Winter Wisdom
Empyrean Brewing Company

Winter WisdomWinter Wisdom
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From:
Empyrean Brewing Company
 
Nebraska, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #142
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
86
Ranked #17,945
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 6.79%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
23
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 16, 2023
Added:
Dec 21, 2017
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  3
Wise up. Look deep within this brown ale to breathe in caramel aromas, taste hints of roasted hazelnuts and find a smooth, creamy finish. Best paired with old friends, festive tunes and New Year's Resolutions. Also great with beef, grilled vegetables, Southwest flavors and caramel desserts.

Malts: 2-Row, Biscuit, Caramel Munich 60, Midnight Wheat
Hops: Nugget, Tettnang
Other: Natural Hazelnut
IBU: 18
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerWithMike:
Photo of BeerWithMike
Rated by BeerWithMike from Nebraska

4.17/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Dec 29, 2017
More User Ratings:
Photo of Grax
Reviewed by Grax from Iowa

3.27/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Aroma gives off roasted malts, some caramel, and nuttiness. The body is very roasty and refreshing, with a bitter punch followed by faint afternotes of caramel malt and hazelnut. It's a simple but refreshing beer.
Dec 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.71 by Zanico from Ohio

Jan 24, 2023
Photo of ZAP
Reviewed by ZAP from Minnesota

3.19/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
I've been looking for a substitute for the old Sam Adams Longshot Hazelnut Brown from the mid 90's and this isn't it. It is not close.

Much more subtle than the Longshot. Aroma is light chocolate, and nuts..flavor is thin, as is the body...a little nutty on the taste...cola as well.

Just too thin on body and taste overall.
Dec 28, 2022
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

3.72/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
nice holiday beer not alot of flavor like you would expect for a winter beer
Dec 23, 2022
 
Rated: 4.03 by AGoodStout from Kansas

Mar 05, 2022
Photo of Mark-Leggett
Reviewed by Mark-Leggett from Missouri

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bottle. Dark brown in color with a tan head. Smells of hazelnut, brown sugar, roasted malt and caramel. Flavors of roasted grain and malt. Not as complex as the smell.
Jan 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by jewellrunner from Missouri

Jan 26, 2022
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.67/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle. Poured out a clear, brown color with a small, khaki-colored head of foam. It left minimal lacing on the glass. It smelled of roasted malt, toffee, caramel and some mild coffee notes. It tasted of sweet chocolate, toffee, roasted coffee and a mild bitterness.
Dec 05, 2021
 
Rated: 3.97 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Mar 16, 2021
 
Rated: 3.96 by CisPiece88 from Nebraska

Feb 25, 2021
 
Rated: 3.83 by craigbelly from Iowa

Nov 23, 2020
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle, best by 02/20/2020.

Pours a glowing chestnut brown with hints of dark orange. Creamy grey head of 1 finger.

Some sweet brown sugar toasted notes in the nose, with hints of crisp malt and slight toffee.

Flavor is smooth and clean, with notes of nutty earthy hazelnut and toasty brown malt. A hint of crisp brown sugar on the back end. The flavors all sort of muddle together. Although nothing stands out about this beer, it's insanely enjoyable.

Feel is slick and clean with a crisp yet tame carbonation and nearly no detectable alcohol. Slick finish.

Overall an enjoyable brown ale that won't blow the roof off, but if you're looking for a simple sipper that's enjoyable and mildly complex, this one fits the bill nicely.

Price paid : $0.25 / bottle
Would buy again : yes, even at full price
May 26, 2020
Photo of Mindcrime1000
Reviewed by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a tulip.

Pours a crystal clear but very dark brown with ruddy highlights. A modest tan head gives way to mild but very persistent lacing.

The brew delivers caramel malt sweetness and hints of inviting but not overpowering hazelnut.

The taste follows the nose. Caramel malts forward on the tip of the tongue, a touch of dark fruit and hazelnut arrives in midstream. Mild and balancing grassy hops at the finish. The hops are deceptively present and strengthen as the brew warms. It is still a bit sweet.

The feel is at least medium, if not a shade heavier, but it is well carbonated, and there is just a touch of drying at the finish.

This is a tasty brown ale that delivers pretty good balance.
Nov 16, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Mar 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.74 by Demi from Minnesota

Jan 27, 2019
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

4.28/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured cold from 12-ounce bottle into a tumbler. Body is a buckeye color (sorry, Husker fans), with a decent light tan head that left lots of pretty lacing as it eventually settled. Aromas and flavors of dark fruit, particularly prune and raisin, with notes of caramel and overtones of roasted hazelnut. Medium in body, with good carbonation and a mostly dry finish with some lingering tartness and fruity notes. Pleasant bitterness and a nice warming quality round out the profile. Very tasty, and a perfect winter ale. Well done!
Dec 18, 2018
Photo of Chandlerhartzell
Reviewed by Chandlerhartzell from Nebraska

4.09/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On the thicker end of brown ales, this seasonal beer immediately starts off with a hazelnut flavor, and ends with vanilla and wheat after-notes. Very smooth viscosity that feels more like a stout without the overwhelming abv strength. Fantastic holiday beer.
Dec 13, 2018
Photo of Jimbob-gbr
Rated by Jimbob-gbr from Nebraska

3.89/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Very good brown ale. Some brown sugar and vanilla with hazelnut finish is just right.
Nov 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.16 by TonyTwins from Nebraska

Jan 26, 2018
Winter Wisdom from Empyrean Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 23 ratings