Winter Mischief
Lager Heads Smokehouse & Brewing Co.

Winter MischiefWinter Mischief
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From:
Lager Heads Smokehouse & Brewing Co.
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #53
ABV:
8%
Score:
86
Ranked #18,655
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 10.99%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
48
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 07, 2023
Added:
Nov 27, 2012
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  14
Warm up the holidays with this spiced ale! The smooth malty canvas showcases the flavors of cinnamon, ginger and local honey.

34 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by imdabuzzard:
Photo of imdabuzzard
Rated by imdabuzzard from Ohio

5/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Beats Great Lakes hands down, I love the ginger
Feb 23, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.81 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by KT3418 from Colorado

Oct 22, 2022
Photo of TonyLema1
Reviewed by TonyLema1 from South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: deep amber, big thick tan head, nice lacing
S: tons of spice, faint sweetness
T: sweet, but balanced with spices
F: great mouthfeel
O:Cold Mountain should be this beer
Dec 29, 2021
Photo of Historiker
Reviewed by Historiker from Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Yep, BA's current rating of Very Good is pretty accurate.

A vigorous pour into a chalice produced only about 1" of head that vanished faster than a fart in the wind. The beer itself is a nice clear amber-brown.

Smelled of dark honey and cinnamon, with some faint ginger and malt

Taste followed the nose. Not a spice bomb, nothing overdone, nicely balanced. On the other hand, its also not a standout beer.

Mouthfeel is smooth and medium bodied.

Overall, its fine. Not outstanding, not disappointing. If I'm being honest, I imagine I'll forget it by next year.
Dec 16, 2021
Photo of bluejacket74
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio

4.02/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce can, canned on 10/15/2020. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a slightly hazy reddish/burnt orange color with not quite an inch light tan head. Head retention and lacing are both good. Aroma is nice and sweet, the brew smells like honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and bready malt. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also the addition of some caramel too. Nice amount of spice but not too much. Mouthfeel/body is a bit creamy and coating with a good amount of carbonation. I thought it was a good overall Christmas Ale, certainly worth trying if you get the chance to!
Nov 27, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by ScottyB515 from Ohio

Dec 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4.23 by Trboley from Ohio

Dec 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4.08 by Nick2Wendell from Ohio

Mar 08, 2017
Photo of BB1313
Reviewed by BB1313 from Ohio

3.87/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2016 vintage. 12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Pours a deep hazy auburn with ruby red hues; small light khaki head that fades leaving decent retention and a little lacing. The aromas are very nice. Cinnamon and ginger is there with some hints of nutmeg. Caramel malts are there with some hints of cocoa. Some orange notes in the mix as well. The flavors basically follow the nose. Nice spice flavors without being overwhelming. The cinnamon and ginger work well. Solid malt backbone with a mild earthy bitterness. Hints of honey. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied to the lighter side of full-bodied with moderate to active carbonation. It's pretty smooth and easy to drink.

This is a very nice winter ale. If you like spiced brews with cinnamon then you'll definitely like this one. Very enjoyable stuff.
Feb 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by MrJuengling from Pennsylvania

Dec 30, 2016
Photo of ShortCircuitedBrewers
Reviewed by ShortCircuitedBrewers from Ohio

4.51/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very nice holiday ale. Nice subtle spice flavor that is well balanced by the honey addition, Nice Malt backbone that carry's the hops and spice well. Not boozy despite the high abv.
We did a video review on our Youtube channel, check it out here > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMAF9jwIAwM
Dec 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.43 by Gregf51 from Ohio

Dec 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Chackman151 from Arizona

Dec 17, 2016
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent seasonal release. Pours slightly hazy reddish copper color with a 1 finger fairly dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big caramel, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, brown bread, and toasted biscuit; with light notes of roast, raisin, toffee, clove, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/bready malt, honey, and spice notes; with great strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, brown bread, and toasted biscuit; with light notes of roast, raisin, toffee, clove, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Light herbal/spice bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, brown bread, biscuit, toffee, and herbal/toasted earthiness earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt, honey, and spice flavors; with a great malt/spiciness balance, and zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Light dryness from spice as well. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, creamy/bready, and lightly sticky/chalky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Minimal warming alcohol for 8%. Overall this is a great spiced amber ale! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt, honey, and spice flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV. Extremely similar to the other popular NE Ohio Christmas ales. A very enjoyable offering.
Dec 11, 2016
Photo of Mooslerfitness
Reviewed by Mooslerfitness from Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +27%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Fantastic take on a Christmas reward
L like Christmas .
T like Christmas .
S like Christmas .
F like Christmas
O must be Christmas this is fabulous I got in a pick six will be getting much more
Nov 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.99 by Hoptometrist from Ohio

Jan 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.32 by osickeym from Ohio

Dec 11, 2015
Photo of schoolboy
Reviewed by schoolboy from Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
So this is another review I need to do over because of a technical fubar. I blame it mostly on the site and I am pissed.

This is a brown ale, not amber, and it is like many other holiday brews, nothing special, just good and well made.

It's deep reddish brown with a very thin head. The aroma is of spiced brown ale.

The taste similarly is all cinnamon and other spices, Nothing new or exciting but still nice,

I recommend this beer if you are offered some, but don't go out of your way to get some.
Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 3.72 by j0hnc2468 from New York

Nov 15, 2015
Winter Mischief from Lager Heads Smokehouse & Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 48 ratings