- Rich and full bodied for sure! The carbonation is very fine and each bubble burst enhances the overall flavor profile! This is like drinking a sweet, sticky dessert! Again, rum cake would be a great analogy but a dark fruit cake would be a good comparison as well!

O- This is one helluva beer, and is very accurate within the style! It's rich and full in every regard, from aromas to flavor to mouthfeel, this one does it well! The carbonation is mellow, and only exemplifies the overall character, and the alcohol content only enhances this and doesn't overbear. I know I'm enjoying this out of season, but I don't believe that this is past its' best before date....I think it may be better with age! I highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a deep brew!

A - clear cedar brown, one thumb of tan head settled at a consistent thin cover, minimal lacing
S - deep nutty and sugary aromas, a bloodlike aspect, strong vanilla finish
T - big vanilla up front with chocolate malt assistance, some nutty and burnt sugar aspects, molasses, and hints of spice
M - medium to lightish body, smooth through the middle, with a late but pleasant warming quality
O - More impressed by this offering than I have been by anything from Dead Frog in quite some time, way better than their xmas beeracle, well worth picking one up to try