Winter Solstice Spiced Ale
Red Brick Station

 

 

 

Pours a light amber color with a decent head. Too light colored for a winter warmer though.

Smell is too spicey. Like they dumped the spice rack into the vat and forgot the hops. Not very inviting.

Taste is all wrong. No malt backbone (don't winter warmers have to have this?). No hop presence to speak of either. Again, it is all spice and not much else.

With no malt backbone, mouthfeel is severely lacking as well. Probably the thinnest beer I have ever had. The overwhelming prickly carbonation doesn't help either.

I passed up a second one of these. Not drinkable at all.

All in all a very poor effort from a decent brew pub. This was more like one of my home brews gone bad except I never forget to add the grain.

A frothy head of light tan foam slowly receeds over a very dark chestnut body that reveals brilliant ruby highlights when held to the light. The head retention is excellent, and it holds a short cap and leaves nice lace throughout the glass. The nose is fruity and spicy (nutmeg, cinnamon) with some buttery diacetyl that throws it off a bit, leaving it reminiscent of some kind of estery glue or odd phenolic. It doesn't appear to be a brewing or fermentation flaw, but the combination of the yeast character and spicing just doesn't work real well. Its medium body and fine, moderate carbonation work together to leave it creamy and smooth across the palate. The flavor follows suit with its yeast (fruit and buttery diacetyl) and spice (nutmeg, cinnamon) riding well above its subtly chocolatey and deeply caramelized (almost burnt sugar) maltiness. Is there a tinge of roastiness here? It finishes dry with some lingering residual caramelized sugar and dull spice in the aftertaste. This is a much better beer once it warms a bit, and it pairs well with some of their heartier, beefier dishes. It's an interesting and exciting winter ale, but unfortunately it's bold spicing and strength hinder its drinkability a bit.