Old Curmudgeon Winter Warmer
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

A-Medium brown with orange highlights...little head but nicely rims the glass as I drink

S-Cocoa owder/cola/some nutty characteristics as well..very inviting

T-Sweet and somewhat sugary milk chocolate

M-Medium bodied...easy carbonation...a little sticky sweetness lingers

D-Nice brew..doesn't seem particularly big..candied sweetness is a bit much overall and there is some mild heat but overall this is a nice brew....the beer itself is worth the price of admission

On-tap at the brewpub in a pint glass.

Color me unimpressed. It looked nice enough with an amber-red bottle, short head and lacing, but the aroma and taste are all spice and no beer. It's not as bad as the Harpoon Winter Warmer, but I just got tons of nutmeg, with vanilla and maybe some clove and cinnamon. Where's the malt?

Appearance: Auburn body. Pretty good clarity. Just a slight haze. Head is slight and light brown.

Aroma: Great aroma of brown malts, slight cocoa and English yeast derivatives. Bread baking in the oven comes to mind as well.

Flavor: Kind of a meaty feel to the flavor. Brown and slightly roasted malts are laced with a little alcohol. Cinnamon bread flavors dance around. Raisin bread too?? Seems like it to me. Hops merely balance.

Mouthfeel: Farily weak in feel. Body is medium at best. Very lightly carbonated. Leads to a bit of a watery feel to it. A little alcohol makes its presence known as well.

Drinkability: This has a good drinkability factor. Feels like their normal brown ale "jacked up" a little. Guessing the A/V is around 7% or so for this one. Maybe more. I'd prefer a little less alcoholic presence in this kind of beer, but I still like it pretty good overall.

Clear, caramel-y tannish coloration, big, creamy white head up above, thick and long-lasting. A lighter appearance than I'd expect from a winter warmer, but I won't hold that against it.

Aroma is mild, light, and lively, and uplifting. Neatly hoppy, slight citrusy feel, lemon peel and orange zest. Some spice. I like it.

Taste: yum. Smooth, easy on the palate, very full in flavor, brimming with a malty, fruity joy. When I said it didn't look like I expect winter warmers to look, well, it doesn't taste like I expect, either, but, damn, if ain't good!

Full, zesty mouthfeel, very tasty, zingy citric finish, medium-length...a nice ale. Like it lots. Not what I'd go into for a winter ale, but nothing I'd ever push away. Quite a nice drinker.

Poured from a chilled growler into a pint glass.

Slighted orange-tinted amber color. 1/2 inch head that diminished quickly. Slight lacing.

Very mild earthy aroma.

This beer has lots of malt and hops and is nicely balanced so that neither over powers the other. Medium body with mild carbonation that build slightly around the edge of my tongue as swallowed. Subtle notes of toffee (diacetyl?).

Nice beer, my new favorite!