Winter 1881
Baraboo Brewing Company

 

 

A really nice aroma that reminds me of a rich black lager. I'm not a fan of the ginger in it, but the roasted malts do a decent job of covering it up.

 

 

12oz bottle. Poured out a dark, dark brown color with a small, tan head of foam. It smelled of roasted malt and floral notes. Tasted of chocolate, caramel sweetness and a mild roastiness.

 

 

Looks at is should. Nice full tan head covers a dark body with lots of brown and some red. Seems clear.
Soft spicing in the aroma with a firm malt foundation noting some sweetness, but not much. Poured a little cold and the heavy head may be preventing all it has to offer.
The spicing (ginger, cinnamon, orange peel) is balanced nicely in the flavor with no excess but does leave a bit of dry powdery feel on the finish - orange is most apparent, then ginger. Good mix of flavors with the malt dominant the the spicing background. The malt has a brief roast (almost burnt) flavor, but it is not too strong or dominant and quite interesting.
Lighter body for a smaller beer.
Falls in the better category for this inconsistent brewery. Solid esp. for the price.

Sampling back on 11/26/14 and at that time, there wasn't even a listing of it to do a review until now. Picked up a single that week as part of 'Make your own 6' at the local Hy-Vee for $8.99. Bottle chilled down to 36 degrees F in my beer cooler and poured in to a handled=glass mug.

Pours a very deep mahogany brown in color with some ruby highlights, really almost black. Some sediment is seen at the bottom of the bottle. About a half a finger off-white head is seen that settles down to along the sides of the glass. Some ring-like lacing is seen with each sip that settles back down the glass. The aroma is of some spices, citrus zest and malts/hops. The taste starts out bitter from the hops then mellows out with the spice fairly quickly. The taste pretty much follows the nose. On the label it says: "Spiced Belgium ale made with bold Sterling and Mt. Hood Hops for a taste that is unexpected as the Wisconsin Blizzard of 1881". Also on the label it says: "Brewed with Ginger, Cinnamon and Orange Peel". Yes, you can taste it all in the brew. This seasonal brew tastes better when sitting out for a bit to warm up and breathe. At first I didn't like it at all but after a couple of more sips it wasn't that bad. Medium-bodied with perfect carbonation.

Baraboo has been making some fantastic beers lately. So we'll see what this "Belgian style ale brewed with ginger, cinnamon, and orange peel" has to offer.

Appearance (4.25) : Whoa. I was expecting a wit. This pours a deep, dark, coffee brown body with an almond colored head. The head sits at about 3 fingers and stays there a good while. The head descends and leaves sticky webs of lacing all around the glass. Very nice.

Aroma (4) : Hop, cinnamon, ginger, chestnut, and a little malt. Some toffee notes as well. That's about it, folks. Bouquet is weak to medium strength.

Flavor (4.25) : Very spiced, and very hopped. And very original. I have never laid lips to a brew quite like this. First you are hit with an electrifying buzz on the tongue and in the mouth. Then your taste buds kick in with noble hops, paired with a nutty flavor. It follows with strong ginger and cinnamon. A faint hint of toffee arrives on the finish and the end is hopped up, with orange peel, copper, and roasted malt. Strong alcohol presence at the end. It's not the best beer I've ever tasted, nor is it really outstanding, but it is original and I like that. This is a kick in the face. Takes on an almost astringent quality after a few swigs.

Mouthfeel (4) : Strong buzzing carbonation throughout, which helps carry this brew from the first sip to the creamy and dry finish on the palate. It dries with a roasted feel and is slightly parched on the tongue.

Overall (4.18) : This beer was a fantastic departure a traditional winter ale. It totally warped my mind from whatever I thought I should be tasting and seeing, and then blew me away. Starting with the dark coffee-colored body, to the buzzing carbonation, all the way to the spiced hopped creaminess and the dry finish...it's nothing like you'd expect and pretty much everything you'd want.