Four Seasons Of Mother Earth - Winter 2014
Mother Earth Brew Co.

 

22oz bottle to my URGE gastropub SDBW chalice glass
Notes taken on 01/09/2015

A: Dark auburn brown body with some garnet like hues. Looks dense as it obscures most of the light trying to break through. Looks like a dark Belgian Abby brew would really. A smallish lid of khaki tan film settles over for a few shortened moments before dispelling out completely. Very light on the stick with some mild dots noted and a few alcohol legs.

S: Smells like a friggin’ cinnamon roll. Loads of cinnamon and malt sugars coming through here. Like walking by the Cinnabon at the mall. I get into this further and it has a dark figgy malt fruitiness with brown sugars, vanilla, and some coconut toffee nougat goodness. Touch of mellow earthiness and some toasted bread in the background. I like but it is heavy on the cinnamon and light on the barrel aging.

T: Drinks like one of those sticky buns from the bakery would. It is definitely sweet as you get flavors of gooey sugar soaked cinnamon bread and nutty nougat. Yet it keeps a nice balance without becoming sickly so. Layer in some vanilla caramels and a subtle woodsy oak character. Has a nice earth and spice bitterness to help manage the sweetness as you make your way through. This is actually quite drinkable. Plenty of noticeable alcohol however it really just enhances the experience. Kind of reminds me of an Old Ale style sans some complexity. So much cinnamon and kettle cooked sugars to it that it does not express the barreling as much I would like. Still quite tasty though.

M: Thick and syrupy at times with a pretty full body. Carries lighter with a bit of creaminess to it and some hop bitters to help dry out the finish. Noticeable alcohol warmth.

D: Did not even know what this was picking it up but I found the Winter release to be kind of crazy good. It definitely drinks like an Old Ale but I have never had so much cinnamon in a brew and that actually worked . I miss on some of the barreling and depth here but for the price this is a tasty number to check out.

 

 

Way to much cinnamon, a bot of a one note.

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle I brought to share at Skuter's tasting.

This beer is the Winter release in this 2014 series and is called Ye Olde Curmudgeon.

Pours a murky dark orange-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, cinnamon stick, Christmas spice, and cinnamon sugar aromas. Taste is much the same with cinnamon gum, cinnamon stick, and Christmas spice flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with fantastic cinnamon, spice, and sugar characteristics, but I am not getting any of the barrel aging this one supposedly went through.

Serving type: bottle.

Excellent brew. Taste is reminiscent of a coke icee with vanilla, coconut and almond flavors as well. Good to the last drop! I would love to taste this with some age in it

Dark amber/brown. Minimal head. Bottle served at cellar temp: 283 degrees Kelvin ( 50F). The reviewer has no affiliation, affinity, man love or financial incentive with the brewery. It's -1F outside, and I have been riding snowmobile in the hinterlands all day. Circulation has returned to all vital appendages.

this stuff has room to grow. Sharp old ale flavors with cinnamon , maybe ginger coming heavy in the nose. Nutmeg? Possibly

taste is similar with light bourbon , but oak and vanilla. Spiciness has a natural place, and does not seem over spiced or contrived. Dryness subtlely slides in at the end, with a crisp tartness : not sugary and never cloying even at 11%. Minimal alcohol presence. The age worthy quality centers on the hearty malt bill, not that it needs to mellow.

complex , balanced, and intriguing. lightish mouthfeel with perfect carbonation.

It's an old ale, not sweet like a barleywine. It has spices in it, which other brewers such as the Belgians frequently use in their holiday quads. I'm aging 2 more: in it for the long haul. I'm pretty optimistic that age will turn this into something great. It's really good right now.

 

Move over Fall, this is my new favorite of the Mother Earth Seasons brews and their awesome silk screened bottles. If you are searching for the intense barrel character of Fall then you might be disappointed. The beauty of this old ale is the addition of the winter spice notes that are added to a silky smooth old ale base. Nutmeg and cinnamon are prominent on top of a well balanced malt sweetness, subtle hazelnut and rich spicy hops. The Four Roses barrel aging adds a dusting of vanilla and bourbon. This one evokes some Christmas morning memories of cinnamon rolls or French Toast, terrific.