Festivus Winter Warmer
Mad Fox Brewing Company

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From:
Mad Fox Brewing Company
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 10.99%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
19
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 08, 2017
Added:
Dec 04, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by blackie:
Photo of blackie
Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

3.53/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
a: nonic pint, deep mahogany brown in color with a low, lightly retained head

s: fairly tame malt backbone, bready with some light toffee/caramels, the dark roasted color coming through on the nose only as a smooth, light aroma, the spicing is mild but placed well forward given the subtle surroundings

m: around medium in body, perhaps a touch on the lighter side, with a low carbonation, the very low carbonation leaves it without the creaminess I've found in other mf cask ales

t: much like the aroma, the palate features a subtle base of pale malt and light toffee, very light roast (seems more of a color thing), with nutmeg and ginger at the front, lightly dosed with earthy hops

d: drinks well enough, but not much to cause one to reach for another

firkin at the brewpub
Dec 04, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of cjgiant
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

3.64/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at brewery:
Pours dark (in a mood-lit brewpub), even holding it to the light indicates at least a dark brown. Nice creamy head leaves a thick collar and decent if wispy surface coverage (no lacing).

This might be pretty fresh, as the spice notes jump to both the nose and taste buds. Clove is pretty overpowering in the nose, with ginger bringing the punch In the taste. This one-two combo throws this out of whack just a tad. There is a nice earthy base that may be the cinnamon and nutmeg and malt being held down for submission.

I would hope this might mellow a bit throughout the season. I’m sometimes disappointed that warmers don’t have enough spice, as I had this tonight, it might swing too far the other way.
Dec 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.8 by VABA from Virginia

Dec 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.59 by billab914 from Virginia

Dec 04, 2016
Photo of HattedClassic
Reviewed by HattedClassic from Virginia

3.71/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
*From notes*

The beer has a pretty nice appearance. The beer is a dark brown color that is clear. It's actually a pretty nice and neat, if a bit unusual, look for the style.

The smell and taste are interesting but the taste is better than the smell. The beer has light ginger notes that are bit stronger in the taste than in the smell and mixes well with the various spices such nutmeg and cinnamon. The main problem is that the nutmeg is a bit too strong and crowds out notes like the orange rind and the hops.

The beer has very light carbonation but is surprisingly heavy despite its appearance and feel.

Overall, a pretty decent and festive winter warmer and worthwhile. It's an easy drinking desert or snack beer for the winter and worth having one or two. Go for it.
Apr 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.26 by darkfruits from Virginia

Jan 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by VeganUndead from Virginia

Jan 18, 2016
Photo of Barrsm0
Rated by Barrsm0 from Virginia

5/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Great color, smooth finish and it tastes just like Christmas.
Jan 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.38 by pbechtel from Virginia

Dec 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by redfox405 from Virginia

Dec 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ipas-for-life from Virginia

May 23, 2013
Photo of mdfb79
Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York

3.65/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From 12/31/12 notes. Had this on tap at the brewpub in Falls Church; 4 oz. sample.

a - Pours a medium amber-brown color with one inch of off white head and low carbonation evident.

s - Smells of spices, roasted malts, gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, bready malts, toasted malts. Very nice, nice winter warmer nose to it.

t - Tastes of spice, pepper, cinnamon, roasted malts, toasted malts, bread, some burnt malts. More spice here and less cinnamon/gingerbread. Nice but a step down from the nose.

m - Light body and low carb; a tiny bit thin of a body.

o - Overall a pretty nice winter warmer. Really nice nose with a lot of gingerbread, though the taste has a lot of spice and the body is a tiny bit too thin. Worth checking out, glad to have a 4 oz. sample of it.
Jan 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by nmann08 from Virginia

Dec 22, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Eriktheipaman from California

Dec 12, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Jimmys from Pennsylvania

Jan 04, 2012
Photo of Chaney
Reviewed by Chaney from District of Columbia

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I tried a sample of this on tap at the brewpub last night and thought it would make a great Christmas Eve brew, so I bought a growler for my wife and I to split over the Holiday.

A: Dark red, burgundy color, with no head at first until all the brew was gathered in the glass.... then about a finger's worth formed. Nice bubbly carbonation steeping from the bottom.

S: Christmas in a glass: Ginger and nutmeg blend upfront, followed by a little bit of malty breadiness.

T: I really got those cinnamon notes when I took a sip and held it... whoa! Dark roasty breadiness, with the spice trio all coming together in perfect harmony. The finish was very smooth.

M: Not too thick, sugary, or syrupy. The spices take center stage and the carbonation was low, yet effective. The lacing was non-existent.

D: Very drinkable holiday ale.... gulpable even!
Dec 25, 2010
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

4.02/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
At the Brick, beer is orangish with a mild head, breaks, white small bubbles, minimal lacing and low carbonation.

Aroma is interesting, smells like a graham cracker. Very strong aroma.

It's light in body, mildly malty sweet up front, nice beer, well balanced spice character on the midpalate and late, nice wet finish. Very drinkable.
Dec 12, 2010
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the brewpub during the Beer Connoisseur magazine one-year anniversary celebration.

Pours a moderate copper color with a reddish tint. The head is about a single-finger and leaves behind a fair amount of lacing. The nose brings loads and loads of spicing with clove, cinnamon, and ginger chief among them. A bit overpowering.

The overpowering nature of the spices continues into the flavor, but dominates even more. In addition, there is some light caramel and a bit of malt, though not all that much and it's tough to get it to really gel, as the mouthfeel is entirely too light for all the flavors the spices are bringing. Moderate carbonation livens things up a bit. A pretty decent beer, but not one of my favorites from them, especially after thoroughly enjoying their pumpkin brew.

EDIT: Had this beer a second time and the mouthfeel was greatly improved, bringing a more full body with good carbonation and a nice spice character.
Dec 09, 2010
Photo of dedrinker
Reviewed by dedrinker from Kansas

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is relative to a spiced beer, so bear with me.

It is a nice deep amber with an off-white head.

Aromas right off the bat of holiday spices - nutmeg, cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and a tiny malt sweetness.

You taste the spices right up front, they dominate, but do not push hard, because there is a certain smoothness to the balanced malt backbone that makes the up front spice acceptable. I have outgrown my taste for this style, but this is one that I am glad to have in a seasonal context.

medium body and finishes spice all the way, but not weird or sharp because like I said, the malt was really taken care of to put the proper canvas upon which the spices are painted.

Bill - you have equaled or exceeded Anchor's x-mas beer. Kudos.
Dec 07, 2010
Festivus Winter Warmer from Mad Fox Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 19 ratings