Toffee Holiday Ale
River Dog Brewing Co.

 

 

 

Poured on-tap and served in a shaker pint, the beer is a ruby red coloring, deep and dark, with a boldness to it. Filmy halo, off-white, sits on the surface. Aromas of rich toffee, fig, raisin, and date. Smells heavy. Flavors are super-rich, with old world fruits running wild on the palate. Very tasty. Great balance of date, plum, dark cherry, and raisin. Smooth, slick, velvety body with a tart and richly sweet and earthy aftertaste. The finish is an oil-slick, reminding you how heavy and tasty each sip is. Great beer!

 

 

Advertised as a Winter Warmer - "Amber Belgian Ale" ... "simmered with Belgian candy sugar and chocolate covered toffees"...

Half inch head that fades to a nice amount of lacing. A near opaque reddish brown. Looks very promising in a Goblet.

Faint hard to place smell but that seems appropriate.

Started with several different tastes seem to be fighting it out... the underlying ale (not great), a second flavor that's hard place (not particularly chocolate or toffee like, but appropriate to a winter warmer), and maybe something metallic? Much, much better as it warms up and the seasonal character comes to the fore.

Ok mouthfeel, but perhaps a bit oily and it lingers. The oiliness fades as it warms.

If we tried it again we'd let it sit for a while first.