Polar Bear Winter Ale
Boylan Bridge Brewpub

tap

Amber color with a bit of off-white head that hangs as a lacing.

Understate aroma makes it hard to get a profile. Perhaps some hops and spices.

Flavor is of floral hops and maples sweetness.

Moderate body with tingly carbonation on the tongue.

A fairly decent warmer that is hurt by a dulled aroma. Not bad but nothing sets it apart from other winter warmers.

A: The beer is clear amber in color and poured with a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface. It has a slight amount of visible carbonation.
S: There are light aromas of spices in the nose.
T: Spicy flavors dominate the overall taste - coriander and nutmeg stand out in particular.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate and coats your mouth. A light amount of carbonation is perceptible along with a bit of warming from the alcohol in the finish.
D: The beer goes down quite smoothly for the style; I could easily have more than one of these at a time.

a: the beer is a deep, clear garnet in color, and the light coating of carbonation soon disappears

s: big and malty toffee structure with aromas of date and raisin, sweet holiday fruitcake, somewhat woody with an earthy hop profile, there's a bit of spice here but probably a yeast byproduct rather than an adjunct addition

m: carbonation around moderate in level, with a medium-full, almost syrupy body

t: toffee and biscuit malts start with sweet raisin bread, towards the middle turning drier with a hint of mild roast and woody spice, followed by dried citrus hop flavors and a moderate bitterness in the finish, great range of flavor within each sip

d: really nice seasonal, and the best of my experiences with Boylan thus far

shaker pint at the brewpub while visiting with the old man over the holidays

This beer is by far Boylan's best offering and I hate that they only serve it in the winter. It is sold as a "winter warmer" which does not indicate the use of spices as this is a traditional English-brewed style.

It pours a clear amber with a tawny brown in the center and a slight orange hue on the sides of the glass.

Mouthfeel is appropriate for an amber ale and the head holds up well.

The aroma is rich with toast and biscuit notes with just a hint of caramel. Hop aroma is present but not overwhelming but I dont get any distinguishing aromas. It is a muffled earthy must that seems to mingle with mint or parsley which means that either English or American hops were used late in the brewing process.

The real treat is in the flavor of this beer. The hop bitterness really shines here and helps support the malt profile well. I taste light caramel, cooked raisins, and a touch of biscuit. I get a slight warming from the alcohol (this one is 6%). The beer takes on stronger caramel/toffee character as it warms.

Can't to have another one!

Sampled on tap at Boylan Bridge just after they opened.

A - Amber with good clarity and a moderate head. Good lacing.

S - Toasted malt.

T - A mild sweetness with toasted malt and a little hop bitterness.

M - Moderate consistency and carbonation.

D - Very easy to drink but not all that compelling and not different enough from the standard offerings. I'd expect more from a seasonal beer.

My first brew from Boylan Bridge is served a crisp copper amber with a thin diminishing head that leaves spotty lacing. Aroma is loads of sweet malts, not much else to it. Loads of sweet malts with a slight hop bitterness in the finish, none of the spice you'd expect from a winter beer, a victim of their holding to the German Purity laws. The mouth is on the light side of medium, crisp and smooth. This one is drinkable, but it's not what I look for in a Winter brew.